Larsen and van West defend Formula 18 World Championship

Defence was the story of the 2015 Formula 18 Worlds in Kiel, Germany as both the World and Youth title were successfully retained.

Netherland’s Gunnar Larsen and Ferdinand van West defended their crown in the biggest fleet the Formula 18 Worlds had seen with 167 catamarans, from 24 different countries, starting the championships.

The Netherlands pair didn’t have everything their own way, and even left themselves with a lot to do when they were 15th position at the top mark. They managed to claw themselves back into contention and edge out compatriots Oscar Zeekant and Charlie Begemann into second.

Completing the podium were Australia’s Glenn Ashby and Brett Goodall who took a third place finish despite not sailing together for a year.

The next Formula 18 Worlds will be held in Argentina next year and winning for a third consecutive time will be the goal of Larsen and van West. Mitch Booth is the only person to have achieved this feat, so it will be a chance to get their name in the record books.

Already eclipsing a three time win, USA’s Taylor Reiss and Matthew Whitehead made it four in a row in the Formula 18 Youth Championship. The impressive pair were so good at the regatta they almost made it to the overall podium in the main competition. No doubt a podium finish awaits for the duo, maybe in Argentina 2016.

Top 10 results:

1.Larsen/Van West (Nacra Infusion) 21 points
2.Zeekant/Begemann (Nacra Infusion) 26 points
3.Ashby/Goodall (Goodal C2) 35 points
4.Reiss/Whitehead (Goodal C2) 49 points
5.Veenman/De Waard (Nacra Infusion) 75 points
6.Booth/Booth (Hobie Wild Cat) 87 points
7.Robert/Perron (Nacra Infusion) 101 points
8.Sach/Sach (Nacra Infusion) 114 points
9.Ferrec/Delaplace (Nacra Infusion) 118 points
10.Boulogne/David (Cirrus) 120 points

Full Results

Official Formula 18 website

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