2025 International Moth Worlds Press Conference & Opening Ceremony
by Francesca Frazza 7 Jul 11:33 PDT
6-13 July 2025
2025 International Moth Worlds at Fraglia Vela Malcesine Opening Ceremony © Martina Orsini
After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine, the organising yacht club. The Championship, running through 13 July, was preceded by a Pre-Worlds (4-5 July) and measurement operations starting on 6 July, during which teams conducted final equipment checks and training sessions.
The event marks the culmination of a packed season dedicated to foiling on Lake Garda's Verona shore, which opened with the 12th edition of Foiling Week and continued with the Foiling Sport Congress - an international forum where experts and industry professionals came together to discuss the future of high-performance sailing. A unique blend of innovation, vision, and sport that further strengthens Malcesine's role as one of the global hubs for foiling.
Many athletes arrived on Lake Garda more than two months ago, turning Malcesine into an open-air training lab for one of the most prestigious events on the international calendar. Thanks to strong support from the Municipality of Malcesine and close collaboration with local tourism networks, the town continues to serve as a key point of reference for the global foiling elite.
The Moth Class returns to Lake Garda for the third time, following the successful editions of 2017 and 2021. The 2025 edition will feature 137 sailors representing 25 nations, including some of the biggest stars in international sailing: Olympic champions Tom Slingsby (AUS), Paul Goodison (GBR), Giles Scott (GBR), Dylan Fletcher (GBR), and Diego Botin (ESP), alongside rising talents like Mattias Coutts and Jacob Pye (NZL), Enzo Balanger (FRA), Nicolai Jacobsen (NOR), and Richard Schultheis (GER). Also competing are internationally renowned sailors like Philipp Buhl, Sime and Mihovil Fantela, Sébastien Schneiter, and Simone Salvà - coach of the Spain SailGP team and Luna Rossa's Youth & Women's program.
On 7 July at 3:30 p.m., the official press conference was held in the main hall of Fraglia Vela Malcesine, with strong attendance from both local authorities and athletes.
The press conference was opened by Marco Carletto, President of Fraglia Vela Malcesine, who took a moment to emotionally remember Gianni Testa, the club's longtime president, who passed away exactly one year ago. Carletto emphasized that hosting such a prestigious event is not only a great honor for the club but also an opportunity to carry forward the legacy of a man who shaped the history of sailing in Malcesine.
"Our first thoughts during such a prestigious event go to our great President Gianni Testa," Carletto stated.
"He passed away on 10 July last year. I'm certain we're working in the direction he wanted, and I'm sure he's here with us today, proud of what we're doing. We hope everything goes as planned — we're working hard to honour the legacy and dedication he left us."
Next to speak was Alessandra Sensini, Technical Director of the Youth Team for the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), who extended the Federation's greetings and emphasized the value of hosting such a world-class event on Italian waters, also from a developmental perspective.
The Mayor of Malcesine, Giuseppe Benamati, reiterated the strong bond between the Municipality and Fraglia Vela Malcesine, highlighting the importance of collaboration between public institutions and sports organisations. He also delivered a message of peace, underlining how sport can serve as a powerful instrument for unity and dialogue in these challenging times.
"The synergy between the public sector and Fraglia is essential in many ways," said Benamati.
"Not only for tourism but also to shape a forward-thinking vision of a modern, competitive town. We're honored that the Moth Class has chosen Malcesine to host its World Championship. We'll have 139 athletes from 23 nations racing on our lake. This event celebrates one of the most advanced classes in sailing and helps share Malcesine and its world-class racecourse with the world."
Following this, Tim Hancock, Principal Race Officer of the event, gave a technical overview of the upcoming races and shared his expectations for a thrilling week of competition.
Ben Rosenberg, President of the International Moth Class, then took the floor to deliver official greetings from the class and highlighted the key role Malcesine plays in the international racing circuit — praising both the organizational level and the natural beauty of the venue.
Closing the speeches was Marco Semprebon, Head of Territorial Development for North-East Italy at UniCredit, the event's title sponsor. He expressed the bank's pride in supporting initiatives that combine sport, innovation, and regional development.
"As UniCredit," said Semprebon, "we aim to stay close to innovation, while always keeping people at the center. Here you have wind, nature, and passion. We're thrilled to see these athletes - men and women - competing in what we hope will be days full of sailing, joy, and peace. With great enthusiasm, I wish the best of luck to all participants."
Later in the evening, at 6:30 p.m., the opening ceremony took place on the lakefront in the picturesque setting of Fraglia Vela Malcesine, officially launching the Championship.
The 2025 Moth World Championship is made possible thanks to the invaluable support of sponsors and partners who believe in the sporting and territorial value of the project. Special thanks go to UniCredit, title sponsor of the event, and to all supporting sponsors: Falconeri, Zhik, Funivie Malcesine-Monte Baldo, Frantoi Redoro, Birrerie Stiegl, Distilleria Marzadro, Cantine Tinazzi, and Speck Stube.
The event is held under the patronage of the Veneto Region and the Municipality of Malcesine.
Find out more at www.fragliavela.org/en/regatta/2025-moth-world-championship