Switzerland takes Foiling Week Pensacola title as four nations battle on final day
by Marc Ablett 16 Mar 2025 17:08 PDT
2025 WASZP North American Championships © Gianluca Di Fazio / We Are Foiling Media
The 2025 WASZP North American Championships at Foiling Week Pensacola delivered high-octane action and showcased the class's growing popularity, with over 40 WASZP sailors from seven countries taking to the waters of Pensacola Bay.
In a thrilling conclusion, Swiss sailor Micha de Wreck clinched the overall title, demonstrating remarkable consistency by never finishing lower than fourth across 10 tallied races.
The event marked the largest WASZP fleet ever assembled in North America, underscoring the class's rapid growth and appeal to international competitors. The week's racing saw a mix of conditions that tested sailors' versatility, with five different race winners highlighting the depth of talent within the fleet.
Hawaii's own Gavin Ball claimed the North American Championship title, finishing an impressive third overall. Defending champion Jackson Macauley of Canada remained in contention throughout the week but fell to fourth overall after a tough final day. Italian competitor Bergamasco showcased speed and skill with the most race wins, but two 10th-place finishes proved too costly to secure the top spot.
Tyler Bjorn, North American Class Manager, praised both the competitors and the host city: "This was a fantastic week for the WASZP Class and the city of Pensacola, which is gearing up to host the WASZP Games in March 2026. We were thrilled to bring our largest fleet to date, and this bodes well for the future growth of the class. Many sailors used this event as an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the venue, with some traveling from as far away as Australia."
The 2025 North American WASZP schedule is just heating up. Next on the calendar is the Hawaii State Championships in April 19-21, followed by the US Nationals in Annapolis, Maryland, from May 2-4. With momentum building, the WASZP fleet is set for another year of high-flying, fast-paced racing.