WASZP Grand Prix at Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Isle of Wight

WASZP Grand Prix on the Isle of Wight © Charlie White

The first Isle of Wight WASZP GP took place at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight on 27 and 28 May. Glorious sunshine on a perfect bank holiday weekend was promised, but first the sailors had to get to the island.

Ten intrepid adventurers from the mainland launched their boats from Stokes Bay Sailing Club (thank you Stokes Bay!), threw trolleys and tents into RIBs and foiled across the Solent to RVYC in great breeze under a cloudless sky - about as good as the Solent can get. On arrival, they were greeted by the Isle of Wight swarm, which is now up to 11 boats in total!

On Saturday the island bathed in sunshine, but unfortunately the lack of wind meant that no racing could get under way. Thankfully the club lawn provided the perfect suntrap for the sailors to enjoy drinks and a stunning barbecue as part of the club's bank holiday celebrations. Those members that turned up to see the WASZP racing enjoyed chats with competitors and seeing the boats up close on the lawn.

Sunday's forecast was far more promising. The sailors launched in marginal conditions and racing got under way, with the breeze teasingly puffing in and out, straddling the line between foiling and lowriding conditions. The first two races were run on the NASCAR course - a reaching course with lots of laps and accessible to beginners that gives sailors the best chance of getting up on the foils.

Ross Banham, the 2022 world number one and UK national champion, stuck to the form guide and scored two bullets. In the first race, Eve Kennedy, who recently got back from the SailGP Inspire Grand Final in San Francisco, scored a second place and Ian Fitzgerald, coming all the way from Edinburgh, scored a third. Ben Harris and Isle of Wight sailor Martin Evans also scored a second and third respectively.

WASZP Grand Prix on the Isle of Wight - photo © Charlie White

Races three to six were sailed on a standard windward/leeward course, opening the tactical options and spreading the fleet out. Datchet sailors Sven Gauter, representing Germany, and Dan Goodman, representing New Zealand, capitalised on a mistake from Banham to take first and second in race three. From then on, Banham didn't let anything slip and went on to take victory in the remaining three races.

After a discard, Banham scored a perfect five bullets from five. Sven Gauter kept it consistent to secure second place whilst Evans, Goodman, Harris and Fitzgerald exchanged places for third to sixth, with just three points separating the four and Evans narrowly edging Goodman (first master) for the third spot on countback.

After a promising start, Eve Kennedy suffered an injury after race four to put an end to her podium hopes, forcing her to miss the final two races. However, she had just done enough earlier in the series to take the women's prize a place ahead of Alice Senior. The junior prize was close fought between Isle of Wight sailors Sam Osbourne and Ben Anderson, with Ben in the 6.9 rig. In the end, Osbourne just did enough to beat Anderson by a point!

After racing, the mainlanders enjoyed a long but fast foiling upwind sail back to Stokes Bay in the building north easterly! With a weekend of sunshine, great racing and two Solent crossings on the foil, the event will surely be etched in the sailors' memories.

A huge thank you goes to Royal Victoria Yacht Club for its outstanding hospitality and effort in arranging the Solent crossings, Stokes Bay Sailing Club (and Nick Ireland) for their cooperation on the north island and all the sailors for buying into an awesome regatta!

The next fixture on the WASZP UK calendar is the UK Nationals in Rutland from 29 June - 2 July. Any sailors interested in joining the swarm should contact the WASZP UK Class Association on social media or via

WASZP Grand Prix on the Isle of Wight - photo © Charlie White

Overall Results: