The Race:

The MExT Multihull Cup is a long distance race for Formula 18 beach catamarans. It is the only catamaran race in the Benelux that is spread over 2 races in 2 days in which the ranking is determined by the cumulated time of both races. It is a perfect test for seamanship, good tactical insights, teamwork, endurance as well as boat handling and tuning. As a result, the winner is a true all-round champion.

The Course - Race 1 (Saturday August 16th, 2008)

The first day the fleet will leave from Ostend and set sail in the direction of France by passing a number of marks which will be considered as checkpoints. In order to avoid interference with the commercial and dense traffic in and out of the Ostend Harbor, the cats will first head to the buoy that marks the location of the wreck of the "Nautica Eena" (Cardinal north Black-Yellow at 51°18.069 N / 2°52.792 E) which is about 4 nautical miles (about 7 km) offshore.

After this mark, the fleet will continue towards the “Buitenstroombank” (Cardinal North Black-Yellow at 51°15.165 N / 2°51.715 E) which is positioned about 2.3 nautical miles (about 4 km) WNW from the Ostend Harbor. Next, boats will pass between the shore and the "Zuidstroombank" (Red at 51°12.288 N / 2°47.364 E) which is about 1.1 nautical mile in front of the Casino of Middelkerke. This will ensure that all boats stay close to the coast and as such the safety of the participants can be managed more easily. After this gate, the sailors will head for Nieuwpoort where they will pass a gate made of the pier of the Nieuwpoort Harbor and the Yellow buoy in front of the harbor named "KYCN" (position 51°09.883 N / 2°43.094 E).

The participants will then continue to Koksijde and pass the “WK2 buoy (Cardinal South Yellow-Black at 51°08.113 N / 2°37.440 E) to head to the French border.

In front of Bray-Dunes they will sail to the "Les Dunes de Flandre (Yellow)” buoy (at 51°05.948 N / 2°30.814 E) which they will have to round on starboard side. After this mark they will head back to Ostend respecting the gates at Koksijde, Nieuwpoort and Middelkerke to finish just in front of the Ostend Sailing & Racing Club (East part of the Ostend Harbor). The total distance of this race will be 41 nautical miles or about 76 km.

The Course - Race 2 (Sunday August 17th, 2008)

On the second day the participants will head in the direction of the Dutch border. But before doing that the fleet will first sail again to the "Nautica Eena" (Cardinal north Black-Yellow at 51°18.069 N / 2°52.792 E) after which they will round the “Buitenstroombank” (Cardinal North Black-Yellow) at 51°15.165 N / 2°51.715 E) to go to the "Zuidstroombank" (Red at 51°12.288 N / 2°47.364 E) in front of Middelkerke. From there on they will sail towards Blankenberge by passing between the "Zinker" buoy (Cardinal North Black-Yellow at 51°17.235 N / 3°01.801 E) and the shore to turn around a Yellow A-buoy 0.2 nautical miles (about 350 m) in front of the Blankenberge Harbor (position 51°19.117 N / 3°06.420 E). After that they will return to Oostende to cross the finish line in front of the Ostend Sailing & Racing Club. The total distance of this race will be 33 nautical miles or about 61 km.