Extreme conditions force Italy to take control of Istanbul
The historic city of Istanbul, a crossroads of continents and cultures, opened the Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Turkey in spectacular style on Wednesday. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Bosphorus, 55 athletes from 14 countries and four continents competed in extreme conditions, with winds ranging from 25 knots to gusts of up to 35.
Organized by Fenerbahce Sports Club, a world-renowned football club and multisport powerhouse, the five-day regatta promises high-speed action, tactical battles, and a showcase for emerging global wingfoiling talent.
The first day featured four grueling long-distance races, each about 10 kilometers long, all starting with a breathtaking “bunny” start behind a powerboat, a true test of skill and nerves. With the relentless wind pushing athletes and equipment to the limit, the athletes scrambled between races to downsize their wings. Frenchman Romain Ghio, for example, started the day with a 6.5-meter wing, but had to switch to a 5-meter sail in the final race to maintain control.
Italy’s Tomasi Leads Men’s Fleet
In the men’s fleet, Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi set the pace, winning three of the four races. However, a navigational error cost him the initial victory after he mistakenly gybed instead of tacking at the fourth mark, resulting in his disqualification. “I feel great in these strong winds. With my 5.5, I’m very fast,” said Tomasi. “Unfortunately, in the first race I forgot to tack instead of gybe, but in the third race I was sixth at the first mark and managed to recover to first place. We had to change some things in my setup because the conditions here are different than at Garda, where I train, but I’m super happy with my speed.”
Despite the error, Tomasi leads the standings, with Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki in second place, ending what could have been a landslide Italian victory.
Spanu continues to dominate among the women, Palombo impresses for Turkey
In the women’s category, Italian Maddalena Spanu, winner of every World Cup race this season, continued her dominance with a string of victories. The defending champion once again proved untouchable in the strong winds.
But the biggest story came from home waters, where Turkey’s Dilara Palombo, a former Olympic windsurfer making her WingFoil Racing World Cup debut, achieved impressive results despite limited equipment. “I only have two sails, and none of them are small,” Palombo said. “Today I used a 5.5, the same size as the guys, so it was difficult. But I did my best and I’m really happy with how it went.” Palombo’s consistency, including two fifth-place finishes and a sixth, earned her fifth place overall on day one, an exceptional result for an elite team.
Turkey’s rising stars shine
Beyond the big names, the event also showcased the breadth of Turkey’s emerging talent. Of the 14 Turkish competitors, eight were under 18. Derin Tuzel, at just 11 years old, became the youngest athlete ever to compete in the World Cup and performed admirably in the extreme conditions. Indeed, several strong mid-fleet finishes left their coaches and supporters impressed.
As wind-whipped wings cut across the waters of the Bosphorus, Istanbul is offering exactly what the Wingfoil World Cup needs: intensity, unpredictability, and a stage worthy of champions.
The rest of the week will see intense short track action. The action will reach its grand finale on Sunday, August 17, with the highly anticipated medal round, where the champions will be crowned. Fans will be able to follow every moment of the Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Turkiye in real time, as the races will be broadcast live, with updates and insights shared on all official IWSA channels.
