Malcesine, July 13, 2025 – The 2025 Moth World Championship has officially come to an end on the waters of Lake Garda, closing a week of exceptional technical and sporting level hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine from July 6 to 13. The event brought together 137 top-tier sailors from 25 nations, including Olympic champions, America’s Cup helmsmen, and SailGP stars—a truly unprecedented concentration of talent and competition in the Moth class.
The final day once again delivered challenging and unexpected conditions. Despite forecasts predicting no northerly wind, overnight thunderstorms created the scenario for the return of the Peler, Lake Garda’s famous north breeze.
As per tradition, the Bib Ceremony took place at 9:30 a.m. on the Fraglia Vela Malcesine lakeside terrace. Shortly after, at around 10:45, the Gold Fleet headed out for their final race session, with four races originally scheduled.
The wind was lighter than usual, holding at around 12 knots at the start and gradually dropping throughout the morning. In the first—and ultimately only—race, Australia’s Tom Slingsby took the win, followed by New Zealand’s Jacob Pye and fellow Aussie Iain Jensen. France’s Enzo Balanger, the standout sailor of the week, defended his lead with a fourth-place finish, further extending his advantage.
The Race Committee attempted to launch a second race, but the increasingly light wind and a shift to the right made starting impossible. By 1:00 p.m., AP over H was raised, sending sailors ashore in hopes of an afternoon Ora.
However, unstable weather across the Lake Garda basin prevented the southerly breeze from establishing. After a long wait, AP over A was hoisted at 3:30 p.m., officially concluding the day with just one race completed and drawing the curtain on the 2025 Moth World Championship.
The overall title goes to France’s Enzo Balanger, who delivered a flawless week and finished with a 12-point lead over Australia’s Tom Slingsby—who mounted an impressive comeback in the final days of racing. Rounding out the podium is New Zealander Jacob Pye, whose second-place finish in the last race also secured him the 2025 Moth Youth World Championship title.
In the women’s division, Malta’s Victoria Schultheis was crowned Women’s World Champion, ahead of Britain’s Hattie Rogers and Germany’s Lisa Schweigert. The Master title was claimed by the USA’s Brad Funk, while Germany’s Kai Adolph won the Grandmaster division.
World Champion Enzo Balanger said: “We’ve just wrapped up the Moth World Championship and I’m the new World Champion! I still can’t quite believe it. All the work has finally paid off—winning this title was truly a lifelong dream. It’s been an incredible week. I had a few small setbacks, but we managed to solve everything and stay focused. Huge thanks to my whole team for their incredible support and work. The boat was fast, everything went smoothly—just amazing. I want to thank my sponsors, my girlfriend Lou, my coach, and everyone who supported me throughout the week. And of course, Lake Garda!”
Silver medalist Tom Slingsby shared:“We just finished the World Championship here in Malcesine, and today’s win bumped me from fifth to second place overall. It’s been a great week. I started slowly with a few issues, but I found my rhythm and managed to fight back. I gave it everything I had. Enzo was on another level this week—massive congratulations to him. The level of the young guys in this class is incredible. The future of Moth sailing is in great hands.”
Bronze medalist and Youth World Champion Jacob Pye said: “I’m really happy with my result. I hoped to do well, but I came here without big expectations, knowing how strong the fleet would be. My start was a bit shaky, but I gave it everything and I’m thrilled to finish on the podium. The racing was amazing, the level of the fleet was so high, and we made the most of the conditions. It’s been an awesome experience.”
Victoria Schultheis, Women’s World Champion, added:
“I’ve just won the Women’s World Championship and I feel fantastic. I want to thank everyone who helped me throughout the week. The whole fleet was incredibly kind and supportive over the last few months. A special thank-you to Hattie Rogers—she inspired me to get into the Moth class after I saw her racing in New Zealand. I truly owe her a lot.”
To close the event, Marco Carletto, President of Fraglia Vela Malcesine, said:
“This week we hosted an event of the highest sporting caliber. The Moth World Championship brought 137 of the world’s best sailors to Malcesine, and watching them race on our home waterswas a spectacular sight. I want to thank all the athletes for their passion and professionalism, the Race Committee and Jury for their outstanding work, the entire Fraglia Vela Malcesine staff for their dedication, and all our sponsors—both of the club and the event—for their vital support. It was a true honor to welcome everyone here. We hope to see you all again soon.”
The 2025 Moth World Championship was made possible thanks to the essential support of sponsors and partners who believe in this sporting and territorial project.
A special thank-you goes to UniCredit, title sponsor of the event, and to Falconeri, Zhik, Funivie Malcesine–Monte Baldo, Frantoi Redoro, Birrerie Stiegl, Distilleria Marzadro, Cantine Tinazzi, and Speck Stube.
The event was held under the patronage of the Veneto Region and the Municipality of Malcesine.
Francesca Frazza, July 13th 2025
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Full Results HERE
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