WASZP Games 2025 Day 1
by WASZP Class 22 Jul 2025 05:55 BST
19-25 July 2025
2025 WASZP Games Day 1 © Down Under Sail
"This race is live" — and with that, the 2025 WASZP Games were officially under way. With 247 sailors across four fleets, Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay were transformed into a theatre of foiling.
Sailors launched as the breeze filled in from the west packed with a punch at 18 knots and steadily built to 23 knots as the racing went on with gusts up to 29 knots.
The regatta showcased three main racing fleets - Yellow, Pink, and Blue - plus the 6.9 rig fleet starting independently on the Blue course, and Green fleet running its own schedule in a dedicated section of the harbour. Conditions delivered everything you'd expect on Day 1 of a World Championship: a fresh breeze, big gusts, big shifts, and varying sea states that pushed both sailors and boats to their limits.
Yellow fleet had the most exposed course of the day, sent out into Weymouth Bay. The breeze was up, the swell was rolling, and wind was against tide creating chop. Staying upright was an achievement in itself, with several sailors reporting stacking waves and nose-diving mid-race.
Federico Bergamasco (ITA) led the fleet with two bullets in Races 2 and 3, while Hippolyte Gruet (FRA) showed remarkable consistency with a bullet in the first race and second place positions in all races following. He remarked in the debrief that it was 'carnage, the waves like crazy mountains....During my first downwind I capsized so had to tweak the setup. Changing tension on the ride height elastic and constantly moving my body to steering around the waves or using bodyweight to ride them without nosediving into the next'.
Markus Berthet (NOR) broke the ITA/FRA dominance to take a bullet in the final race. Caspar Ilgenstein (GER) bagged a handful of top-five results. Conall Green (AUS), finishing 3rd and 4th in two races, remarked 'getting downhill was the challenge of the day. I had tough starts but bounced back to a 3rd and 4th which I was pretty happy with'. Enzio Savoini (ITA), part of our Master division, had a fantastic day up in the top 10 of the fleet and 3rd in final race.
Back inside the harbour, Pink and Blue fleets faced flatter water but no less drama. With wind shifts and gusts, racing became about reactive strategy — spotting pressure, dodging lulls, and keeping mistakes small.
Pink fleet starts were electric with the racing close and tight throughout the day. Spain, Canada, United States and Switzerland were all vying for places in the top five. Pablo Astiazaran Pérez-Cela (ESP) led with a clear gap between him and second place, but the following races shuffled the leaders and the other nations came to the fore. Andrew Chisholm (CAN) had a strong performance throughout the day and claimed a bullet in the final race. Gavin Ball (USA) was on fine form, securing a bullet in Race 2, a third in Race 3, and consistently placing in the top ten throughout the day. Coming straight from his win at the U.S Nationals, he said "It's really awesome to see how competitive the American Fleet is now that we've gone over to Europe. There's Americans and Canadians in the top three in pretty much every race today in our fleet, so it's great to see." Micha de Weck (SUI) scored a bullet in Race 3 and rounded off the top three in Race 4.
In Blue fleet, Antonio Gasperini (ESP) held top-three positions throughout the day, with Jasper Camenzind (NZL) trading 1st and 2nd with him in the last two races. Hoel Menard (USA) bagged 2nd positions in the first two races and Rory Dixon (GBR) had a superb day on the water, consistently placing third in three races. Peter Cope (GBR) also bagged a bullet in Race 2. "The breeze came on in Race 2 inside the harbour", Peter reflected. "Pressure bands were coming down the course, and you had to be thinking of the shifts and keeping manoeuvres down."
"There's 70 boats on the line. They're all foiling. They're all going fast. It's as much a survival as it is tactical. Carving out your own space and being able to use it is key." - Gavin Ball
The 6.9 fleet, running off the same course as Blue, showed impressive discipline in their starts and some serious pace in the flat water. Despite less congested starts, they were just as aggressive, taking full advantage of the harbour's tactical options. Olivia Castaldi (ITA) had a phenomenal day on the water with two 2s and two 1s. "It was gusty and shifty," she said, "I love to sail in heavier winds. I had some good roundings and it was fun downwind with high speeds. Top of the course was flat and it was chopping at the bottom of the course. The WASZP is so perfect. It goes fast and with the V2 rudder you can sail fast in all different conditions." Jacopo Andrian (ITA) and Pietro Moncada (ITA) were hot on her heels making up an Italian trio at the top of the 6.9m standings.
The new 7.5m rig in its element!
The Green fleet, a development group aimed at less experienced racers or new WASZP sailors, had a dedicated course area on the leeward edge of the harbour. Despite being the quieter corner of the venue, the learning curve was steep and the effort just as intense.
The opening day delivered a classic WASZP Worlds baptism — no easing in, just straight into the action. Gusts, shifts, chop — it was a day to test full skillsets, and sailors rose to the challenge.
Standings after Day 1:
Top Men
Federico Bergamasco (ITA)
Pablo Astiazaran Pérez-Cela (ESP)
Hippolyte Gruet (FRA)
Top Women
Pearl Lattanzi (USA)
Louise Metenier (FRA)
Rachael Betschart (BER)
Top Junior (U19)
Andrew Chisholm (CAN)
Top Youth (U21)
Federico Bergamasco (ITA)
Top Apprentice
Hippolyte Gruet (FRA)
Top Master
Enzio Savoini (ITA)
Top SuperMaster
Mikel Vazquez (ESP)
Top 7.5m rig division
Alex Jones (GBR)
Top 6.9m rig division
Olivia Castaldi (ITA)
Top U16 (6.9m rig)
Oscar Hoyle (GBR)
Top 10 overall (8.2m & 7.5m rig)
| Pos | Helm | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Federico Bergamasco (ITA) | 4 |
| 2 | Pablo Astiazaran Pérez‑Cela (ESP) | 5 |
| 3 | Hippolyte Gruet (FRA) | 5 |
| 4 | Antonio Gasperini (ESP) | 6 |
| 5 | Jasper Camenzind (NZL) | 8 |
| 6 | Andrew Chisholm (CAN) | 8 |
| 7 | Hoel Menard (USA) | 8 |
| 8 | Rory Dixon (GBR) | 9 |
| 9 | Gavin Ball (USA) | 10 |
| 10 | Micha de Weck (SUI) | 11 |
Daily debrief with the winners and coaches!
The schedule for Tuesday 22nd July is for 4 course races. All racing is to be within the Harbour: Blue and Pink fleet and 6.9m rig fleet will be racing in the morning, Yellow fleet in the afternoon.
Weather: Westerly 13-19 knots with gusts up to 22 knots building a little later in the afternoon.
Find out more at racehub.waszp.com/eventdetail/360