The ninth edition of the Foiling Awards, celebrating the best foiling sailors, products, projects and events of 2025, is now entering its most decisive phase. Public voting is officially open and will run until February 20th on the event’s website: www.foilingawards-halloffame.org
A total of 104 nominees have been shortlisted for Edition IX, selected by the Organising Committee with input from the international Foiling Community. The nominees reflect outstanding achievements across sport, technological innovation and industry, confirming the Foiling Awards as a global benchmark for the sector.
Fans and professionals alike are invited to vote for their favourites across 13 categories, covering competitive sailing, boards and water sports, innovation and sustainability, projects, events, education pathways and production boats.
The winners will be announced during an invitational gala dinner show on March 17th in Genoa, Italy, gathering award recipients, members of The Foiling Organization, delegates of the World Foiling Congress 2026, industry leaders and accredited international media.
A highlight of the evening will be the fourth edition of the Forlanini Award, honouring the overall winner across all categories. Named after Italian foiling pioneer Enrico Forlanini, the award recognises the most impactful foiling achievement of the year and is selected by a jury of past recipients and industry experts.
Earlier that same day, The Foiling Organization will host the third edition of the World Foiling Congress, a two-day summit dedicated to the future of the global foiling industry. Key topics include the state of the art in technology (composites, mechatronics, autopilots and design), certification and regulation, and the use of foiling in passenger transport, pilot boats, search and rescue, drones and Naval operations.
CATEGORIES AND NOMINEES OF EDITION IX
For outstanding achievements in sport, innovation, and industry during 2025.
FEMALE SAILOR
For the best female foiling sailor of a single-handed boat or board.
PRESENTING PARTNER: AMAALA YACHT CLUB
NOMINEES: Pearl Lattanzi – USA – Waszp Games Female Winner ● Victoria Schultheis – MLT – Moth Female World Champion, Moth Female Foiling Week Winner, Switch Globals Female Winner ● Emma Wilson – GBR – iQFOiL World Champion ● Nia Suardiaz – ESP – GWA World Champion Wave, GWA World Champion FreeFly Slalom ● Marie Schlittenbauer – GER – GWA Surf-Freestyle World Champion ● Justine Lemeteyer – FRA – PWA Foil Slalom World Champion ● Jessie Kampman – NED – Women’s Formula Kite World Champion ● Maddalena Spanu – ITA – IWSA Women Formula Wing World & European Champion ● Andrea Zust – SUI – GKA Ranking Winner Big Air Hydrofoil ● Viola Lippitsch – AUT – SFT Pump Foil World Champion ● Agnes Wicander – SWE – SFT E-Foil World Champion, E-Foil Racing League Ranking Winner
MALE SAILOR
For the best male foiling sailor of a single-handed boat or board.
PRESENTING PARTNER: AMAALA YACHT CLUB
NOMINEES: Nicolas Parlier – FRA – Tour de France on kitefoil, 2,394.5 km in 14 days ● Benoît Marie – FRA – First foil Mini 6.50 of Minitransat 2025, Solo 24h distance record (352.59 nm at 14.69 kn) ● Erwan Jauffroy – FRA – Longest non-stop 100% foiling SUP distance world record (156.5 km) ● Andy Brown – GBR – iQFOiL World Champion ● Federico Bergamasco – ITA – Waszp Games World Champion Overall & U21 ● Mathis Ghio – FRA – IWSA Men Formula Wing World Champion ● Matteo Iachino – ITA – PWA Foil Slalom World Champion ● Cash Berzolla – USA – GWA Wave World Champion ● Bastien Escofet – FRA – GWA FreeFly Slalom World Champion ● Riccardo Pianosi – ITA – Men’s & Youth Formula Kite World Champion, Men’s & Youth Formula Kite European Champion ● Enzo Balanger – FRA – Moth World Champion ● Benjamin Castenskiold – DEN – GWA Surf-Freestyle World Champion ● Hugo Wigglesworth – NZL – GKA Ranking Winner Big Air Hydrofoil ● Justin Chait – USA – SFT E-Foil World Champion, E-Foil Racing League Ranking Winner ● Edan Fiander – SUI – SFT Pump Foil World Champion ● Mattia Cesana - ITA - Winner of Switch Global Championship
SAILING TEAM
For the best foiling achievement of a crew.
PRESENTING PARTNER: AMAALA YACHT CLUB
NOMINEES: SVR-Lazartigue – FRA – Winner Transat Café L’Or 2025 (Ultim) ● Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team – GBR – SailGP 2025 Season Champions ● Charal – FRA – Winner Transat Café L’Or 2025 (IMOCA 60) ● Team Biotherm – FRA – Winner The Ocean Race Europe 2025 ● Entreprises du Morbihan – FRA – ETF26 2025 Ranking Winner ● Sails of Change 8 – SUI – TF35 2025 Ranking Winner ● John Gimson & Anna Burnet – GBR – Nacra 17 World Champions 2025
INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY
For the best foiling technical advancement and/or solution (hull excluded), applicable on sailing and/or powered vessels or boards.
NOMINEES: Flyte Autopilot rake control ● Minilab’s Sustainable Hydrofoils: LMPAEK™ Innovation ● Foil Drive – Fusion ● Starboard aluminium mast V10 ● Charal – “A” rudders foil ● Foil Cedrus Forged mast ● T-foils on SailGP F50 ● Vessev – VS-Drive ● Evolo ● Regent Craft - Foil and rudder
SUSTAINABILITY
For the best foiling idea, invention, design and/or initiative, significantly reducing environmental impact.
PRESENTING PARTNER: ROPNER
NOMINEES: PoliMi Sailing Team (Politecnico di Milano) – “ALTEA” sustainable foiling Moth prototype ● Candela P-12 navigation in Trondheim’s fjords ● Starboard and iQFOiL’s Plastic Offset Programme ● Minilab’s Sustainable Hydrofoils: LMPAEK™ Innovation ● Appletree boards
PROJECT
For the best project of a sailing or powered vessel still in the design phase.
PRESENTING PARTNER: GOTTIFREDI MAFFIOLI
NOMINEES: Pboats Pocket Spider by Hugh Welbourn Design ● The Voodo XF450 ● The SKAW A ● Ferrari Hypersail ● Foiler – GHOST ● ASKEL66 ● Trimaran T32 ● Levanta Tech “float-and-fly” drones ● Vessev VS-9 Skye
FOILING EVENT
For the best foiling event (if a series of events in multiple locations, only single events are considered).
PRESENTING PARTNER: PINDAR
NOMINEES: DEFI Wind Gruissan 2025 ● Moth Worlds – Lake Garda ● Waszp Games WPNSA Weymouth 2025 ● Barcelona Mataro Foil Festival ● SailGP 2025 Grand Final (San Francisco) ● Foiling Week Malcesine ● The Crozon Foil Festival ● The Ocean Race Europe 2025 ● Transat Café L’Or 2025 ● Les Ailes de Saint-Tropez ● FLITE Dubai International E-Foil Race 2025
FOILING PATHWAY
For the National Federation or Organization that realized the best foiling development and accessibility initiative.
PRESENTING PARTNER: VAKAROS ● WORLD SAILING
NOMINEES: Australian Sailing Para Wing Foil Camp ● Junior Foiling Cup ● IDP Wingfoil Clinic 2025 ● Athena Pathway ● America One Racing ● Foiling Base Cadiz powered by SailGP Inspire ● Foiling Academy ● PWA Youth Slalom World Tour ● K-Challenge Academy
PRODUCTION MOTOR BOAT
For the best foiling engine powered craft already in production and being sailed (prototype or boat 1 built at minimum).
NOMINEES: Blue Game – BGF45 ● Vandal V60 ● Powerplay 40 OB ● Aquila 46 Coupe ● Aquila 42 Coupe ● Aquila 46 Yacht ● Proteus 310 ● Vandal V50 ● Makai M37 Power Catamaran ● Kaebon Elektrobot Eins
COMMERCIAL VESSEL
For the best foiling vessel project intended for Public transportation, SAR, pilot or other professional or work use
NOMINEES: CAT14 ● Penguin Princess Fast Crew Boat
ONE-OFF SAILING OR POWERED YACHT
For the best foiling vessel not intended for commercial production, already in a prototype or testing/commissioning phase.
PRESENTING PARTNER: PERSICO MARINE
NOMINEES: Gitana 18 ● Palm Beach XI
PRODUCTION SAILING BOAT
For the best foiling sailing craft already in production and being sailed (prototype or boat 1 built at minimum).
PRESENTING PARTNER: CARIBONI
NOMINEES: Flyte ● FlyTri - Hydrofoil Trimaran Sailing
BOARDS AND WATER-TOYS
For the best foiling board or water-toy powered by human, wind or motor.
PRESENTING PARTNER: GARMIN
NOMINEES: Hydroblade ● Kosmos go-foil ● Freucamp Hydrofoil Bike ● Hyperfly ● Waydoo EVO Pro Plus ● Aerofoils Audi e-Tron foil ● FLITELab* AMPJET ● Fliteboard RACE ● Appletree Appleslice V4 ● Appletree Zapple