SailGP - WASZP INSPIRE Racing lights up Plymouth
by WASZP Class 19 Jul 08:28 BST
17-18 July 2021
What an epic month of WASZP racing we have had in the UK. First, we had the record fleet of 56 boats at the UK Nationals in Rutland, which also doubled as a qualifying event for the Plymouth SailGP Event.
With Covid restrictions easing, it enabled the WASZP team to put in action the first fully-fledged SailGP INSPIRE WASZP Racing event of the season. The 16 sailors (8 male, 8 female) were selected from a combination of written applications and on-water qualification. This enabled the best WASZP Sailors in the country an opportunity to race against talent from other classes on the one-design WASZP platform.
The WASZP is one of the only genuine high-performance classes where male and female sailors can compete on a level playing field, 3 of the girls qualified for the final 8 to compete amongst the F50s on Saturday and Sunday. Hattie Rogers showed a clean pair of heels and was 2nd, heading into the final day to be the top female sailor. She will undoubtedly be on the radar of the Great Britain SailGP Team's women development program for the future.
Zac Blomeley took the overall win with a commanding display in marginal conditions, overturning the UK WASZP nationals result with Matt Beck. The Slalom concept is an absolute winner and kept the large crowds on-shore and on the broadcast entertained.
Zac went on to say, "This has been one of the most special weeks of my life". Further showing the credibility of this program.
We now turn our attention to Aarhus to be hosted on the 20/21st of August. Applications for this event will be closing on the 23rd of July, so make sure you get them in and not miss this unbelievable opportunity.
All other legs of the circuit are now open so get those applications in!