2025 International Moth Worlds at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy - Day 5
by Francesca Frazza 12 Jul 10:52 PDT
6-13 July 2025
A day to remember on Lake Garda for the fifth and penultimate day of the 2025 Moth World Championship, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine from 6 to 13 July.
With waves, strong gusts and some of the most technical conditions seen so far, the 137 athletes from 25 nations delivered another spectacular performance in an event that brings together some of the greatest names in international sailing.
The morning began calmly, as expected. The Peler, Lake Garda's typical northerly breeze, failed to appear. At 9:30 a.m., the traditional Bib Ceremony was held, during which the yellow, blue and red bibs were awarded to the top three athletes in the men's and women's rankings.
At 11:00 a.m., AP was hoisted ashore, delaying racing while waiting for wind. But the wait wasn't long: around 12:40, the Ora filled in steadily and reliably, allowing the Gold Fleet to launch under Delta flag.
The racecourse immediately displayed its signature Garda characteristics: winds of 15-16 knots and a choppy, building wave pattern, with stronger and more consistent pressure on the left side, a classic Malcesine setup.
The Gold Fleet completed all four scheduled races, in a progression of increasingly technical sailing that demanded full concentration and precise boat handling, especially on the downwinds.
While many sailors experienced mixed results, France's Enzo Balanger once again stood out with scores of 4-1-DNF-1, maintaining his lead in the overall standings. It was also an excellent day for Australian legend Tom Slingsby, who posted 1-2-5-9 and climbed into fourth place.
Currently in second is Australia's Ryan Littlechild, with a consistent 7-3-4-2, followed in third by New Zealand's Jacob Pye, who delivered solid results of 5-7-2-3. The points between second and fifth place are extremely tight, keeping everything wide open heading into the final day. In the women's ranking, Malta's Victoria Schultheis continues to lead and sits 41st overall.
Ryan Littlechild, second overall, commented: "Today was a beautiful windy day — probably the windiest we've had since the start of the championship. We got four races in, which is about as many as we've had in all the previous days combined, so that was fantastic. It was also really tough at times — there was a lot of wind and the wave made the downwinds tricky. But I managed to stay on the foils and have a strong day. I'm happy to be in second place now. Tomorrow is looking lighter, which usually suits me, so we'll see what happens."
Jacob Pye, currently third, said: "What a day! We had around 15 knots, and by the end we were sailing through some pretty decent waves. Four races — it was really epic. I managed to put together a few good ones, and I'm feeling great. I can't wait for tomorrow — the points are super close, and it's all still to play for."
Victoria Schultheis, leading the women's fleet, added: "Today was Day Five of the Moth Worlds and what an incredible day. From what I've heard, it was full-on for everyone. We had a solid Ora, definitely more than expected — it caught us a little off guard, but it was still a great day. I haven't checked the forecast yet, but tomorrow we've got four more races. The plan is to get home early, rest, and be ready."
After the Gold Fleet, the Silver Fleet took to the water around 4:30 p.m., completing three races. The first was sailed in around 12-13 knots, but the breeze gradually dropped. The final race was held at 6:00 p.m. in light and fading conditions, still fun and technical, but increasingly complex.
Tomorrow's schedule is expected to mirror today's conditions, with no northerly breeze in the early hours. As in previous days, the Bib Ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m., followed by the first warning signal at 11:00 a.m., aiming to race with the Ora, the typical southerly wind on Lake Garda. Up to four races are scheduled for both the Gold Fleet and the Silver Fleet. As stated in the Sailing Instructions, no warning signal will be made after 4:00 p.m.
The day came to a close at 7:30 p.m. with the official Gala Dinner, held lakefront at Fraglia Vela Malcesine — the perfect occasion to celebrate an epic day before the grand finale tomorrow.
The 2025 Moth World Championship is made possible thanks to the essential support of sponsors and partners who believe in this sporting and territorial project. Special thanks go to UniCredit, title sponsor of the event, and to Falconeri, Zhik, Funivie Malcesine-Monte Baldo, Frantoi Redoro, Birrerie Stiegl, Distilleria Marzadro, Cantine Tinazzi, and Speck Stube.
The event is held under the patronage of the Veneto Region and the Municipality of Malcesine.
Full results can be found here.