The 2022 Sabfoil Wingfoil Racing World Cup & Open European Championships got off to a flying start with two long distance races for the 52 international athletes.

In both races, Francesco Cappuzzo from Sicily came from behind on the 10km course, saving his best for last on the final high-speed reach across the finish line, stealing the winner’s gun on both occasions from the 19-year-old Frenchman, Mathis Ghio. Another Italian, Luca Franchi was third in both races, which took place in winds of 8 to 14 knots on a Z-shaped course. In the women’s division, Ellie Aldridge from Great Britain, takes an early lead in the competition with scores of 3,1.

© IWSA Media/ Tristano Vacondio

Using a ‘rabbit start’ procedure, the whole fleet - male and female - surged out of the line on port tack behind the powerboat that opened the starting line gate. The upwind leg tested the skills and techniques of the riders to maintain a high lane and to judge the layline to the top mark. A year ago, upwind riding was barely achievable but the game has moved on quickly and racing to windward is one of the defining skills of 2022.

Cappuzzo was satisfied with his opening morning of racing. “The wind was shifting a lot and it was really hard to overtake people. It was really hard to do a good upwind was but I was feeling pretty fast downwind and pushed hard at the end. I was tied with Mathis all the way to the end of the first race but just beat him, and it was close with him in the next one too. It’s great racing and we are learning race by race, moment by moment, how to go faster with the wing.”

© IWSA Media/ Benni Geislinger

Although narrowly beaten by Cappuzzo, Ghio was still very happy with the racing. “I’m really stoked about it, and it was really tight battles with Francesco, and for the next days I hope for the same, to be in front this time,” smiled the Marseille rider. “I need to be more focused on my strategy and keep a closer out for other riders like Francesco, not just on myself.”

Aldridge’s hands were suffering from the exertions of the long-distance winging. She has just completed the Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia where she won the bronze medal in the high-level Olympic competition. For the British rider, here with her father also competing, the wingfoil racing is a chance to test herself in another style of watersports away from her Olympic campaign. 

© IWSA Media/ Tristano Vacondio

“In the first race I was using the bigger wing but kept on dragging the tip in the water and crashing,” said Aldridge, who also regretted ditching her harness when she came ashore to change down to a smaller wing size. “I was more comfortable with the smaller wing and going well upwind in the lighter winds, because I’ve got a fairly big foil to lean on. But my hands were starting to feel it by the end of those long races, and the shoulders were aching too.” Not having wingfoiled for a couple of months, Aldridge is rediscovering some underused muscles. “That was pretty tiring, but good fun.” Lying second behind Aldridge in the women’s racing is Maddalena Maria Spanu from Italy who scored 2,3 from the two long distance races.

© IWSA Media/ Tristano Vacondio

From the results of the long distance races, the men’s fleet has been regrouped into three qualifying groups for the short-course racing that will continue for the coming two days of competition. The on Saturday is the finale, with the top riders going through to the gold fleet showdown. The women will race in their own distinct short-course group.

RESULTS AFTER 2 RACES

MEN

1. Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA), 0.6 points

2. Mathis Ghio (FRA), 1.4 points

3. Luca Franchi (ITA), 2.0 points

WOMEN

1. Ellie Aldridge (GBR), 4.0 points

2. Maddalena Maria Spanu (ITA), 5.0 points

3. Marta Monge (ITA), 11.0 points

Follow the competition at https://wingfoilracing.com/2022worldcupitaly

 © IWSA Media/ Benni Geislinger