Bundock and Ashby win F18 Worlds

by Di Pearson on 16 Jul 2005 Darren Bundock/Glen Ashby (AUS) have successfully defended their Formula 18 World title, winning the championship this morning at Rotterdam in Holland.

The Australians, who won six of the 12 race two drop series, hosted by Hoek van Holland Yacht Club, beat Mitch Booth/Herbert Dercksen by 10 points following six days of intensive racing, with brothers Helge and Christian Sach (GER) third.

Their major rivals going into the final day, Remco Kenbeek/Paul Brouwer (NED), who actually led the series earlier, had the misfortune of a Black Flag in the penultimate Race 11, which pushed them down the board into fifth place.

The battle of the 10 different manufacturers was clearly dominated by the Hobie Tiger, winning four of the first five overall placings.

Team Bundock got off to a fantastic start in the qualifying series, winning five of the six heats, with a fifth-place discard, to lead after the first two days.

They were able to finish the remainder of the series within the top 10, except for a 35th place, but were able to discard this oops in the final series.

Bundock said from Rotterdam this morning, ‘it was a tough event. The newer boats appear faster and the competition’s getting stronger. On the first day of racing the winds were 15-18 knots against a strong current. It was changeable through the regatta.

‘At the other end of the spectrum, this morning we went out in 15 knots, then it got very light and organisers had to abandon the final race.

‘Glen and I are very happy with our win. This is the third year we have sailed this event together.’

Of their 35th place which dropped the pair momentarily to second on the leaderboard, Bundock, from NSW’s north coast said, ‘it was just one of those days. It was light and shifty and while we got to the first top mark in the leading group, a minute later we were in 30th place. We just got it wrong the whole way round the course after that.’

Bundock now flies out to Greece where he will participate in a seven day marathon to raise money for disabled sailors. From there, he and his Tornado crew, Victorian Aaron Worrall, will go to Sweden for the Tornado European Worlds.


Top five results:

1. AUS Bundock, Darren/Ashby, Glenn, 30 - (5) 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 (35) 1 5 11

2. NED Booth, Mitch, Dercksen/Herbert, 40 - (3) 2 2 1 1 2 (ocs) 9 4 13 3 3

3. GER Sach, Helge, Sach/Christian, 64 - 4 (9) 6 7 6 9 4 4 9 9 6 (29)

4. FRA Mourniac, Jean-Christophe/Citeau, 71 - (3) 1 2 3 2 2 3 23 29 (31) 2 4

5. NED Kenbeek, Remco/Brouwer, Paul, 80 - 1 5 3 7 (16) 4 2 7 5 27 (bfd) 19

Full results including other Australia entries: www.f18worlds2005.com/

Bundock and Ashby World Championship list-

Bundock:

1998, 2001, 2002, 2003 Olympic Tornado World Champion

2002 ISAF Multihull World Champion

2005, 2004 Formula 18 World Champion

Ashby:

1996, 2002, 2004 A-Class World Champion

2005, 2004 Formula 18 World Champion

Further information call Darren Bundock on +49 177 603 8084.

www.darrenbundock.com


Sponsored by:

Marinepool, FSE Robline, Volvo Car, Ronstan, Hobie Cat.

Supported by:

Yachting Australia, Australian Institute of Sport, NSWIS, Australian Olympic Committee & Verein Segler Haus Wannsee.