2026 Foil Bay of Islands delivers tight racing and international rivalry across Moth, kitefoil and wingfoil fleets

More than 100 sailors converged on the Bay of Islands late last month for a festival of foiling, with tight racing and high-octane action across several classes.

In the women’s 7.3m fleet, Scandinavian sailors set the pace. Norway’s Mina Mobekk secured the title by two points over Sweden’s Johanna Hjertberg after a consistent series. New Zealand’s Aimee Bright was just a point further back in third, keeping pressure on the leading pair throughout, while Veerle ten Have placed fourth in a closely fought contest.

Norway’s Mina Mobekk won the women's windfoil competition, with Johanna Hjertberg of Sweden second, and Kiwi Aimee Bright third. Photos / Insight Media

The female 7.3m youth title went to Elbe White, ahead of Margarita Konstantinova and Gabrielle Dalton-Wilson. In the 7m youth fleet, there was no separating Emilie Wade and Haylie Brodie on points at the conclusion of racing.

The men’s 8m racing continued a season-long duel between Josh Armit and Eli Liefting. Olympian Armit gained the upper hand on this occasion, winning the first three of four completed races to edge Liefting by two points overall. Hong Kong’s Ching Yin Cheng completed the podium in third.

Vlad Misescu led the male 8m youth fleet with authority, finishing six points clear of Sol Douwes and seven ahead of Josh Tuck. In the open gold fleet, Ian Young claimed top honours, followed by Nick Thomas and Alin Misescu.

Kitefoiling delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the regatta. Ben Turner completed a clean sweep, winning all four races to take the title ahead of Macgregor Jones and Adam Becker.

Tim Howse took out a tightly contested Moth division. Photos / Insight Media

The Moth class produced the closest racing of the event. Tim Howse and Jack Bennett each recorded four race wins across the series, trading blows throughout. The title was decided in the final race, where Howse secured victory to clinch the regatta. Hattie Rogers, the only female competitor in the fleet, finished an impressive fourth overall.

Kamil Manowiecki won two of four races in the wingfoil fleet. Photos / Insight Media

In the wingfoil competition, Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki won twice and placed second in the remaining two races to top the gold fleet standings. New Zealand’s Jake Pye was second, with Kosta Gladiadis third. In the silver fleet, Tim Rickards led Joe Adams and Jon Bilger on the podium, while Zoe Wilson, Valentina Gladiadis and Barbara Kendall were the leading female finishers.

The social fleet saw Jo Roberts and Juliet White secure a female one-two result, with Tommy Ralph third.

Full results here.