Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

WASZP Class Northern UK Division rallies at Dalgety Bay and Derwent

by Keith Bedborough 9 Sep 2020 11:15 BST

In line with the spirit and ambition of the class, the WASZP Class Northern UK Division have been extremely keen to get back on the water with their foiling buddies as the lockdown restrictions gradually allow a return to the sport.

To this end two informal WASZP rallies were recently organised which have been a huge success and show that the class is thriving and well-positioned for further strong growth once our national and international circuit events again become possible.

On 22/23 August Derwent Reservoir SC played host to Round 1 - and a blustery force 4-6 greeted the two local Waszps joined by four visitors from Scotland. After a short socially distanced briefing (/pre sale banter catch up) over coffee and bacon rolls it was down to the boats for rapid rigging and out for some fantastic foiling fun on the flat waters of Derwent.

There were quite a few swims as the lockdown lack of practice and gusty breeze took it's toll but everyone had a brilliant session and came off the water buzzing. It reminded us there's nothing quite like foiling downwind with a group of your buddies, trading gybes and waiting to see who will be the first person to come off the foils.

A socially distanced BBQ followed in the evening and the WASZP band made a brief appearance - with a ceremonial bottle of Limoncello despatched in respect to the sadly cancelled Waszp Games at Lake Garda. Prego.

Sunday dawned grey but with a slightly less punchy westerly which provided for another excellent 3 hour foiling session. Particular note goes to new pilot Ross Hunter who was rapidly scaling the learning curve and displaying great sustained flight skills and the makings of some smooth foiling gybes.Many thanks to Derwent Reservoir SC for playing excellent hosts and for very effective Covid-ready club management.

Building on this success Round 2 was swiftly organised at Dalgety Bay SC two weeks later for 5/6 September and 6 visiting boats joined the 4 local boats to be greeted by bright blue skies and a shifty Force 4-6 straight down the Forth Estuary with some great wind against tide action. In true Waszp spirit we agreed to send the four most experienced pilots out to see how the fared - at which point three of the "more senior" members rigged extremely slowly whilst international rock star Jamie Calder eagerly bounded down the slipway.

Jamie rapidly demonstrated that a) a Waszp can easily outrun a RIB in anything above 15 knots and b) it was actually extremely windy with some spectacular wipeouts - much to the delight of the shore-bound observers but of more concern to the senior proper blokes. However and as if by magic the breeze gradually eased off as the afternoon progressed allowing all boats to launch and sailors of all abilities to enjoy the supportive and inclusive environment and on the water coaching being provided by SailingFast supremo and WASZP UK Dealer Duncan Hepplewhite.

It again proved that the best way to learn the skills of foiling is with other boats around - and the sailors all naturally share experience and tips in line with "the WASZP spirit".

Man of the match this weekend was Paul McCombie from St Andrews - this was his first road trip with the WASZP and he displayed a rapid improvement in the challenging-at-times conditions on the River Forth. Local Laser lad Iain Duncan was also given a demo sail and came off the water with a big smile that was even wider than usual - we hope to get him out again soon and possibly even welcome him into the swarm. We eventually came off the water after 6pm -extremely tired but stoked from another great sesh.

A takeaway curry was extremely well received in the evening and it was only appropriate that another bottle of Limoncello (prego) accompanied the tall tales and WASZP Band performance to ensure the social side of the WASZP spirit was appropriately upheld. Special mention to living legend David Lilburn who was back in the country for a short break from his Caribbean superyacht - and nailed both his foiling gybes and his AC/DC vocals once again !

Sunday was a much more gentle affair - starting with a socially distanced BBQ breakfast courtesy of head chefs Ewart and McLellan. With the lack of forecast breeze and unseasonably Scottish wall to wall sunshine - the class took to SUP boards for a surfing safari around the bays and inlets of Dalgety Bay, which was a brilliant way to chillax after the adrenalin stoke of Saturday. Fish and chips from the local chippie (but no deep fried Mars bars this time) fortified the visitors for their journeys home (or rock star Lilburn heading for his private Learjet) - and rounded off a great weekend.

With another container load of boats arriving imminently and several new candidates lined up to join the WASZP Class Northern UK Division we expect to go from strength to strength as more second hand boats come onto the market - and the buzz of foiling in an easy to maintain one-design boat continues to grow!

Related Articles

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 today at 4:08 pm
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari overall
Team Aeronautica Militare wins The Aeronautica Militare team wins the Cagliari stage, ahead of the Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee team and the Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team, which came in third. Posted on 4 Jul
SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support. Posted on 3 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari day 2
Today in Cagliari, the awards ceremony for the stage winners At the Regatta Village, preparations are under way for the closing ceremony of the Cagliari stage scheduled for this evening at 9:30 pm, preceded by a concert by the Banda della Brigata Sassari. Posted on 2 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari day 1
The Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team was the first to arrive in Cagliari The Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team was the first to arrive in Cagliari and win the first offshore leg in Sardinia. Posted on 1 Jul
Foiling Week Malcesine 2025 concludes
Champions crowned and records set during the twelfth edition The twelfth edition of Foiling Week came to an end today in Malcesine with the awarding of the first BirdyFish World Championship title, showing the largest fleet ever for the occasion. Posted on 29 Jun
Athena Pathway announces AFP Foiling Festival
All abilities welcomed at Weymouth this August AFP Foiling Festival will cater for different levels of foiling experience, offering tasters for beginners, skills sessions for developing sailors, and structured training for current squad and intermediate-level athletes. Posted on 29 Jun
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Trapani day 3
Team Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee wins in Trapani, now heading to Sardinia The Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee team won the Trapani stage after about 54 hours of navigation in the offshore category, preceding the Aeronautica Militare team and the Royal Madras team who came in third. Posted on 28 Jun
2025 International Classes Regatta preview
The ICR has earned a stellar reputation as an outstanding lead-up regatta for competitors The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is proud to announce that the 2025 International Classes Regatta (ICR)—the Club's premier annual dinghy event—will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025. Posted on 27 Jun
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Trapani day 2
In Trapani, the Royal Madras team was 1st in the offshore race. The Royal Madras team was the first to arrive in Trapani and win the offshore leg, followed by the Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee and Aeronautica Militare teams. Posted on 26 Jun