A few weeks ago the Daishan Island, at the delta of the Yangtze River, provided a stunning backdrop for the staging of the 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup China, which brought together 72 competitors from 12 countries – 54 men and 18 women.
The winner of the male Gold Flight was Kamil Manowiecki.
The name Kamil Manowiecki is well known in Malta among water sports people for while attending University here he took advantage of our enticing Mediterranean weather to practice his favorite sports, namely, sailing, windsurfing, windFoiling, and wingFoiling.
I came to meet Manowiecki in early 2022 when I was planning the organisation of an event to mark the 40th Anniversary since the first Malta-Sicily Windsurf Crossing of 1982.
But who is 23 year-old Kamil Manowieck, of Polish nationality, who in such a short spell has established himself as one of the top athletes on the Wingfoil Racing circuit?
Kamil is a professional water sports athlete with 10 years of experience on the national team.
Throughout his career, he won medals at European and World Championships, as well as 14 Polish Championship titles in sailing, windsurfing, windfoiling, and wingfoiling. Since last year, 2024, he dedicated his sport career to wingfoiling, aiming for its potential inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program.
In addition to his athletic career, Kamil Manowiecki is pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Development at Mälardalen University in Sweden. The program is conducted online, which allows him to balance his academic goals with his sporting career.
Kamil recent records read: Victory in the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Final in Brazil 2024 – victory in the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Final in Cagliari 2024 – second place Wingfoil World Cup Turkey 2025 – second Place Wingfoil Racing World Cup Switzerland 2025 – second place Wingfoil World Cup Morocco 2025 – second place Formula Wing European Championships 2025 and first place WingFoil Racing World Cup China 2025.
On his personal home page Kamil briefly defines his achievements thus: Medals 101 – Gold Medals 50 – World Record – 1
The Malta connection standout boldly among his major accomplishments -”World Record – 1”. the title of this reference reads [World Record holder (fastest 100 Km crossing between Malta and Sicily)], and showing related photograph.
Here Kamil Manowieckie is referring to the Enemed Malta-Sicily Windsurf Crossing (1982-2022), held on Friday the 13th , (May 2022), which was a 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, of the first ever successful windsurf crossing between Sicily and Malta in 1982. On the day Peter Bonello and Paul Ellul covered the middle sea marathon in 9hrs 31mins.
Worth recalling that besides Kamil Manowiecki, who symbolically represented the foreign windsurfers who over the years participated in the ‘Pozzallo Race’, the other four participants on the Enemed Malta-Sicily Windsurf Crossing – 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition (1982-2022), were a mix of Maltese ‘veterans’ and ‘newcomers’ windsurfers. These were Paul Ellul (59 years old), Karl Miggiani (24), Tom Zammit Tabona (28), and Shaun Miggiani (21).
Kamil Manowiecki World fastest 100 Km crossing between Malta and Sicily was getting to Pozzallo, on the Enemed Malta-Sicily Windsurf Crossing (1982-2022), in just 2hrs 13mins.
The Enemed Malta-Sicily Windsurf Crossing – 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition (1982-2022) was the 12th crossing/race promoted and organised by Wishbone Windsurfing Promotions between 1982 and 2022.
Eleven of these events were held in collaboration with the Ghadira Sailing Club, while the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition was carried out in collaboration with the Malta Young Sailors Club. All twelve contests were enthusiastically supported by a ‘fleet’ of escort boats and fast dinghies, which carried out various duties (H.Q. Vessel, Escort Boats, Medical Boat, Media Boat, Equipment Carrier), as well as race officials, competitors’ helpers, and noteworthy sponsors
(GasanMamo Insurance, S&D Yachts, Blye, Medcomms Marine Electronic, Cisk, and Roland Marina), the media, under the zealous guide of the ‘old guard’, being the late Jovin Rausi, the late Roland Darmanin Kissaun, Jeff Poulton and yours truly. For all twelve Events, the Comune di Pozzallo (City Council of Pozzallo) Sicily, always extended its collaboration.
Now what’s next for Kamil
Following his spectacular first placing in the WingFoil Racing World Cup China 2025, he leads the 2025 IWSA (International Wing Sports Association) WingFoil Racing World Cup Series (Overall Standings – MEN) with 1,589 points closely followed in second place by Mathis Ghio (France) with 1,586 points, and by Francesco Cappuzzo (Italy) with 1,522 points in third place.
With such proximity in the world ranking, the last event on the WingFoil Racing World Cup Series calendar is truly a make-or-break contest. The ultimate decisive hurdle will be the World Cup Brazil being held at Vila Kalango between December 2 and 6.
The talented international fleet of competitors is in for an exciting and spectacular treat, for Vila Kalango in Jericoacoara, Brazil, receives overwhelmingly positive reviews for its stunning beachfront location where guests highlight the resort’s perfect conditions for wind sports like kiteboarding and wing foiling… So Good Luck Kamil, you’re close to another Gold!
