– to access more content and expert support, check out 
.
In a dramatic final day of racing, Mathis Ghio and Maddalena Spanu have etched their names in the history books as the inaugural men’s and women’s Formula Wing World Champions.
The title deciders took place against fickle wind conditions, which forced organisers to cancel the planned long-distance “Golden Ticket” race and shift focus to knock-out rounds. Riders struggled to keep their boards foiling in the light airs, and once they dropped from flight, it was tough to get back up again.
Women’s Final: Spanu Clinches Victory After Tight Battle
In the women’s bracket, Maddalena Spanu, just 18 years old, held her nerve in testing conditions to emerge victorious. After a cautious start, she took bold lines through the final downwind leg and crossed the line ahead of her challengers.
She fended off strong performances from Emilia Kosti (Greece) and Karolina Kluszczynska (Poland), who took silver and bronze respectively.
Men’s Final: Ghio Prevails in Edge-of-Seat Finish
The men’s final was a thriller. Sean Herbert (New Zealand) and Francesco Cappuzzo (Italy) both recorded race wins, leaving the title outcome hanging in the balance. With the clock ticking toward the 5 pm cut-off, Ghio, Herbert, Cappuzzo, and Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi went into a winner-takes-all showdown.
Tomasi crossed the line first in the decisive race, but was later penalised for hitting a mark. That penalty elevated Ghio to the race win and secured the championship for him. Cappuzzo claimed silver, and Herbert took bronze.
Champions in Yellow
Both Ghio and Spanu entered the day wearing the yellow bibs — a mark of their leadership — but their paths to world titles were anything but assured. Under pressure, in shifting wind and high stakes, they delivered.
As the first names to ever win a Formula Wing world title, Ghio and Spanu have secured their places in wingfoil racing history.