Published : 07/15/2025

Enzo BALANGER, 1st French MOTH à Foil world champion

Categories : Equipment , Sports Partnerships

ENZO already winner of Foiling Week

Photo : Martina ORSINI / We are foiling media

Crédit photo : Christophe BRESCHI / XPO

A first for a French sailor and the fulfilment of a childhood dream for ENZO

Like ALLEN By XPO team members Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin, who in 2024 became the first French crew to become 49er world champions, Enzo BALANGER has become the first French MOTH à Foil world champion, ahead of such Olympic and America's Cup sailing greats as Australia's Tom SLINGSBY and New Zealand's Jacob PYE.

It was in Italy, on Lake Garda, that the Frenchman, a member of the Akademy K-Challenge and skipper of the Orient Express Racing Team in the 2024 Youth America's Cup, dominated the regatta, winning 5 of the 10 races.

137 athletes from 25 different countries competed from 6 to 13 July, including all the 'rock stars' from Olympic sailing, the Sail GP and the America's Cup.

ENZO BALANGER

Photo : Martina ORSINI / We are foiling media

The native of Guadeloupe took up the Foil Moth in 2021, and since then he has gone from strength to strength, becoming French Champion in 2023 and 2024 and 6th in the World Championships in 2023 and 2024. This progress has been made thanks in particular to his sailing on the Sail GP circuit and on the Cup boat. This year, becoming Foiling Moth World Champion has become a real objective and Enzo has been able to devote himself fully to sailing this 3.35m foiler capable of speeds of over 30 knots.

A meeting with XPO and ALLEN during the 2024 French Championships

XPO and Enzo met at the 2024 French Championships. It was a great discovery for XPO, who appreciated the spirit of resourcefulness and mutual aid of this fast-developing class, and it was only natural that a partnership should be set up with the English fittings brand ALLEN BROTHERS, which already equipped a big name in Moth to Foil, Dylan FLETCHER..

Moth championnat de France

Photo : Christophe BRESCHI / XPO - French Championship of MOTH à FOil 2024

This feedback will enable ALLEN to improve and develop new products that are ever more reliable and high-performance.

After Erwan FISCHER and Clément PÉQUIN won the World Championship in the 49er class in 2024, we're very proud to have helped Enzo win his title!

BRAVO ENZO !!!!

Enzo champion de France

Crédit photo : Christophe BRESCHI XPO - Enzo BALANGER, French Champion 2024

The ranking

Enzo Balanger (FRA) - 15 points
Tom Slingsby (AUS) - 27 points
Jacob Pye (NZL) - 29 points
Ryan Littlechild (AUS) - 31 points
Richard Schultheis (GER) - 35 points

Crédit photo : Christophe BRESCHI XPO