Phonsy Mullan claimed his second UIM Unlimited Superboat world title at Whanganui, New Zealand, in February 2025 – but the bigger story was what happened in the class next door. His son Bastian, navigated by sister Tahleah, became the first-ever world champion in the newly introduced LS Class. Three Mullans. Two world titles. One afternoon.
The championship
The 2025 UIM World Jetsprint Championship returned to New Zealand after a seven-year absence, with 46 teams from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada competing across three classes. The championship ran over two rounds: the Novus Glass Wanaka Aquatrack on January 25-26, then the Shelter View Jetsprint Park in Whanganui on February 1-2, where the titles were confirmed.
It was the first championship since 2018, which had been held in Australia, and the first in which three classes competed simultaneously. The LS Class made its world championship debut alongside the established Unlimited Superboats and International Group A categories.
Phonsy: second title, record run
Phonsy Mullan came into Whanganui as the defending Unlimited Superboat world champion. He left as a two-time world champion, winning both rounds of the championship with navigator Narelle Pellow-Djukic. The final run at Whanganui was completed in 43.262 seconds, with less than 0.6 seconds separating first and second place.
Phonsy Mullan’s second UIM Unlimited Superboat world title came as part of a clean sweep of the three major titles available in jetsprint that season. He also won the New Zealand Jetsprint Championship and the Australian Jetsprint Championship, completing what the sport recognises as an unprecedented Triple Crown – the first time anyone had held all three Unlimited Superboat titles simultaneously.
Sam Newdick and Shama Puturanui (New Zealand) finished second overall, with Reuben Hoeksema and Suzi Katavich (New Zealand) third.
“We ran in the finals under low water conditions, meaning the tracks actually got slower. It was an absolutely amazing, and historical achievement for father and son to do it in the same team.” – Phonsy Mullan
Bastian: the first of his kind
While Phonsy was closing out the Unlimited Superboat title, Bastian Mullan was making history of his own. Navigated by his sister Tahleah, he won the LS Class at both Whanganui and across the overall championship standings. Because the LS Class had never previously featured at the UIM World Jetsprint Championship, Bastian is not only the inaugural world champion – no one can take that title away from him.
At Whanganui, the LS Class podium finished with River Rogers and Cole Keatts (USA) second, and Kyle Elphinstone and Jacob Ballamy (Australia) third.
“I basically just had to be cool, calm, and confident, and steer the boat around the truck as best I could. It was an absolute rocketship of a boat.” – Bastian Mullan
A family sweep
The Mullan family’s involvement extended beyond father and son. Tahleah Mullan, Phonsy’s daughter and Bastian’s sister, co-drove the LS Class boat throughout. So the family’s second world title was shared between two of Phonsy’s children – a detail easy to overlook in the coverage of the father-son headline.
For Phonsy, the significance went beyond the trophy count:
“The pressure we’ve had, we’ve been building for at least a year. Winning the world titles, and winning it at the same time, maybe was just the cherry on top – but that wasn’t our focus. Our focus was to be the best in the world at what we do, and we are the best in the world now at what we do.” – Phonsy Mullan
Is this a first?
Powerboat racing has produced multi-generational dynasties before.
But a father and son winning separate world titles at the same event, in the same year?
The evidence suggests this has not happened before in UIM-sanctioned powerboat racing.
Let us know if you know better.
UIM world titles for Phonsy
LS Class world champion ever
Teams from 4 nations
Mullans on the podium
Background
The Mullan family are based in Melton, Victoria, Australia. Phonsy has been the dominant force in Unlimited Superboat jetsprint racing for over a decade, winning multiple Australian national titles before his first world title in 2018 at Cabarita Beach. The 2025 championship represented only the second time the world title had been held since 2018 – the sport’s world championship having been on hiatus through the intervening years.
The New Zealand Jetsprint Association organised both rounds, with championship president Julia Murray noting that many in the sport considered the 2025 field the strongest assembled for jetsprint competition worldwide.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
