Please select your home edition
Edition
Stoneways Marine 2021 - LEADERBOARD

WASZP Australian Nationals at South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club - Preview

by Marc Ablett 8 Mar 2022 08:58 GMT 11-13 March 2022
Jack Ferguson - Strata Plus winning the 2021 Nationals at Sorrento © Jack Fletcher / Down Under Sail

This Friday, will see 30+ WASZPs descend on South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club for the National Championships. As with last season, the event had a last minute venue change when it became untenable for the Western Australian division to run the event for the second year in a row. We thank SLMASC for stepping in to host the event.

There is still time to enter via racehub.waszp.com/eventdetail/76

Due to the late notice, finding a spot on the calendar has proven a challenge with the long weekend in March in Victoria traditionally a weekend of major events. With many of our youth sailors, sailing both the WASZP and other youth classes and the lack of WA representation for the 2nd consecutive year, fleet numbers have remained stable but the potential is massive once we can get back to our traditional Australia Day timeslot, with over 130 boats around Australia, finding that timeslot that works for everyone is critical.

Nevertheless, a great competitive fleet, with a great cross-section of ages synonymous with WASZP sailing is good to see. We expect great battles in each division, with Super-Master, Master and Apprentice looking at very competitive fleets.

The protagonists from the last couple of Nationals will again clash at the top of the fleet, Jack Ferguson, who has won the last 2 National Championships will go in as the favourite. Jack also won the SailGP INSPIRE Youth Racing event in Australia before Christmas and will be on a plane in 2 weeks' time to compete in the Grand Final in San Francisco. If Jack takes the crown, he will receive a cash fund to enhance his professional sailing, plus a development role with the Australian SailGP team. You only get these opportunities in the WASZP Class and we wish Jack well.

Others contending for the crown will be Ben Gunther and Jack Felsenthal, both have shown they are capable of winning a major championship and this may be the week! Ones to watch will be Hugo Allison from Tasmania, Keizo Tomishima from Sydney and Pat Distefano from Victoria, who have all improved out of sight this season.

With a strong contingent of 12 sailors heading to Lake Garda in July for the International WASZP Games, this will be the last opportunity to tune-up prior to that event, which should attract 200+ competitors.

We look forward to bringing you all the action from the 11th to 13th of March and can not wait to get back to Perth in 2023 for the 6th Australian National Championships over the Australia Day period.

Related Articles

2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle. Posted today at 5:25 am
The WASZP Games: A decade in the making
What was once a dream for the SailingFast team is now a reality! The WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has been a decade in the making for Duncan & Emma Hepplewhite at SailingFast, so seeing it come to fruition is a proud moment for them and the team. Posted on 17 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 1
Four races held for all flights in the sunshine The WASZP Pre-Games got under way in Weymouth on Thursday with all the ingredients for a great day on the water: a steady WSW breeze, sunshine, and plenty of smiles heading out onto the racecourse in Portland Harbour. Posted on 17 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth starts today
131 boats from 18 countries prepare ahead of the main event The 2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth has become a magnet for the international foiling community. With 131 boats entered from 18 countries, this event is more than just a tune-up—it's a snapshot of the class's spirit. Posted on 16 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena overall
Grand Finale in Genoa Having departed from Venice on June 1, after 43 days of sailing, the 5th edition of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour (Sailing Tour of Italy) concluded in Genoa in the magnificent setting of the Palazzo Ducale, which hosted the awards ceremony. Posted on 14 Jul
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history. Posted on 11 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 4
Team Aeronautica Militare wins in La Maddalena, now on to the grand finale in Genoa The team of the Aeronautica Militare, after Cagliari, also wins in La Maddalena, preceding the team of the Guardia di Finanza and the team of the Marina Miliatre who came in third. Posted on 8 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 3
Perfect weather conditions for a spectacular and exciting inshore race The perfect marine weather conditions offered the public of La Maddalena a spectacular and exciting inshore race. Posted on 7 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour LaMaddalena day 2
A fantastic second day in La Maddalena. The perfect wind conditions allowed Waszp and Wing to carry out their regatta program, thrilling with their spectacular evolutions in a breathtaking setting among the islands of the archipelago. Posted on 6 Jul
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 on 5 Jul