F16 Worlds 2025 @Medemblik: Le Chapelier & Bouedec crowned Champs

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All images by the Formula 16 Class Association / Laurent Bollondi

Info on the F16 Worlds held at Medemblik last week. The Formula 16 has managed to attract more builders to their box. The Be Foil its the second convertible platform (to full Foiling mode) of the Class along the Goodall Viper.

Emmanuel Le Chapelier & Eric Bouedec sailing a Be Foil / 1D sails grabbed the title past week over Michel Kermarek-Fanny Marelle (Viper) and 2024 Champs Emma Rankin and Beau White (Viper latest version)

See below report by the Dutch F16 Assoc plus a release sent by Be Foil camp.

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F16 Worlds 2025, Medemblik

This year’s F16 Worlds in Medemblik was a mostly cloudy and chilly event. Nevertheless, the heat on the water was undeniable! As scheduled, the race committee delivered 12 exciting races over four days on the Dutch waters.

The weather brought challenging conditions on most days, ranging from strong winds (18–22 knots) to oscillating wind shifts and patchy breezes. Nearly every race required a course alteration on the second lap. The waves and winds were not so forgiving to some boats, with two cats being dismasted. One of the unlucky ones was Brian Hillesdon (GBR2010), who had been ready to defend his single-handed title. But thanks to a generous and helpful fleet, both boats were refitted for the next day. The sailing continued…..and GBR2010 still took home the single-handed title!

The F16 class also saw more youth teams joining the regatta: young sailors from Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands showed great drive racing among the older fleet.

Returning to defend their F16 Worlds title, Emma Rankin and Beau White (AUS800) delivered a strong start at the event but faced fierce competition. Dominating nearly all races at the front were Michel Keremarec and Fanny Merelle (FRA31), as well as Emmanuel Le Chapelier and Eric Le Bouëdec (FRA1).

The overall title was taken home by Emmanuel Le Chapelier and Eric Le Bouëdec, showcasing the new BeFoil cat with power and precision. Silver was earned by the determined team FRA31, followed by last year’s winners AUS800, who took bronze.

After some top-tier racing, the sailors enjoyed several social activities together: a country dinner where attendees showcased their national delicacies, as well as a large group dinner in the quaint center of Medemblik.

Contestants left very pleased with the welcoming, community-driven spirit of the event—and the fiery passion for cat sailing!

1st overall Emmanuel Le Chapelier and Eric Le Bouëdec
2nd overall Michel Kermarec and Fanny Merelle
3rd overall Emma Rankin and Beau White

Mixed team price Jan van Maercke and An van Maercke

1st Female team Teuntje van Es and Manon Hartel

1st Youth team Mathieu Verdier and Malo le Marie

1st (Grand) Master Francois Tapin and Christine Velu

1st Solo sailor Brian Hillesdon

Full results

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Befoil Crowned F16 World Champion in Medemblik

Medemblik (Netherlands), July 31, 2025 — The Befoil F16 Carbon catamaran, skippered by Emmanuel Le Chapelier and Éric Le Bouëdec, has brilliantly won the 2025 F16 World Championship in Medemblik, thus becoming the World Champion in the discipline.

An Uncontested Victory


Held from July 27 to August 1, 2025, at the Medemblik Regatta Center (Netherlands), the F16 Worlds brought together 34 crews representing 8 nationalities. After a series of technically demanding races, Team Befoil (FRA 1) clinched victory with 14 points, finishing 6 points ahead of the second French team (FRA 31) and 15 points ahead of the Australians (AUS 800), the defending world champions.

With 6 wins out of 11 races, consistent performance, and excellent tactical control, Emmanuel, Éric, and their Befoil 16 dominated the entire championship

A Crew with an Impressive Track Record The duo Emmanuel Le Chapelier – Éric Le Bouëdec embodies the excellence of French multihull sailing. Together, they boast an impressive record:

• Emmanuel Le Chapelier is a world champion in SL16 (2006) and Viper (2014), triple F16 world vice-champion (2016, 2022, 2024), and double F16 European champion (2017, 2018). He has also won numerous national titles and achieved victories in the renowned Eurocat Raid.
  
• Éric Le Bouëdec, loyal teammate and seasoned tactician, shares these successes and has also earned several national titles and international podium finishes, including three F16 world vice-championships. In 2023, they tied for first place at the F16 European Championship, ultimately ranked second based on time.
  
  Their complementarity, consistent high-level performance, and flawless handling of the Befoil F16 Carbon make them a benchmark in the international F16 scene.

About Befoil

Befoil is an innovative French company specializing in the design of high-performance catamarans.

Benjamin Magnard, CEO of Befoil: “This victory by Emmanuel and Éric at the F16 Worlds rewards the tremendous quality of our Racing Team, which truly soared during this world championship!

This result crowns four years of creation, testing, and continuous improvement of the Befoil F16
Carbon.”

What’s Next?
Following this result, Befoil announces the launch of the limited series “Befoil F16 World Champion” Full Carbon at a price of €35,000 excl. tax (€42,000 incl. tax), along with the upcoming release of a more accessible fiber version.

Contact
Benjamin MAGNARD

CEO – Befoil
+33 7 56 95 09 09
[email protected]
www.befoil.com

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