The reigning world champions followed up their wins at Traunsee last week with victories in an event that used a new knockout format of races to decide the medallists.

Maeder of Singapore was top of the overall opening series, which combined men’s and women’s scores, after ten races sailed, with a points total of 14.

Conditions at Poetto Beach on finals day were tough with a constantly-changing wind speed and direction.

In the men’s Grand Final Maeder took an early lead and maintained it to claim gold.

Home sailor Lorenzo Boschetti took the silver medal, with bronze going to Denis Taradin of Cyprus, who progressed through the repechage, quarter-final and semi-final, finishing in the top two each time, to reach the Grand Final.

Fourth place went to Greece’s Kameron Maramenides.

In the women’s Grand Final gold went to Nolot of France, who used her superior pace and height on the second lap of the race to overtake Julia Damasiewicz of Poland, who had taken an alternative racing line off the start.

Silver for the second round in a row went to Breiana Whitehead of Australia, while Damasiewicz, who earlier had to progress through the repechage, quarter-final and semi-final races, took the bronze medal.

Fourth place went to Italy’s Sofia Tomasoni, who had completed the Grand Final field.

The third and concluding round of the KiteFoil World Series, with prize money of €50,000 (£43,320/$52,570), is due to take place at Zhuhai in China from November 29 to December 3.