International Sailors Battle Unpredictable Winds at ONE°15 Marina
The SB20 World Championship 2025 has officially begun at ONE°15 Marina, Singapore, bringing together 55 elite sailing crews from across the world. Day 1 saw challenging, shifting wind conditions, forcing sailors to adapt their strategies on the fly. Belgium’s Go With The Flow took the early lead, with Bart Tytgat’s team securing 26 points, maintaining a five-point advantage over John Pollard’s British-flagged “Xcellent”.
The SB20 World Championship is one of the most competitive international sailing events, featuring world-class crews vying for the prestigious title. Hosted at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore’s premier sailing venue, the championship challenges teams with shifting wind patterns and unpredictable conditions. This year’s event includes defending champions, Olympic athletes, and emerging young talents, making it a thrilling showcase of sailing excellence.
Belgium’s Go With The Flow Takes Early Lead
Belgium’s Go With The Flow, led by Bart Tytgat, Marc Braet, and Kristof Wouters, dominated Day 1, finishing two races on the podium and ending the day with 26 points. Representing the Royal North Sea Yacht Club, the team is preparing for their home event, the SB20 European Championship 2025 in Ostend, Belgium. Their strong performance positions them as early favorites in the competition.
British Team Xcellent and Australian Rental Car in Close Pursuit
John Pollard’s “Xcellent”, featuring Sydney-Hobart winner David Chapman, started slowly but made an impressive recovery, scoring two second-place finishes to sit in second overall with 31 points. Australian team Rental Car, helmed by Mike Buchanan and sailing a brand-new Devoti SB20, tied for third place with 32 points, supported by sailing stars Darren “Twirler” Jones and Sam Tiedemann.
Strong Performances from Dutch and French Youth Teams
SB20 Class veteran Martijn Buitenhuis, leading Buitenhuis Advies, secured fourth place, while the French Sailing Federation Youth Team, skippered by Paul Loiseau, rounded out the top five with 33 points. Loiseau and his team, including Aristide Delin, Maxime Helie, and Camille Pfaff, delivered consistent performances, finishing three of four races inside the top ten.
Surprise Victories and Challenging Conditions
Four different teams claimed race victories, highlighting the tactical complexity of the conditions. Singaporean sailing legend Nils Razmilovic on Glasgow Kiss won the opening race, while Malaysia’s Muhammad Uzair Amin on Ararat claimed victory in Race 2, currently placing 12th overall. Young British sailor William Borghesi, just 10 years old, stunned the fleet by winning Race 3, sitting sixth overall with 37 points.
Defending Champion Charlotte Borghesi’s Women’s Team in the Top 10
Defending champion Charlotte Borghesi, now leading an all-female Olympic team including Pippa Kenton Page (Yngling, 2008), Rebecca Netzler (49erFX, 2024), and Lovisa Karlsson (470, 2024), finished the day in eighth place. Reflecting on the first day’s challenges, Karlsson noted, “It’s been an intense day with shifting conditions, but we are enjoying every race.”
Day 2 Update: Australian Paul McCartney Takes the Lead
With seven races completed, Paul McCartney’s Australian crew has taken the overall lead, holding a one-point advantage over defending champion John Pollard. The French Youth Team remains in contention in fourth place, while Charlotte Borghesi’s women’s team sits eighth overall, featuring Olympic medallist Xavier Rohart as tactician for Ed Russo’s French squad in 19th place.
The event draws global attention, boosts tourism, and strengthens Singapore’s role in international yacht racing. For visiting competitors, the unpredictable conditions provide an ideal training ground for future high-stakes competitions. As the championship progresses, all eyes will be on the leading teams battling for the title in one of the most competitive SB20 events to date.
Sources: Sail World, Sailing News (2025)
Keywords: SB20 World Championship, 2025 Singapore Competition, Fierce Sailing Rivalry
