Vapaavuori and Myllymäki claim dominant 3J World Championship victory
Arendal, Norway – 30 July 2025
Photo: Joakim Carlström
Viveka “Vicky” Vapaavuori and Jussi Myllymäki secured the UIM Offshore 3J World Championship with a flawless performance in Arendal, winning all three races to claim maximum points and finish 336 points clear of their nearest rivals.
The VV Racing Team’s number 22 boat dominated from the opening heat on Thursday, when the Finnish crew took the lead at the end of the start straight in rougher conditions and extended their advantage throughout the longer race format to win by over 30 seconds.
Friday’s shorter sprint race presented their only significant challenge of the weekend. Caught behind the master boat at the start, the home Norwegian crews capitalised with several boats pushing forward. However, Vapaavuori and Myllymäki’s superior pace through the tight turns allowed them to pick off their rivals one by one, establishing control by lap two and extending to another 30-second winning margin.
Saturday’s finale required only a fourth-place finish to secure the title, but the Finnish pair delivered their most commanding performance yet. A blistering start saw them pull clear of the field immediately, and they controlled the race throughout whilst the Norwegian crews battled for the remaining podium positions behind them.
The championship marks Vapaavuori’s first world title after claiming European Championship gold last season and world bronze two years prior. For Myllymäki, it adds to an already substantial collection of offshore titles across multiple classes. The veteran navigator also secured 3D class bronze at the same event alongside Marcus Johnsson.
Vegard Eriksen Malmgreen and Celine Dalen took silver for Norway with 664 points, whilst compatriots Pal Uppstad and Emilie Kopland claimed bronze on 563 points. The Norwegian presence dominated the field numerically, with five of the seven entries representing the host nation.
The result makes Vapaavuori and Myllymäki the first Finnish world champions in the 3J class, which gained international status after the Nordic V60 category demonstrated sufficient participation to warrant UIM World Championship sanctioning.
The duo will defend their Finnish Championship title in Imatra this weekend before travelling to Östhammar, Sweden in September to contest the European Championship, where they will attempt to retain the crown won last season.
Final Championship Standings
| Pos | Boat | Driver | Navigator | Nation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Viveka “Vicky” Vapaavuori | Jussi Myllymäki | FIN | 1000 |
| 2 | 15 | Vegard Eriksen Malmgreen | Celine Dalen | NOR | 664 |
| 3 | 1 | Pal Uppstad | Emilie Kopland | NOR | 563 |
| 4 | 10 | Sigurd Uppstad | Frida Uberg Sandvik | NOR | 488 |
| 5 | 99 | Lilly Aurora Bjerke Senum | Adrian Østby | NOR | 307 |
| 6 | 25 | Hans Victor Iversen | Sivert Marcussen | NOR | 270 |
| 7 | 69 | Laurenz Bastin | Marie Bastin | BEL | 178 |