Racing their Nacra Evo El Cucuy, Sarasota Yacht Club Sailing Director Dalton Tebo recently captured the 2025 Formula 18 North American Championship title with teammate John Casey. Photo by Lexi Cline.

It took 22 hours for Dalton Tebo and John Casey to drive from Florida to Newport, Rhode Island. Over four days from August 26-29, the pair made sure the drive was well worth it. Tebo, the Sailing Director at Sarasota Yacht Club, and Casey, the Sailing Director at Lauderdale Yacht Club, had made the trek to compete in the 2025 Formula 18 North American Championship. The four-day regatta featured 29 teams from around the world, racing in the F18 sport catamaran class.

“It’s an 18-foot beach catamaran with a 30-foot mast, so it actually has a lot of power, a lot of sail area for how small of a boat it is,” says Tebo. “The F18 class is a ‘box rule’ which is basically like Formula One—there are a bunch of different manufacturers, but the boat has a certain set of specifications it has to fit into. It has to weigh a certain amount, the sail area has to be a specific size, but there are small changes that each manufacturer makes.”

Before the regatta even began, however, Tebo and Casey ran into issues with their boat, a Nacra Evo dubbed El Cucuy. The pair had arrived early to participate in the New England 100, a two-day long-distance regatta, but ran into mechanical troubles on the second day of the race. “Our rudder came off the back and we had to abandon the race. It was a blessing in disguise, though, because it saved our energy and gave us a day to make our repairs before the F18 Championship."

Tebo and Casey used the time to their advantage by dominating the F18 Championship from the first day. In sailboat racing, endurance is just as important as strategy and speed—boats will compete in up to four races a day, around 45 minutes to an hour apiece, never leaving the water. Tebo and Casey won eight out of 13 races, finishing with a final score of 15 points to secure the championship. The pair, who rarely have the chance to race with one another, credit their chemistry as a major factor in their success.

“We’re really good friends. A lot of calls, tough decisions or even small arguments we can overcome, because we have been friends for so long,” says Tebo. “We know each other’s roles like the backs of our hands. If one of us needs help with something, without even asking, the other person is already backing you up.”

Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, 34236

Racing their Nacra Evo El Cucuy, Sarasota Yacht Club Sailing Director Dalton Tebo recently captured the 2025 Formula 18 North American Championship title with teammate John Casey. Photo by Lexi Cline.

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