The 2026 Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Hong Kong served up frustration and fun in equal measure on Wednesday, as the winds off Stanley Main Beach refused to play ball. Hopes lingered through the morning, but by lunchtime officials had little choice but to abandon racing for the day.
Top athletes aren’t known for enjoying downtime, so competitors quickly found another outlet for their competitive instincts. Enter dragon boat racing. With Hong Kong providing the perfect backdrop, riders swapped wings for paddles and went head-to-head across the bay, splashing rival crews with their oars and grinning all the way. The intensity never dropped, but neither did the smiles.
New season, new wings
© IWSA media Ernesto De Amicis (ITA) and his new wing from Italian manufacturer Zaoli
The unexpected pause also offered a chance to take stock of some notable equipment changes made over the closed season, with several leading riders embracing a more hands-on approach to sponsorship.
Italian teenager Ernesto De Amicis is one of the most eye-catching examples. The 17-year-old recently ended a three-year partnership with North Foils and has joined forces with Zaoli, a move driven as much by curiosity as performance. Passionate about research and development, De Amicis is keen to be involved in the creation process. “Sure, I can develop as an athlete because they make great wings but it’s more than that. I can develop as a person and as a future worker in this sector because I’m learning so much from them; how to develop a wing from scratch”.
He’s hard to miss on the water thanks to his new bright blue wing, a colour he proudly notes matches his local Serie A team Napoli. More importantly, his move reflects a broader shift in the sport, where sponsorships are becoming deeper partnerships rather than simple equipment deals.
© IWSA media Kamil Manowiecki racing in Hong Kong, China with his new PPC wing
A similar story is unfolding with Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki. Runner-up in last season’s World Cup, the 24-year-old has switched from Ozone to a wing supplied by New Zealand brand PPC. “I’m in close touch with them, we’re working on the new protoypes to make new wings even faster” he said while walking through the details of his new setup.
Manowiecki arrived in Hong Kong three weeks early to put the wing through its paces, well aware that every design comes with trade-offs. “No matter how good the equipment there’s always a down-side. You need to find what that is and learn to adapt”. For him, tacking was initially the challenge, but the adjustment was swift. “It took me just one day to feel fully comfortable and do 100 percent tacks quickly” he said, before adding with clear excitement “this wing is one of the fastest downwind and its light wind performance is amazing”.
That last point will not go unnoticed by his rivals, as downwind speed had at times caused Manowiecki problems.
Any doubts about his form were eased on Day 1, where he delivered impressive consistency to finish top of the leaderboard. The inevitable question followed: is it the athlete or the equipment? “Well, I was also top in Brazil with the old wing” he points out “but I guess time will tell” he adds.
Light winds are forecast again for Friday, but conditions over the weekend look excellent. Fans can catch every moment live from Friday onwards on the Wingfoil Racing YouTube channel.
How to follow World Cup Hong Kong:
Website: wingfoilracing.com/
Instagram: @wingfoilracing - regular posts and stories throughout the event
YouTube: @Wingfoilracing //www.youtube.com/@wingfoilracing/streams">YT channel for live coverage
