Mathis Ghio and Maddalena Spanu have been crowned the winners of the first ever Formula Wing World Championship in Cagliari, Sardinia. Their paths to victory were far from straightforward, as the final day proved to be very dramatic, beginning with a lack of breeze that ultimately led to the cancellation of the long-distance Golden Ticket race.
In the men’s competition, the breeze took time to materialise, and once it did, the wind was very light, making it difficult for riders to keep their boards foiling. This scenario resulted in intense competition during the knockout rounds. Sean Herbert from New Zealand demonstrated excellent wind reading skills to reach the semifinals, joining Alessandro Tomasi from Italy and Francesco Cappuzzo in this decisive stage.
The women’s medal series saw Emilia Kosti from Greece excel, winning her semi-final and advancing to the finals alongside Karolina Kluszczynska from Poland. As the finals approached, the wind picked up significantly with a strong Mistral blowing in from Cagliari, providing the racers with better conditions.
In the women’s final, Spanu faced challenges at the start but strategically chose her path, ultimately taking the lead and crossing the finish line to become the first ever women’s Formula Wing World Champion. Silver went to Picot and bronze to Kosti.
The men’s final was equally thrilling, with Ghio and Cappuzzo tied on points before the final race. A strong wind shift led to a closely contested race, where Ghio ultimately claimed victory after Cappuzzo received a penalty for hitting a mark earlier in the race. Ghio’s win secured him the world title, with Cappuzzo finishing second and Herbert taking home the bronze.
With their victories, Maddalena Spanu and Mathis Ghio have etched their names into the history of wingfoil racing, showcasing resilience and skill throughout the competition.
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