The Alpine setting of Lake Silvaplana turned on the goods for Day 3 of the Ensis EngadinWing Wingfoil Racing World Cup Series. The famously reliable Maloja wind swept up the valley on cue, delivering a solid 14 knots with gusts topping 20 – perfect for high-speed action. The result? Fast, full-send racing, a few icy splashdowns, and big leaderboard shifts as the riders pushed to make the gold fleet cut.
For Kiwi Sean Herbert, the pressure seems to be fuelling performance. With a steady hand and sharp tactical sailing in the tricky, shifty breeze, Herbert continues to show his class — holding firm in third overall as the event moves into its deciding phase.
Shifting breeze, stable result
The day saw three fleets on the water: two men’s groups and the women’s division, each completing eight races in the brisk conditions. With gusts punching across the lake, consistency was key — and Herbert once again found it.
It wasn’t just boat speed that mattered. The start line proved challenging as breeze shifts created opportunities for the sharp-eyed and quick-footed. One of the day’s big movers was Italy’s Francesco Cappuzzo, who delivered a clinical display across all races in his group. “I just kept pushing and pushing today and the results show that,” said Cappuzzo, who now enters the gold fleet phase brimming with confidence. “You know I like the gold fleet!”
Out in front, Mathis Ghio (France) retained his lead in the standings, while Polish rider Kamil Manowiecki closed the gap in second. The long-running rivalry between the pair looks set to intensify in tomorrow’s gold fleet faceoff, with Herbert right on their heels.
Personal bests and podium pressure
Further down the rankings, Britain’s Freddie Strawson had a breakout day, notching two second-place finishes and climbing into the overall top ten for the first time. “I’m beginning to believe there’s no reason why I can’t be up there with the others,” said the 28-year-old, clearly buoyed by the alpine breeze — and perhaps his biggest wing.
On the women’s side, Marta Monge of Italy jumped into second place overall after five impressive second-place finishes, trailing only compatriot Maddalena Spanu. Meanwhile, Kristyna Chalupnikova (CZE) slid down the leaderboard from second to fourth after a difficult day, leaving her with work to do in the remaining six races scheduled for tomorrow.
Yes on gold
With the qualifying phase now complete, the spotlight shifts to the gold fleet showdown tomorrow. Only the top nine from the men’s fleet will advance to the high-stakes Medal Series on Saturday. For Sean Herbert, who has shown he belongs in this elite company, it’s all about maintaining focus and keeping the board flying straight.
The competition is intensifying, but if today’s pace is anything to go by, the only certainty is that the next 24 hours will be fast, furious, and fiercely contested.
