Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Türkiye

Opening Days: Wild Winds and Rising Drama

From the outset, Istanbul tested its competitors with extreme conditions. On Day 3, gusts soared to a punishing 39 knots, prompting race officials to split the men’s fleet into gold and silver divisions, with qualification for the medal series on the line.

Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi, already a consistent frontrunner, continued to assert dominance despite the chaos, while teammate Nicolo Spanu also posted strong results. France’s Oscar Leclair and Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki made their mark with impressive race wins, even as riders were capsized by rogue gusts. The relentless winds even forced the cancellation of later races for safety.

Day 2 brought fresh drama—Mathis Ghio of France, previously lagging in form, seized control with four wins in six races, edging ever closer to Tomasi atop the leaderboard. Meanwhile, women’s favorite Maddalena Spanu endured a spectacular wipeout but recovered to salvage strong finishes.

The Grand Finale: Medal Rounds and Italian Glory

As the finals commenced, the excitement ramped up. The men’s “Golden Ticket” race—a last-chance sprint for medal series qualification—delivered a major upset when Herbert was disqualified for a starting infraction, “passing in front of the ‘rabbit’ boat.” That opened the door for Hong Kong’s Tsz Hei (nicknamed Hugo) to earn the coveted spot, and he didn’t stop there—winning the opening medal race in dramatic fashion. Italy’s Ernesto De Amicis followed, racing with his heart on his sleeve in honor of his late grandfather.

The quarter-finals saw Oscar Leclair prevail, followed closely by De Amicis. In the semis, World Champion Mathis Ghio fought through using the largest sail rig he’d had all week, finishing ahead of Francesco Cappuzzo to claim a spot in the final alongside Italian Alessandro Tomasi and Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki. In a tense, tactical final, Tomasi surged ahead mid-race after adeptly avoiding turbulent wash, clinching gold with Manowiecki taking silver and Cappuzzo rounding out the podium with bronze.

Women’s Showdown: Youth Meets Mastery

The women’s final was no less riveting. Italian defending champion Maddalena Spanu, just 15 years old, entered the final with a two-point lead. France’s Vaina Picot grabbed the first win, signaling her arrival on the world stage, but Spanu regained control with a dominant performance in Race 2. In the process, she secured her third World Cup title of the year. Greece’s Emilia Kosti earned silver through consistent performance, while Picot captured bronze.

The Afterglow: Italy’s Double Celebration & Future Return

Italy walked away with a stunning double gold and a bronze, underscoring the nation’s strength in competitive wingfoiling. Adding to the excitement, organizers announced that the WingFoil Racing World Cup will return to Istanbul’s Fenerbahçe Sailing Club in 2026, ensuring another chapter in this thrilling new series.

The Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Türkiye was a spectacular debut—combining fierce competition, strategic brilliance, and breathtaking displays of youth and experience. With its return next year already secured, this event promises to remain a high-profile stop on the global flap of wingfoil racing.