2019 International WASZP Games - Day 1
by Marc Ablett 24 Jan 2019 20:16 NZDT
22-28 January 2019
The 2019 International WASZP Games kicked off in superb fashion with a classic Perth seabreeze at 18-22 knots. With flat water, strong breezes and 60+ WASZPs on the start line it truly is foiling paradise.
After 3 epic races the leaderboard stood with Tom Trotman again on top with a super consistent day, however young gun from Great Britain Rory Hunter recovered from an 18th in race 1 to win the final 2 heats.
The level of racing has certainly lifted from the nationals with any number of 20 boats able to claim a race if they get off the start line well and stay clean around the track. There are also many boat pushing the limits around the gates with sometimes 10-15 boats converging at a gate at one time with the boats pushing 25knots of speed.
The mix of young and old throughout the class is one of the absolute features and something you rarely see in any other senior class. You have Tom Trotman aged 23 mixing it up with Jon Holroyd (43) and Rory Hunter (20) at the top. Then you have guys like Brad Devine (52) mixing it with Mattias Coutts (14) and his son Tom Devine (16). It is so awesome to see the spread and also families involved in the class.
The competition is wide open and with more boats on the line for the WASZP Games, starting has become crucial. Racing has been cancelled for tomorrow due to a cyclone up north and we will continue racing on Thursday 24th with 3 races in a solid southerly.
Results so far can be found here.