F18 Worlds 2025 @Noordwijk: Title for Bundock & Bouwer

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F18 Worlds 2025, Noordwijk, NED. Final Day.

‘Veni, vidi, vici’

What a way to close this 2025 Formula 18 Worlds, after 3 days where only two races were held, Thursday and Friday saw excellent conditions for the fleet to complete four races each day.

One of the most talented filled F18 Worlds in years, having Darren Bundock returning since his last appearance in 2019 was a plus, the Australian just came , saw & conquered. Once more.

With no additional discard in sight for the Finals, every single pts counted and the only ones who managed to stay within the top ten in each race were Bundy & Bjarne Bouwer.

All the rest who were in the race for the podium got a +13th, leaving the 18pts gap the winner held over the rest. Bundock-Bouwer won only one race out of ten, but consistent was key, as always in the low score sailing system.

Scoring 7, 2, 3 & 4 for the day was the range they need to secure the win on a super competitive fleet. Bundy showed why he is one of the greatest Catamaran racers ever. A couple of Olympic Medals, together with several Tornado Worlds Olympic Era & F18 Worlds (Hobie Tiger Era) along Glenn Ashby, plus some Vice Worlds Championships in the Foiling A-Class & an Americas Cup with Oracle make a package not many can par.

Bundy agreed he took a while to get the pace this time, humble as always this Aussie who we have in great esteem, showed the hardcore F18 sailors how is done, once more.

The Australian Legend sailed Jakub’s Kopylowicz new F18 (no name assigned yet) which was designed by Gonzalo Redondo, equipped with 1D sails from Marton Balazs. The Exploder 2025 delivered good pace as can be seen on the Metasail tracker and the result was a 6th World Title for Bundock:

• 3 with Glenn Ashby. Hobie Tiger (2004,2005 & 2007)
• 1 with Jeroen van Leeuwen, Goodall C2 (2011)
• 1 with Connor Nicholas, Scorpion (2019)
• 1 with Bjarne Bouwer, Exploder 2025

Exploder yard now matches Hobie and Nacra all with 6 Constructor Championships each.

Aussie young Top Guns

Bundy is currently working as Australian Nacra 17 coach, he called one of the Nacra 17 dutch talented kids, Bjarne Bouwer, to join him at Noordwijk and also he made his N17 Aus Team coachees, Brin & Jake Liddell sail together on this regatta along him.
Getting a boat for them was not easy task, as some requested some high fees, letting a big chance on helping the talented youths.

In the end Bundy had a good help from Danny & Kostas and managed to get the Liddells their former 2021 Scorpion & 2023 used 1D sails.

That lent ended on a second place overall! Rather a surprise, but Brin & Jake Lidddell were already showing their speed on the Nacra 17 regattas.

Sailing together at Noordwijk the Aussie young team demonstrated the incredible parity of the F18 Box Rule, a decent proven platform launched in 2015 and you are ready for a podium spot. The rest is up to you as seen today with five different designs in the top 5! and six with Manu’s R3 in the top 10.

The Liddell team started their F18 adventure winning a harsh breeze & waves first race on Tuesday. They kept building momentum on low scores to reach the final day with chances. Today after an initial 13th they finished 3rd, 5th & 2nd thanks to excellent starts and speed (see tracking).

Congrats to them and for Bundy to put these young team on the Formula 18 fleet. We hope to see them at 2026 Worlds in Australia.


Aussies & Third place definition
Third place overall was defined on a tie, Burvill-Puttman on their Edge/Nxt Gen rocket won the last race and their Western Australian mates Colby-Colman final 14th made for an even 56pts total.

The final podium spot went for Brett & Max on bullets differences and winning the last race too.
Colby-Colman (Nacra Evo) were fast enough and had a good prep as seen on some big starts (check their pin one from today) , but they felt just short to nail a deserved podium spot.

Both teams will have another great chance for the title at next Worlds near their home in WA.

Top 4 places for Australia, think is its a first time on that one.

Argies
Yesterday were all scoring bullets and top 3s. Smith-Heuser, Volker-Polimeni (All sailing Akurras) were at podium range with two races left, but some tough errors left them out, same with Krevisky-Benitez who were excelling yesterday. A pity, but the Argies demonstrated their level once more. Volker-Polimeni couldn’t repeat their 2024 Title and the two others their past podiums.


Cirrus R3
Mention to Manu Boulogne & Matthieu Marfaing, excellent 7th overall and plenty of speed in any condition for the French sailors. Manu’s new R3 design coupled with his smooth looking AIR Sails, is the newest addition to the Formula 18 platforms menu.

Other french teams were smoking too, Erussard & Moreau and Bader-Peters had their chances for more.

Noordwijk
The venue had a low start but ten races were good enough for more than proper Worlds Championship regatta. Last two days were a fest. Congrats to the dutch sailor & the F18 management for delivering this 2025 event, with due Metasail Tracking and excellent photos from Laurens Morel,

Complete gallery by Morel here
GPS Tracking replays here

Designs Top ten:

1. Exploder 2025 / 1D
2. Scorpion / 1D
3. Edge / Nxt Gen Sails
4. Nacra Evo
5. Akurra
6. Akurra
7. Cirrus R3
8. Nacra Evo
9. Akurra
10. Akurra

Top 15 below after two races, complete list here