Mar del Plata F18 Report by Capizzano

A recent relocation of the Mar del Plata yard interrupted the production timetable for new Scorpion F18 hulls, creating a short-term delivery delay that directly affects fleet availability for regattas and charter operators in the region.

Race conditions and fleet performance — Mar del Plata International Sailing Week 2026

Strong, gusty breeze and a choppy sea set the tone for the weekend. Crews that made it to Mar del Plata found both waves and wind to their liking, and the result was a highly competitive F18 fleet. Agustin Krevisky and Juan Cruz Benitez (Scorpion-1D) posted a string of bullets to dominate the podium, while Vilate-Dorbessan took the runner-up spot and the Salerno brothers, Hernan Salerno and Luca Salerno, finished third.

Podium and notable crews

• 1st: Agustin Krevisky & Juan Cruz Benitez (Scorpion-1D)
• 2nd: Vilate-Dorbessan (Scorpion-1D)
• 3rd: Hernan Salerno & Luca Salerno (Scorpion-1D)

Hull designs and on-water tradeoffs

The regatta highlighted clear performance splits between hull families. Scorpion hulls demonstrated robust overall speed and a bit more margin in higher breeze, while Fischer’s Phantom hulls remain competitive and may hold an edge upwind in certain conditions. The local yard uses Cirrus beam shapes in the molds to transition legacy Phantom platforms toward the Scorpion geometry — a subtle but meaningful supply-chain decision that affects production tooling and delivery schedules.

Production notes

The yard’s recent move within Mar del Plata required re-establishing molds and assembly lines, which produced a backlog for the next set of Scorpion hulls. Hernan Salerno, a naval architect active in the project, is overseeing the build process locally. That local management keeps quality high but also ties fleet refresh timing to yard logistics — something charter operators and owners should watch closely.

Visuals and promotion

Master photographer Matias Capizzano captured the action with sharp framing and wave-rich sequences that are already circulating among the regional sailing community. Those images do a lot of heavy lifting for event promotion — great visuals speed up marketing for regattas, rentals and charter offers, and they help marinas and brokers showcase destinations.

How this affects charters and boat rental

• Short-term hull delivery delays reduce immediate availability for private charters and demo sails.
• Charter companies may prioritize existing fleet (Phantom and Raptor 5.5) while waiting for Scorpion deliveries.
• Local yards and designers like Hernan Salerno can offer rapid retrofit options, but lead times depend on mold and beam tooling restored after relocation.

Local production and crew development

Building hulls in Mar del Plata keeps the supply chain close to the racing base and supports local skills: rigging shops, launch crews and delivery captains are all part of the same ecosystem. Youth development programs feed into this loop — one anecdote from the event noted a sailor who grew up in Optimist class at Mar del Plata, now itching to return aboard an F18 with his father. It’s a small world: the training lake and beach days lay the groundwork for future regatta crews and charter captains.

Practical takeaways for owners, brokers and renters

If you’re planning charters, sales or demo days in the coming months, factor in potential lead-time slips for new Scorpion hulls. Consider substituting with available Phantom hulls or promoting the Raptor 5.5 as a cost-efficient mono alternative. And don’t underestimate the promotional value of professional imagery — sharp photos from Matias Capizzano can move a boat from “listed” to “booked.”

In summary, the Mar del Plata F18 racing weekend delivered clear results on the water while underscoring how local yard logistics and hull production choices ripple through the charter and sales market. The Scorpion-1D class led the regatta, Fischer’s Phantom remains a viable upwind contender, and the Raptor 5.5 offers a compelling mono option. For anyone involved in yacht charter, boat rent, sales or marina operations, keep an eye on delivery schedules and local production moves — they affect everything from available destinations and activities to captain assignments and fishing or cruising days on the sea, ocean or gulf. Bottom line: the yard shift in Mar del Plata matters to racers and renters alike, and it’ll influence yacht, charter and boating options across marinas, clearwater beaches and popular yachting destinations.