Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 TOP

Australia to host 2023 International WASZP Games

by Marc Ablett 9 May 2022 17:20 NZST December 2023
Australian WASZP Nationals 2018 – Sorrento © Marc Ablett

December 2023, the southern end of Port Phillip Bay will come to life, with Sorrento Sailing & Couta Boat Club set to host the International WASZP Games (Worlds).

Sorrento has been a fantastic supporter of WASZP sailing since the class first hit the water in 2017, hosting two successful Australian Nationals Championships in 2018 and 2021 and having an active fleet at the club itself.

Sorrento Sailing & Couta Boat Club is undergoing works to build a new clubhouse that will be ready for summer 2022/23 and well in advance of the International WASZP Games. The new facility will provide the perfect base for this large scale international event. Ample rigging space will be provided for the expected 150 competitors, and the relaxed beach party hospitality synonymous with the WASZP Class will fit Sorrento’s capabilities.

With 135 WASZPs in Australia currently and strong interest from overseas, this will be the jewel in the crown of the Australian summer. Providing high-speed colour and action against the stunning Mornington Peninsula backdrop, the flat water and solid sea breezes, give the perfect blend for the WASZP Class to enjoy. The Australian WASZP Class can not wait to welcome a large contingent of international sailors, there are expectations of containers out of Europe, UK and New Zealand, with a good contingent of sailors from the USA, Canada and Hong Kong also expected. It is a bucket list opportunity to spend a summer in Australia.

The WASZP Games last came to Australia in 2019 where they were held in Perth on the Swan River. With an explosion in growth globally since that event, WASZP is expecting 180+ to the International WASZP Games in Garda this year. A strong Australian contingent will be heading over, with approximately 15 sailors making the trip. The holiday vibe associated with the WASZP Class is a catalyst for the high participation, there is no better place to improve your foiling skills and have a holiday with family and friends than at a major WASZP Championship.

The WASZP is a class for everyone, with a strong representation right across the age spectrum. There is a strong youth scene driven by the alternative pathway associated with SailGP, while the retention of sailors beyond youth sailing is high. It is the perfect boat to get you through that transition into senior sailing, creating a solid contingent in the 25-40 age bracket. Then one of the most enjoyable group within the WASZP Class is the masters scene, with a large group of sailors over the age of 40 who love the travel, family atmosphere and going fast. The masters scene is robust in the UK and Australia, no doubt a battle for the ashes is on the horizon.

With Sorrento providing a fantastic base for this event and the Australian WASZP Association getting active, we can expect abundant opportunities for the Australian fleet to get together for events over the next 18 months.

The calendar for the Australian fleet is filling up fast with 8 events around a variety of Australian states already locked in for the 22/23 season. Headlined by the Australian National Championships in Perth from the 22nd-27th of January at Perth Dinghy Sailing Club on the Swan River. Other features will be the state championships and also a new initiative the slalom championships across 3 states. It is shaping as a huge season in 22/23 and then an exciting lead up into the 2023 International WASZP Games.

One aspect of the class that is very strong is the culture of the top sailors assisting new people entering the class. Given the fantastic facilities at Sorrento and an appetite for coaching, the WASZP Class will look to run several coaching camps for new people to the class, this will happen in the 12 months leading into the International WASZP Games.

Overall we can not wait to show this fantastic venue off to the rest of the world, the event will have a strong media presence and the mantra of racing had on-the-water and enjoying life off-the-water is ever present in this class.

Related Articles

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 today at 5:25 am
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
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
Rooster 2025C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMB&G Zeus SR NZ