Eighth edition of the Foiling Awards wraps up: Celebrating the best athletes, products and projects

by WeAreFoiling 21 May 10:03 PDT

The eighth edition of the Foiling Awards has crowned its winners. The prestigious accolades recognising the world's top foiling athletes, products, projects and events over the past 12 months were presented in Genova (Italy), based on online votes cast by the international foiling community.

During the gala dinner—reserved for winners, institutions, partners, Media, and members of The Foiling Organization—TV journalist Bacci Del Buono hosted the evening from the stage of the atmospheric Sala delle Grida at Genova's historic Palazzo della Borsa, transformed for the occasion by The Foiling Organization. He was joined on stage by Trieste sailor Greta Eline Poclen, whose sharp commentary and humour kept the audience engaged throughout the night.

Foiling Awards VIII - FORLANINI AWARD - (L2R) Lorenza Rosso - City of Genova, Richard Forest - SEAir, Erwan Jauffroy - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

The Forlanini overall prize named after Italian foiling pioneer Enrico Forlanini and reserved for the "winner of winners," was awarded to French athlete Erwan Jauffroy, who had already secured the Male Sailor title for his solo "downwind" foiling board crossing from Toulon to Calvi—247 km in just 12 hours and 19 minutes.

This year's jury, was made up of past Award winners, including Hattie Rogers, Luca Santella (Bluegame), Richard Forest (SEAir) and John Philps (The Hydrofoiler).

After being formally returned by last year's winners (the WASZP Class organisers), the Forlanini trophy was presented to the French athlete by Lorenza Rosso, Representative of Genova City Council, Richard Forest of SEAir and Luca Rizzotti, President and Founder of The Foiling Organization.

Foiling Awards VIII - SPECIAL PRIZE - (L2R) Luca Rizzotti and Simone Salvà - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

Forlanini Award also marked a symbolic win for the French projects, which engaged in a thrilling head-to-head with their Italian counterparts throughout the competition.

In recognition of the 2024 America's Cup wins by the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women's and Youth Teams, and Team Spain in the SailGP season, the Organising Committee presented a Special Award to Italian coach Simone Salvà.

Marta Maggetti, Olympic gold medallist in the iQFOiL class (absent on the night), was named Female Sailor (with the Male category going to Jauffroy), while Team Spain SailGP was voted best Foiling Team for their victorious 2024 season. The latest edition of the Vendée Globe was awarded best Event.

Foiling Awards VIII - MALE SAILOR - (L2R) Erwan Jauffroy and Maurizio Priano - SLAM - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli America's Cup Team collected two titles: best Commercial Vessel for its hydrogen-powered HSV, and Best One-Off for its spectacular AC75, recently seen in action in Barcelona.

The newly developed rudder for the WASZP class was voted best Innovation Technology, while the Politecnico di Milano Sailing Team earned the award for Sustainability. Spain's Foiling Base in Cadiz was recognised as best Foiling Pathway of the year.

Foiling Awards VIII - SAILING TEAM - Spain SailGP Team - (L2R) Luigi Maffioli - Gottifredi Maffioli, Diego Botin, Antonio Alquezer, Simone Salvà, Alejandra Real - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

The Airfly foiling board by German brand Aerofoils won in the Boards & Water-toys category. The French BirdyFish-S took the prize for best Production Sailing Boat, while Team Gitana France's Gitana 18 - with key design contributions from Guillaume Verdier - took the win in the Project category. The highly innovative Pegasus by foil.one topped the Production Motor Boats ranking, and the EF-24 CTV by Irish company Artemis won Commercial Project Award of this eighth edition.

This edition of the Foiling Awards took place as part of the World Foiling Congress 2025, promoted and organised by The Foiling Organization, which gathered the world's leading foiling industry players in Genova.

Foiling Awards VIII - SUSTAINABILITY - POLIMI Sailing Team - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

The event was made possible thanks to the support of regional institutions such as Regione Liguria, La Mia Liguria, Liguria 2025 - Regione Europea dello Sport, and the Camera di Commercio di Genova.

Foiling Awards VIII - PROJECT - Gitana Team - (L2R) Sébastien Sainson and Pierre Tissier - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

Foiling Awards VIII - FOILING EVENT - Vendée Globe - (L2R) Diogo Diniz - Pindar and Luc Penaud - French Honorary - photo © Martina Orsini / WeAreFoiling Media

Categories, Winners and nominees of Foiling Awards VIII
For outstanding achievements in sport, innovation, and industry between April 2024 and March 2025

Forlanini Award - Erwan Jauffroy Special Prize - Simone Salvà, Coach of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth and Women Teams and Spain SailGP Team

Female Sailor - For the best female foiling sailor of a single-handed boat or board

Winner: Marta Maggetti
Presenting Partners: GOTTIFREDI MAFFIOLI / GARMIN
Nominees: Hedvig Doksrød - WASZP Games | Hattie Rogers - Moth Worlds | Sharon Kantor - iQFOiL Worlds | Marta Maggetti - Olympic Champion iQFOiL | Ellie Aldridge - Olympic Champion Formula Kite | Nia Suardiaz - GWA Wave Champion

Male Sailor - For the best male foiling sailor of a single-handed boat or board

Winner: Erwan Jauffroy
Presenting Partners: SLAM / GARMIN
Nominees: Mattias Coutts - Moth Worlds | James Carew - GKA World Cup | Magnus Overbeck - WASZP Games | Charlie Dalin - Vendée Globe | Nicolò Renna - iQFOiL Worlds | Tom Reuveny - Olympic Champion iQFOiL | Valentin Bontus - Olympic Champion Formula Kite | Cash Berzolla - GWA Wave | Christopher MacDonald - GWA Wave and Surf Freestyle e Big Air | Francesco Cappuzzo - GWA Freefly Slalom | Erwan Jauffroy - Downwind Toulon to Calvi

Sailing Team - For the best foiling achievement of a crew

Winner: Spain SailGP Team
Presenting Partners: GOTTIFREDI MAFFIOLI / GARMIN
Nominees: Team New Zealand - 37th America's Cup | Spain SailGP Team - 2024 SailGP Winners | Ruggero Tita e Caterina Banti - Olympic Champions Nacra 17 | Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Women's America's Cup | Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Youth America's Cup

Innovation Technology - For the best foiling technical advancement and/or solution (hull excluded), applicable on sailing and/or powered vessels or boards.

Winner: WASZP - New Rudder Foil
Presenting Partner: METSTRADE
Nominees: WASZP - New Rudder Foil | SiFly - HU 75 Quick Mount System | Foil Drive - Assist Slim | Chubanga - Foil V4/V5 | OCEANFLIGHT - Universal foil control platform

Sustainability - For the best foiling idea, invention, design and/or initiative, significantly reducing environmental impact.

Winner: POLIMI Sailing Team
Presenting Partner: BIODESIGN FOUNDATION
Nominees: Grand Annecy - Servizi commerciali SeaBubbles | Trafikverket & Region Stockholm - "Nova" Ferry Service by Candela | ONIX Enterprises - Innovation | POLIMI Sailing Team

Project - For the best project of a sailing or powered vessel still in the design phase.

Foiling Event - For the best foiling event (if a series of events in multiple locations, only single events are considered).

Foiling Pathway - For the National Federation or Organization that realized the best foiling development and accessibility initiative.

Winner: Foiling Base Cadiz powered by SailGP Inspire
Presenting Partner: VAKAROS / WORLD SAILING
Nominees: America One Racing - Foiling Pipeline | Wylde Wind & Water - Wingfoil Youth Programs | Foiling Base Cadiz powered by SailGP Inspire | Athena Pathway | weCANfoil | FIV / Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Next Generation Foil Academy | Magenta Foiling Team

Production Motor Boat - For the best foiling engine powered craft already in production and being sailed (prototype or boat 1 built at minimum).

Commercial Project - For the best foiling vessel project intended for Public transportation, SAR, pilot or other professional or work use

Winner: Artemis - EF-24 CTV
Nominees: Fly-Box | EcoMov Nautical - HydroMov | Artemis - EF-24 CTV | Maris Vessels | Alwena Shipping - F3 (F CUBE)

Commercial Vessel - For the best foiling vessel, already launched and sailing, intended for Public transportation, SAR, pilot or other professional or work use.

One-Off Sailing or Powered Yacht - For the best foiling vessel not intended for commercial production, already in a prototype or testing/commissioning phase.

Winner: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - AC75
Presenting Partner: PERSICO MARINE
Nominees: Persico Marine - Cat 72' | Emirates Team New Zealand - AC75 | Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - AC75 | American Magic - AC75 | Vital Spark Paul Sparrow V3

Production Sailing Boat - For the best foiling sailing craft already in production and being sailed (prototype or boat 1 built at minimum).

Winner: BirdyFish - S
Nominees: BirdyFish - S | Devoti Sailing - D-Foil

Boards and Water-Toys - For the best foiling board or water-toy powered by human, wind or motor.