WASZP & SAILGP launch new competition format
by Marc Ablett 22 Dec 2024 21:15 PST
Young sailors take part in the Inspire Racing x WASZP program as they sail past Genesis Island on Race Day 1 of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, Australia. Saturday 24th February © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
WASZP, the innovative one-design foiling class, and SailGP, the global racing championship, have announced a strategic restructuring of their original partnership to introduce a WASZP Grand Final Event and Global Qualification Series, beginning in 2025 with the first event staged during the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney (8-9 February).
The winner will be granted a placement with a SailGP team for an event in the 2025 Season of the Rolex SailGP Championship. This milestone move will showcase the best WASZP sailors worldwide, with WASZP and SailGP confirming aspirations to add a USD $10,000 for the winner, for subsequent competitions from 2026 onwards.
The restructuring also includes a new domestic qualification series, allowing top foiling athletes to compete locally for the chance to secure a place in the Grand Final. This format will enable a broader range of sailors to experience elite-level racing, helping to make foiling more accessible for a broader talent-pool, and promoting skill development in domestic circuits.
By leaning on the already established global racing circuit of the WASZP, which includes over 120 events per year in 25 countries, there will be an increase in participation and accessibility to the pathway. The age limit will be increased to an under-25 model, providing SailGP teams with a robust talent identification model. This new restructure will enable teams to continue to also evolve their academies and community engagement, to find the new wave of next generational talent.
Under its previous guise, the SailGP INSPIRE Program has been an unprecedented success, giving unparalleled opportunities for sailors to compete on a pathway towards the professional league. With SailGP continuing to evolve - including athlete transfer fees and multi-year contracts becoming the new normal - the opportunity for young sailors to break into the league and create profitable, professional, top-level career pathways has never been greater.
With qualifying for the event already under way, the Australian WASZP Nationals in Hobart in January will provide the final event qualification of the season. This format will look to be replicated in selected countries globally to form the qualification series, ultimately selecting sailors for the Grand Final series.
"We're excited to work with SailGP on this new remit of our historical partnership. The evolution will offer even more athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level," said Martin Evans, Global Class Manager for WASZP. "The support from SailGP allows us to elevate the WASZP racing experience, making it more accessible and appealing to sailors across the globe."
"The inaugural Grand Final event in Sydney 2025 will bring together the best WASZP sailors from the regional qualifiers, providing a world-class stage to celebrate the growing popularity and inclusivity of foiling," Evans continued.
SailGP is back on the iconic Sydney Harbour on 8-9 February 2025 for the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney. The Australian event has cemented itself as one of the most anticipated events of the summer, drawing thousands of fans from around the globe.