Making Waves: Inaugural Formula Wing World Championships Ignite Poetto Beach, Cagliari
Cagliari, Sardinia – The south of Sardinia has become the stage for a groundbreaking moment in watersports: the first-ever Formula Wing World Championships at Sardinia Sailing CUP.
From September 23 to 28, more than 90 athletes representing 22 nations are competing on Poetto Beach for a place in history, battling for what is expected to become one of the most prestigious trophies in the rapidly growing sport of wingfoil racing.
A New Era for Wingfoil Racing
This inaugural championship is not just about medals — it signals a new chapter for the sport, blending innovation, speed, and tactics. With €20,000 in prize money on the line, competitors must adapt across multiple formats:
- Day 1: long-distance races launched with high-speed rabbit starts.
- Midweek: fast-paced, short-course heats testing technical handling.
- Final Day: the Golden Ticket long-distance race, leading to four-rider knockout finals that crown the world champions.
Follow the official updates here: Formula Wing Worlds 2025.
Men’s Fleet: Tactics, Endurance, and Early Surprises
Favorites include France’s Mathis Ghio, a dominant figure in the Wingfoil Racing World Cup, and Poland’s rising star Kamil Manowiecki, who recently claimed victory in China. Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi, New Zealand’s Sean Herbert, and Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris (AUS) also add firepower to a stacked men’s field.
Day one delivered drama: Ghio stumbled with an 18th-place finish in the opener before clawing back with consistent top results. “I was extremely fast, but speed means nothing if you’re sailing the wrong course,” Ghio admitted, calling the conditions a “tactical minefield.”
Meanwhile, Tomasi pushed his limits in the gusty Mistral breeze, reporting heart rates close to 200 bpm during races. Olympic crossover star Grae Morris capped the day with a heat win, launching himself into third overall. Four different winners across four men’s races — including Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA) and Oscar Leclair (FRA) — highlighted just how open this championship remains.
Women’s Fleet: Spanu Dominates, But Competition Tight
Italy’s Maddalena Spanu, World Cup champion in 2023 and a standout on the 2025 tour, showed why she is the rider to beat by winning three of four heats on the opening day. Even after a poor start in race two, she salvaged a fifth-place finish with grit and determination.
France’s Vaïna Picot impressed with a win in race two despite crashing at the start, while Germany’s Jette Koep — making her first appearance on the circuit this year — showed resilience with top-five finishes after a shaky opener. Other strong contenders include Karolina Kluszczynska (POL), Anaïs Mai Desjardins (FRA), and Emilia Kosti (GRE).
Nature’s Spectacle Before the Racing
The excitement began even before the first race. A dramatic waterspout swept across the bay during the practice day, forcing riders to stay ashore but providing a natural spectacle that underscored Sardinia’s reputation for dramatic weather conditions.
Looking Ahead
With tight standings and multiple race winners already, the Formula Wing Worlds promise an unpredictable battle until the very end. As the competition shifts from endurance to short-course racing, speed and precision will be paramount.
Fans worldwide can follow the action with live tracking, updated results, and exclusive livestreams on Facebook, YouTube, and the official social channels: @wingfoilracing.
📍 The Formula Wing World Championships are hosted in Cagliari, Sardinia, with racing taking place directly off the iconic Poetto Beach.
