Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Türkiye - Day 3
by WingFoil Racing World Cup 15 Aug 20:17 BST
13-17 August 2025
Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Türkiye - Day 3 © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk
Day three of the Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Turkiye delivered high drama and punishing conditions. The men's fleet was split into gold and silver with the aim of securing a top-nine position for automatic entry into Sunday's medal series.
With winds topping out at a ferocious 39 knots, the morning races were electric. Italy's Alessandro Tomasi, who has led the overall standings since the opening day, showed his class with another victory, as did his teammate Nicolo Spanu. France's Oscar Leclair claimed his second bullet of the regatta, while Poland's Kamil Manowiecki added his name to the winners' list in a day defined by violent gusts and split-second decisions.
Italians on the charge - until the wind struck back
Race 3 of the men's gold fleet looked set to be an Italian masterclass, as Tomasi, Spanu, and Francesco Cappuzzo led from the front in a tightly packed contest. But in wingfoiling, nothing is certain, especially in these conditions.
"I'm constantly listening for massive gusts approaching so I can release the wing a bit," said Spanu during a break in racing. "If you're too slow, it tips you over."
At the final turn before the finish line, Tomasi was violently thrown into the water by a brutal gust, opening the door for Leclaire to split the Italian duo and snatch second behind Spanu. Cappuzzo clung on for third, salvaging valuable points in the medal series chase.
Women battle for third
In the women's division, Maddalena Spanu once again proved she is the rider to beat, notching up two wins to maintain her overall lead.
Greek rider Emilia Kosti showed grit and flair, particularly during the morning's most turbulent races, taking the other two bullets to stay hot on Spanu's heels. France's Anais Mai Desjardins also kept up her consistent form, holding onto third overall and staying within striking distance of the top.
Walking wounded and wipeouts
The day's extreme conditions left more than just egos bruised. British rookie Toby Holmes-Ling endured a harsh introduction to World Cup racing. A vicious gust between races smashed him into the water, his foil tearing through his wing, while the leash yanked his hip hard enough to leave a nasty bruise. "Unfortunately, the torn sail is my smallest, it's my Ozone 5.5," said Holmes-Ling. "In these conditions, I can't go out with a bigger one. I'm hoping for lighter breeze tomorrow."
Chinese rider Honglang Tang, returning to competition after recovering from an ankle injury that required five stitches, suffered another setback. This time, a crash in the brutal winds saw him needing five more stitches, this time to his forehead, ending his day prematurely.
Wind ends the action
By mid-afternoon, the wind briefly dipped, allowing for a fourth race to begin. But as the gusts returned, nearing 40 knots, the race committee chose to abandon the remaining races.
Strong winds are expected again on Day Four, prompting officials to bring forward the start time to 1100 AM. With only nine riders from the men's fleet earning automatic entry to Sunday's medal series, every race is now a fight for survival.
Those who don't make the cut will face a last-chance "golden ticket" race for a single remaining spot in the finals. One thing is certain - in Istanbul only the bold will make it to Sunday's final.
Competition continues for another day with the men's fleet split in gold and silver fleet, while the women continue their single series. The action reaches its grand finale on Sunday 17 August, with the highly anticipated medal series, where champions will be crowned. Fans can follow every moment of the Audi 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Turkiye in real-time, as races are tracked live, with updates and insights shared across all official IWSA channels.
Full results and more information