TEAM NEWS: WING FOIL RACING WORLD CUP MOROCCO, GONG MAKES A STRONG STA

The 2025 Wingfoil Racing season is officially on!

Dakhla, Morocco, hosted the first stage of the IWSA World Cup from March 19 to 23, offering perfect conditions: flat spot, steady winds, and a fiercely competitive field of international riders.

Our GONG Race Team was ready to shine, with Francesco Cappuzzo, Bastien Escofet, Charlotte Baruzzi, and Jeremiah McDonald kicking off the season with determination.

Off to a strong start

Right from training, Francesco proved to be in peak form, dialed in on his settings, and showing impressive speed. Bastien and Charlotte were equally prepared, focused, and ready to perform.

The first day featured just one long-distance race, lasting about 40 minutes, setting the groups for the qualification rounds. Francesco placed 4th, Bastien 5th, and Charlotte secured 8th place in the women’s division.

Francesco at the top, Bastien and Charlotte consistent

In the qualification rounds, Francesco dominated, showing strong performances across all formats, particularly excelling in downwind speed. Bastien held his ground but got caught out tactically at times, still managing a top-10 finish. Charlotte, meanwhile, claimed a solid spot in the middle of the women’s ranking.

By Saturday, the wind had kicked up significantly, nearing 30 knots. As the finals got underway, Francesco delivered consistent top-3 finishes. Bastien battled through, slightly overpowered, and secured 8th place. Charlotte, always fighting, also finished 8th in the overall women’s ranking.

Sunday: high-stakes medal race

The final day brought the medal races, with extreme conditions and gusts hitting up to 40 knots. Charlotte lined up in the quarterfinals, Bastien in the second chance round, and Francesco advanced straight to the semifinals.

With such a tight race format, there was no margin for error. Francesco shares his thoughts:

“These were probably the most extreme conditions I've ever encountered in this race format. I felt everything was lining up for a great result, but with the medal race format, one mistake or a tangle with another rider can erase a whole week’s worth of effort.

I crashed on the first upwind while trying to avoid another rider. I gave it my all to recover, but I couldn’t make it to the grand final. In just 20 seconds, I dropped from 3rd to 5th place.

Still, I know the performance is there. It was a strong week overall. We take the positives, fine-tune what needs improvement, and come back stronger for the next event. Let’s go 🔥🙏🏼”

A true competitor’s mindset, perfectly embodying Francesco’s spirit.

Final takeaway: GONG proud of its team’s commitment and performance.

Our riders showed up strong for the opening stop of the world tour. Francesco finished 5th, displaying remarkable consistency all week. Charlotte secured a solid 8th place in the women’s division. Bastien earned a top-10 finish. Jeremiah McDonald, also racing under GONG’s banner, placed 13th in the men’s category, delivering some standout performances along the way.

Le matos utilisé par le Team GONG Race :

Francesco

Board: Racer FSP Pro 5’6
Wing: Pulse Race Aramid CZ 4.5 to 6.5
Foil: Complete Ypra Race setup (Front wing 480 and 540 / stab 135)

Bastien

Board: Racer FSP Pro 5’3
Wing: Pulse Race Aramid CZ 4.5 to 6.5
Foil : Complete Ypra Race setup (Front wing 480 and 540 / stab 135)

Charlotte

Board: Racer FSP Pro 5’3
Wing: Pulse Race Aramid CZ 4.0 à 6.0
Foil: Complete Ypra Race setup (Front wing 540 / stab 150)

Stay tuned for the next stop—our riders are in top form and more driven than ever. GONG is proud to represent French foil racing at the highest level!