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Wingfoil racing crowns its African King and Queen
Three times Wingfoil Racing World Cup champion Mathis Ghio of France has won the season opener in Dakhla, Morocco. The women’s competition was claimed by the 2024 series silver medallist Maddalena Spanu of Italy. Both gave dominant performances that will act as an ominous warning to their fellow competitors.
Ghio only needed one race to reach the final, but an unusual fall in the first race of the men’s final led Ghio to a nerve-racking second race. The Frenchman did his best in qualifying, but was put under pressure by Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki and Italy’s Francesco Cappuzzo. Last season’s rivalries were renewed and a series of 2025 very exciting races began.
Julien Rattotti, Ghio’s compatriot and resident on the Côte d’Azur, had an up and down performance in his attempt to master his new sail. After switching to Italian manufacturer Zaoli, he struggled in qualifying, only managing to get to the medal series in 9th place and only thanks to a count-back. Rattotti is the first to admit that he does not like strong winds, yet today, in 30 knots, he fought his way from the repechages to the final and finished in fourth place overall. Resilience and perseverance were the name of the game for .
One of the favourites to finally steal the crown from Ghio is Kamil Manowiecki. Despite pushing his rival all the way last year, the Pole had to accept silver in the World Cup. He is determined not to repeat himself. In the final, he took advantage of Ghio’s fall from his foil to win and even the score. Undaunted, Ghio returned to shore, changed the rake of his foil and won the next race and with it the title.
Maddalena Spanu won all races in the women’s competition. Last year’s World Cup champion, Nia Suardiaz, was absent in Dakhla, but is expected to return later this season. No one will be happier than Spanu, who is looking forward to the challenge. However, the women’s final showcased some great emerging talent. The Greek Emilia Kosti recovered from a fall in the early stages of the race and took second place. Behind her was Frenchwoman Anais Mai Desjardins, who only recently switched from Kite to Wing, but her performance improved exponentially throughout the week.
Dakhla, at the southern end of Morocco, proved to be an excellent venue for the African debut of the Wingfoil races. The desert sands meet the Atlantic and the winds generated are constant and strong: it was a perfect early season test for the 43 pilots. The next round of the World Cup is in Silvaplana, Switzerland, where there is no desert wind but a generous mountain breeze.
RESULTS MEN
| 1. | Mathis Ghio | FRA |
| 2. | Kamil Manowiecki | POL |
| 3. | Nicolo Spanu | ITA |
| 4. | Julien Rattotti | FRA |
| 5. | Francesco Cappuzzo | ITA |
| 6. | Oscar Leclair | FRA |
| 7. | Alessandro Jase Tomasi | ITA |
| 8. | Jeremiah McDonald | NZL |
| 9. | Bastien Escofet | FRA |
| 10. | Romain Ghio | FRA |
RESULTS WOMEN
| 1. | Maddalena Maria Spanu | ITA |
| 2. | Emilia Kosti | GRE |
| 3. | Anais Mai Desjardins | FRA |
| 4. | Iset Segura Santaeularia | ESP |
| 5. | Vaina Picot | FRA |
| 6. | Karolina Kluszczynska | POL |
| 7. | Katarzyna Trautman | POL |
| 8. | Charlotte Baruzzi | ITA |
| 9. | Cindy Robert-Mauron | SUI |
| 10. | Aabir Ouabou | MAR |
