News

2025 Worlds

Published Mon 28 Jul 2025

The Australian Formula 18 fleet has made history!

At the 2025 F18 World Championship in Noordwijk, Netherlands, our sailors not only claimed the entire podium, but also secured all four top places, combined with podium performances in the Mixed and Youth categories.

Here’s a celebration of our remarkable teams who represented Australia

Podium Lockout + 1

The Australian team delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 F18 World Championships, claiming all podium places in the main category—a feat that will be hard to match in the years ahead. Not content with just a podium lockout, Australian teams also finished equal on points for 3rd and 4th place, underlining the depth and strength across our fleet.

First place: Catamaran legend Darren Bundock, proving there’s no substitute for experience, took out the title—showing the younger sailors how it’s done. He partnered with Bjarne Bouwer at the front of the boat.
Second place: The Liddell brothers, Brin and Jake, demonstrated why Australian Sailing backed them for Olympic campaigns, combining speed and consistency across the regatta.
Third place: Brett Burvill and Max Puttman secured their spot with a final-race bullet, rounding out a solid week.
Fourth place: Gavin Colby and Kai Colman finished on equal points with third, with countback confirming the all-Australian top four.

Depth of AUS F18

Not content with dominating the Open category, Australian teams also took pride of place on the podium for a number of other categories

Mixed Teams

Australian teams also stood out in the Mixed category, showing versatility and strength across the fleet.

Ruben and Rita Booth claimed the top spot in the Mixed division, finishing an impressive 13th overall in the Open category. Their consistent performance throughout the week, including a standout bullet in Race 3, highlights both skill and composure under pressure.
Joining them on the Mixed podium, Emma Rankin and Beau White secured 3rd place in the Mixed division and 19th overall. Emma’s week didn’t stop there—her performance as a helm earned her additional recognition, which you can read about below.

Female Helm

Emma Rankin stood out as the top-ranked female helm across the entire regatta, leading a field of eight highly competitive female skippers from around the world. Emma could always be seen mixing up the front of the fleet making her presence felt.

Youth Teams

Australia’s next generation of F18 sailors made a serious statement in Noordwijk, securing all three podium places in the Youth (Under-26) category. It’s the kind of result that confirms the strength of depth of talent coming through Australian sailing.

From the Liddell brothers leading the charge to Ruben and Rita pushing hard in every race, and JAMEM putting up some huge results including a win in race 5 - our young sailors not only competed with the world’s best—they set the pace. The future of Australian F18 sailing looks very bright with this calibre of youth talent already performing at the highest level.

1st Place Brin and Jake Liddell
2nd Place - Ruben and Rita Booth
3rd Place JAMEM, James and Emily Henderson

Flying the Flag: Recognising Every Australian Team

While not every team stood on the podium, Gavin and Dan along with Dean and Lucy deserve full recognition for their effort and commitment. Competing at a World Championship is no small undertaking — from preparation to travel, to lining up against the best in the world.

Both teams raced hard throughout the week, representing Australia with determination and sportsmanship. Their presence contributed to the strong and united Australian fleet, reinforcing the depth and community spirit that defines our class both at home and internationally.