2021 WASZP Australian Nationals set for Sorrento in April
by Marc Ablett 3 Feb 22:23 PST
9-11 April 2021
The 2021 WASZP Australian Nationals are heading to Sorrento in April © WASZP class
With the WASZP class absolutely determined to get a National Championship happening in 2021 and the success of the Covid Cup Slalom event fresh in the rear view mirror, Sorrento Sailing & Couta Boat Club has won the right to host the 2021 Nationals on 9th, 10th & 11th of April.
One of the spiritual homes of WASZP sailing, SSCBC hosted the first ever Australian WASZP National Championship back in 2018 which proved to be a springboard for the classes success, not just in Australia but globally. Since then over 1000 boats have been distributed worldwide and a thriving event circuit is set to take 2021 by the horns.
In an ideal world with no-Covid, a 60+ boat fleet is certainly on the cards, this was highlighted by well over 30 boats being entered for the Gippsland Nationals in January while in the grips of Sydney's second wave and with no WA boats able to attend. However border restrictions will play a part and fingers are definitely crossed that by April there is more certainty about domestic travel in Australia.
Regardless the class is pressing on, determined to get a good card of racing done before the 20/21 season finishes. NSW and WA have already held state championships with solid fleets approaching 20 and Victoria is set to hold their state championships on the 13/14th of March at a new venue Royal Geelong Yacht Club.
Sorrento on the tip of the Mornington Peninsula is a bucket list location, again falling in line with WASZP only attending great venues that tick every box, from epic foiling conditions, to the lifestyle provided by the event surrounds. The club is working hard to provide top shelf hospitality to those who visit and nothing is too difficult for the sailing administration at SSCBC who have always strongly supported anything to do with WASZP.
There is hope that camping will be available right next to the club and being outside of peak season some amazing airBNB experiences can be had at a very affordable price point. Sorrento is usually a tourist mecca for Victorians and interstaters alike over the Christmas period, so it will be nice to be hosting the event in a more low key time of April.
The class has chosen the middle weekend of the school holidays to enable families to travel, with both a strong youth, masters and family presence in the class. This adds to the strong group of 18-35 years olds who are falling in love with the sport again through the WASZP. We have decided that the week after Easter allows people to spend time with their families, especially after the 2020 we have just had, then they can just roll straight into the WASZP Nationals.
The NoR, Sailing Instructions and Entries will all be available shortly through WASZP's new class administration platform RaceHub. With the Covid Cup the first event to count towards global rankings and a stacked calendar worldwide, the competition to be the world number 1 ranked WASZP sailor will be fiercely contested. This will also give us a great opportunity to see who the top sailors are as we head towards the International WASZP Games in Lake Garda July 2022.