Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

WASZP to serve as talent ID tool for SailGP Women's Invitational Camps

by Marc Ablett 17 Dec 2020 22:00 PST
The next generation of elite talent coming through as part of the Foiling Norway Women in WASZP program © Marc Ablett

With a year like no other in 2020, both SailGP and WASZP have embraced the change, taken stock and further improved their programs to foster diversity and inclusion in the sport of sailing.

Since its inception in 2016, the WASZP has provided sailors the opportunity to build their foiling skills, while engaging a new generation of athletes to begin their journey in the modern style of the sport.

Now, SailGP will be utilising WASZPs as the global championship holds invitational camps across the world to identify and select female athletes to join each of its eight teams starting in 2021.

Marc Ablett, WASZP head of product and global sales/marketing said: "It is with great pleasure the SailGP teams have turned to WASZP to kick start their talent identification programs for elite female sailors around the world. Many current and former Olympic sailors, as well as professional sailors, are using the WASZP as an affordable cross-trainer parallel to their existing programs."

The WASZP provides a level playing field for female athletes to compete equally against males, creating a fresh and inclusive event atmosphere. Many current WASZP events range from 20-40 percent female participation, which continues to grow.

The WASZP is already linked with SailGP through a strategic partnership with SailGP Inspire, the league's youth and community outreach program. The partnership successfully kicked off earlier this year in Sydney with a gender-balanced group of 16 young sailors from Australia, Japan and New Zealand taking part in an elite youth racing program, culminating in a final in front of the SailGP event crowds and broadcast globally.

As part of its Race for the Future purpose-driven agenda, SailGP is working to create an end-to-end pathway to expand participation in the sport and, ultimately, the league. With the WASZP equipment readily available and affordable for sailors to get into the programs, it eliminates prohibitive entry costs.

SailGP Chief Communications Officer Christy Cahill said: "WASZPs are a natural choice for talent identification and development within our global league. As we aim to immediately diversify our talent pool, these boats offer an accessible step on the path to participation in the type of high-performance sail racing that SailGP offers, and remove many of the barriers to entry that have blocked a more inclusive environment in the past."

The SailGP Season 2 calendar is taking shape, with nine events planned starting in Bermuda in April 2021. The 2021 WASZP events are being finalized, with the EuroCup circuit to feature around the SailGP calendar culminating in a blockbuster European Championships during August.

For more information visit sailgp.com/general/gender-equity.

Related Articles

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
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history. Posted on 11 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 4
Team Aeronautica Militare wins in La Maddalena, now on to the grand finale in Genoa The team of the Aeronautica Militare, after Cagliari, also wins in La Maddalena, preceding the team of the Guardia di Finanza and the team of the Marina Miliatre who came in third. Posted on 8 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 3
Perfect weather conditions for a spectacular and exciting inshore race The perfect marine weather conditions offered the public of La Maddalena a spectacular and exciting inshore race. Posted on 7 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour LaMaddalena day 2
A fantastic second day in La Maddalena. The perfect wind conditions allowed Waszp and Wing to carry out their regatta program, thrilling with their spectacular evolutions in a breathtaking setting among the islands of the archipelago. Posted on 6 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour LaMaddalena day 1
The fleet left Cagliari yesterday to face the 165 miles to La Maddalena The fleet of Figaro3 of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour left Cagliari yesterday to face the 165 miles that will take them to La Maddalena. Posted on 5 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari overall
Team Aeronautica Militare wins The Aeronautica Militare team wins the Cagliari stage, ahead of the Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee team and the Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team, which came in third. Posted on 4 Jul
SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support. Posted on 3 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari day 2
Today in Cagliari, the awards ceremony for the stage winners At the Regatta Village, preparations are under way for the closing ceremony of the Cagliari stage scheduled for this evening at 9:30 pm, preceded by a concert by the Banda della Brigata Sassari. Posted on 2 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari day 1
The Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team was the first to arrive in Cagliari The Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team was the first to arrive in Cagliari and win the first offshore leg in Sardinia. Posted on 1 Jul
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMSwitch One Design