WASZP GP at the Ullswater Daffodil Regatta 2021

WASZP GP at the Ullswater Daffodil Regatta © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Last weekend saw the long awaited return of Waszps to Ullswater Yacht Club in the Lake District for a Class Event as part of the club's Daffodil Regatta. The event had been put back from April and was the first put on by the club for almost two years due to Covid-19.

A big fleet of over 20 Waszps entered and everyone was very excited to get back to a racing event again with folk coming from as far afield as Hayling Island and bonny Scotland! Lots of new faces were warmly welcomed too as this exciting Class continues to grow.

Half of the fleet arrived early enough on Friday afternoon to get a sail in and were treated to a nice force 3 north easterly breeze coming straight down the 8.5 mile long lake giving glorious foiling conditions! 'Normal life' seemed to have returned a little with some of the fleet going to a local pub for dinner (!) while most stayed for the club catering and typically for the very sociable Waszp Class a party broke out mixing with the locals too until late into the night...

Saturday dawned with sunshine but sadly practically no wind but all entrants set off for the first race hoping conditions would change as it often does in these parts, plenty of time to take in the magnificent mountainous scenery on the journey to the course at least! A race was started in a tiny breeze but this was General Recalled due to some being over the line or capsized on top of the pin! Sadly what wind there was then disappeared so the fleet abandoned and headed slowly back in where there was Sailingfast beer waiting for those that were in need supplied by Emma! A breeze picked up later on and most of the fleet went out again and got some playful foiling in their Waszps or on a Wing Foil.

Waszps flying at the Ullswater Yacht Club Daffodil Regatta - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Another very sociable night ensued with the 'Waszp Band' swelling to a four piece with the addition of Andy and Phil to the usual Jamie and Keith/Slash entertaining all at the club through the night! Guest vocals were also supplied by Emma and a local toffee delicacy was enjoyed too.

Sunday was windy from the start so all were looking forward to an exciting day of racing! A windward/leeward course was shared with the Musto Skiff and VX1 fleets with the southerly wind beginning at force 3 then building up through the races to peak at force 6 - this was the first Waszp race ever for the newcomers to the fleet and they did very well to get round as even the VX1's where sometimes getting blown over!

Throughout the three races at the front it was Matt Beck, Jamie Calder and Ed Higson battling it out for the wins with the lead sometimes changing on the very last run! Matt got two wins to Jamie's one and took the regatta with Ed coming in third. Congratulations go to them and all who managed the races in such full on conditions - descriptions of the day ranged from 'Super Sunday' to 'Like a Japanese gameshow gone wrong'!! Last Man Standing honours went to Phil as usual but he was pushed quite hard at times by various Waszpmates...

As usual the Waszps had a great mix of sailing and socialising with many stories to tell after the days and nights! Ullswater was greatly enjoyed and thanks go to the Club Team who worked very hard to put the event on at this difficult time.

The Class now looks forward to it's National Championships at Rutland Water next month where there will be a training day followed by a UK record attendance for the race meeting.

Overall Results: