Dickinson and Schultheis Edge Out Narrow Victories as the Switch Class Captivates Foiling Week 2025

by Antonio Cozzolino 28 Jun 10:19 BST 22-25 June 2025

Switch class at Foiling Week 2025 © Code Zero Digital

The Switch Class brought the fireworks to Foiling Week 2025 — and it came down to the wire. After four days of sun, speed, and suspense on Lake Garda, the newest class on the foiling scene delivered a debut to remember, with razor-tight battles and world-class competition across a truly international fleet.

Finley Dickinson (GBR) was crowned overall champion by a single point, sealing victory only in the final race of the regatta. Sailing for the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Dickinson's composed consistency held off a ferocious final-day charge from Sam Whaley (GBR), who finished just one point behind. Switzerland's Matteo Paulon, Denmark's Magnus Overbeck, and Italy's Francesco Bertone Fresia completed a top five representing four different nations.

Switch class at Foiling Week 2025 - photo © Code Zero Digital

In the women's fleet, Antonia Schultheis (MLT) claimed the title, with Vilma Bobeck (SWE) and Alessandra Dubbini (ITA) finishing second and third respectively — separated by just a single point in a hard-fought contest. Twenty-five per cent of the 32-boat fleet were women, underlining the class's inclusivity and cross-disciplinary appeal.

With sailors from 13 nations on the start line, the Switch Class showed true global reach — drawing talent from Olympic circuits, SailGP, and youth foiling scenes alike. It was high-speed, high-stakes one-design racing that kept the outcome uncertain until the final beat.

Switch class at Foiling Week 2025 - photo © Code Zero Digital

Yet the atmosphere off the water was just as defining. From morning coffees to post-race debriefs, the boat park buzzed with energy, shared learning, and healthy ego-checking. Top Olympic women exchanged good-natured jabs with their male counterparts as they often found themselves racing side-by-side in the middle of the fleet — the Switch proving a fresh reset button, where everyone started from scratch and nobody was safe from the scoreboard.

Lake Garda was at its finest, with the Ora breeze delivering every day. Day two brought sharp northern chop, while days three and four returned to the classic flat-water foiling lanes of the southern course — the perfect testing ground for boat handling and tactical nerve.

Switch class at Foiling Week 2025 - photo © Code Zero Digital

Foiling Week also marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the class, as Ronstan joined as official technical sponsor, supporting the Switch's rapid growth and innovation with a legacy of performance-driven gear.

The focus now shifts to the Switch Global Championships, to be held 11-14 September, where the world's best will return to contest the most prestigious title in the class's young history.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Sponsor / Boat	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	Pts
1	GBR 1047	ONLYFINS	Finley DICKINSON	Royal Southern Yacht Club	‑7	1	2	2	1	2	2	6	4	3	6	‑26	29
2	GBR 1041	NOBLE MARINE	Sam WHALEY	Swanage Sailing Club	4	5	10	‑14	‑16	1	3	1	1	1	2	2	30
3	SUI 1013	LIANTI	Matteo PAULON	Societe Nautique de Geneve	1	‑11	1	5	2	7	4	8	‑23	7	3	9	47
4	DEN 1118	ASTA II	Magnus OVERBECK	Royal Danish Yacht Club	5	4	6	3	3	6	5	3	6	‑14	‑10	8	49
5	ITA 1029	JAVELIN 2 — ROPEYE DRYLAPS	Francesco BERTONE FRESIA	PORTO MAURIZIO YACHT CLUB	3	8	‑15	1	5	3	8	RDG	RDG	8	‑17	6	54.28
6	GBR 1126	SHOCK	Simon HISCOCKS	Hayling Island Sailing Club	8	2	7	6	7	10	BFD	DNC	2	6	9	5	62
7	ITA 8	UCCINA	Matteo CELON	Fraglia Vela Malcesine	10	3	3	DNC	DNC	DNC	1	2	5	2	14	4	77
8	ITA 1024		Alessio SPADONI	TRIESTINA DELLA VELA	2	6	8	‑23	17	17	‑20	5	8	4	4	10	81
9	AUS 1069	SWITCH AUS	Tom BURTON	Belmont 16ft Sailing Club	9	9	4	4	6	4	BFD	4	7	UFD	11	27	85
10	SUI 1105	MONFALCONE RED BULL ACADEMY	Nicolas ROLAZ	CNM & SNG	12	10	5	13	9	9	11	7	‑14	5	7	‑14	88
11	GBR 4		Matt BECK	Bowmoor Sailing Club	11	7	13	8	8	‑15	13	11	‑15	11	5	3	90
12	CAN 1086	THE FRIENDLY GHOST	Caspar LENZ ANDERSON	Saint Francis Yacht Club/RYC	16	12	14	7	10	5	7	16	9	21	‑28	‑24	117
13	GBR 1042		Micky BECKETT	Solva Sailing Club	UFD	17	11	16	23	DNC	6	13	3	15	12	7	123
14	GER 1039		Tom HEINRICH	NRV	13	‑22	12	‑20	15	16	10	9	12	9	18	15	129
15	AUT 1026	SCHöNLEITNERBOOT	Michael SCHÖNLEITNER	UYCAs	14	13	‑23	‑27	18	18	9	10	17	10	13	11	133
16	MLT 1034		Antonia SCHULTHEIS	Royal Malta Yacht Club/FVM	15	14	‑19	10	14	13	12	15	10	17	‑19	13	133
17	GER 1030		Erik HEIL	NRV	20	15	9	9	11	8	14	‑21	16	20	16	DNC	138
18	ITA 1025	GIARDINO VERDI	Gregorio MORESCHI	CIRCOLO VELA TORBOLE	DNC	18	17	‑19	19	19	18	14	13	13	8	12	151
19	ITA 1036	/	Massimiliano ANTONIAZZI	YACHT CLUB ADRIACO	6	DNC	20	12	4	DNC	26	DNC	DNC	RET	1	1	169
20	ITA 1011		Alessandra DUBBINI	SEZIONE VELA GUARDIA FINANZA	‑21	19	18	17	12	12	19	19	19	19	‑27	19	173
21	SWE 1113		Vilma BOBECK	Royal Swedish Yacht Club	18	20	‑24	11	20	20	15	17	18	UFD	20	16	175
22	NZL 1072		Liv MACKAY	Napier Sailing Club	19	23	22	15	DNC	14	17	18	22	UFD	23	17	190
23	ITA 1051	MELODY	Tommaso COMETTI	Fraglia Vela Malcesine	22	16	16	22	DNC	DNC	16	20	11	16	22	DNC	194
24	IRL 1043		Elysia O LEARY	Royal St George Yacht Club	17	‑27	21	21	21	11	23	23	24	24	‑26	21	206
25	AUS 1005		Matt WEARN		25	26	26	DNC	DNC	DNC	BFD	12	21	18	21	18	233
26	AUT 1038	PFANNER	Benjamin BILDSTEIN	Yacht Club Bregenz	DNC	DNC	DNC	18	24	DNC	DSQ	DNC	20	12	15	20	241
27	GER 1114	KAMMERER MEDICAL	Hannes WEHRLE	Jollensegler Insel Reichenau	26	24	27	25	22	21	21	24	28	UFD	‑29	23	241
28	SUI 1061	PHOENIX	Maud JAYET	Société Nautique de Genève	24	21	28	28	DNC	DNC	25	26	25	22	24	25	248
29	GER 1050		Kim FERNHOLZ	Bayerischer Yacht‑Club e.V.	23	25	25	24	DNC	DNC	22	22	27	23	25	NSC	249
30	FRA 11	ALBERTO	Paola AMAR	YCCannes	DNC	DNC	30	26	DNC	22	24	25	26	25	30	22	263
31	ITA 1003	SALAS O'BRIEN	Vello EHVERT	RVYC	DNC	29	DNC	DNC	13	23	27	27	29	26	31	28	266
32	GER 1053		Lennart BRIESENICK	FSC	27	28	29	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	RET	DNC	DNC	315