Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo S Series

2019 Victorian WASZP State Championships at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

by Marc Ablett 4 Mar 2019 01:42 PST 2-3 March 2019
2019 Victorian WASZP State Championships at Blairgowrie © Russell Bates

At total of 23 WASZP's raced in the 2019 Victorian WASZP State Championships hosted by the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. The racing was amazingly close with nothing between the first 10-15 boats at the top mark each time, the leaders were then able to stretch their legs downwind.

This was the first official event on the new 'BIG FOIL' now made class legal and swapped over from the existing foil. It proved its worth, when the fleet was faced with a weekend of patchy 8-11 knot patchy northerlies. The race committee did a fantastic job of getting five races away in these conditions with all races full foiling affairs.

At the front end Jack Flesenthal continued his good form taking out the title in an epic battle with Tom Trotman. Trotman levelled the scores with a win in race 4 meaning the final race would come down to a battle in 2, with whoever won out of Felsenthal and Trotman to take the title.

Race 5 was an epic, with Ben Gunther leading the way from Jack Abbott and Trotman. The battle continued down the run as the breeze began to soften. The leaders headed right up the 2nd work sniffing out a touch of east in the breeze. Trotman had worked his way into a great position and lead at the final top mark, with Gunther close by, unfortunately for both, they parked in no wind at the top mark. Felsenthal then came through with seemingly his own breeze and foiled around the 2 to put just enough distance between himself and Trotman as everyone was back on the sticks. Felsenthal claimed victory by the barest of margins to claim the title as race 6 could not be completed as the breeze evaporated to nothing.

It was a true WASZP weekend, with plenty of socialising at the local watering hole the Sorrento Hotel on Saturday night, leaving a few sore heads in the morning. The club put beers and BBQ on after racing each day and there is no better spot to be chilling out down the Mornington peninsula.

One of the many positive aspects to come out of the weekend was the women in WASZP, with Krystal Weir and Alison Dale at their first WASZP event. The WASZP is gaining great popularity amongst the female sailors around the world, with strong programs developing in Australia, Norway, NZ, UK and South America in particular. The fleet was also joined by an interstate contingent with Aaron Delongville making the trip from Perth, with Don McPhee and Henry Davison trekking down from Sydney. The fleet is growing extremely quickly with fleets now very strong in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

The NSW fleet will be ready to explode with the 2020 Australian National Championships pencilled in for 24-27th January at Port Stephens. This makes for an epic summer in Australia with Sail Melbourne also planned for the 17th-21st allowing WASZP Sailors 10 days of sailing on the east coast of Australia.

Related Articles

(More than) A Day at the Races
The UK is the place to be right now if you're a sailor The UK is the place to be right now if you're a sailor, and I don't think I've ever known a time when so many great events are happening concurrently. Posted on 22 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Day 1
247 sailors across four fleets racing in Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay "This race is live" — and with that, the 2025 WASZP Games were officially under way. With 247 sailors across four fleets, Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay were transformed into a theatre of foiling. Posted on 22 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Women's Sprint Champs Overall
A thrilling showdown with five high-octane slalom races in Portland Harbour The final day of the WASZP Women's Sprint Championship delivered a thrilling showdown with five high-octane slalom races, pushing sailors to their limits in fast, tactical conditions. Posted on 21 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Women's Sprint Championship Day 1
Tight racing as the female sailors went head-to-head on the SailGP sprint course The start of the WASZP Women's Sprint Championship delivered a spectacular showcase of talent, tactics, and tight racing as female sailors went head-to-head on the SailGP sprint course. Posted on 20 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth overall
Light winds prevailed for the final day Light winds prevailed for the final day of the WASZP Pre-Games, seeing the racing postponed as sailors waited for the breeze to make up its mind. Posted on 19 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle. Posted on 18 Jul
The WASZP Games: A decade in the making
What was once a dream for the SailingFast team is now a reality! The WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has been a decade in the making for Duncan & Emma Hepplewhite at SailingFast, so seeing it come to fruition is a proud moment for them and the team. Posted on 17 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 1
Four races held for all flights in the sunshine The WASZP Pre-Games got under way in Weymouth on Thursday with all the ingredients for a great day on the water: a steady WSW breeze, sunshine, and plenty of smiles heading out onto the racecourse in Portland Harbour. Posted on 17 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth starts today
131 boats from 18 countries prepare ahead of the main event The 2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth has become a magnet for the international foiling community. With 131 boats entered from 18 countries, this event is more than just a tune-up—it's a snapshot of the class's spirit. Posted on 16 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena overall
Grand Finale in Genoa Having departed from Venice on June 1, after 43 days of sailing, the 5th edition of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour (Sailing Tour of Italy) concluded in Genoa in the magnificent setting of the Palazzo Ducale, which hosted the awards ceremony. Posted on 14 Jul
Switch One DesignPalm Beach Motor YachtsArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOM