WASZP GP at Parkstone Yacht Club
by Nici Hoyle 22 Sep 2025 19:40 BST
20-21 September 2025
Inaugural WASZP GP at Parkstone © Nici Hoyle
32 WASZPs headed out from Parkstone Yacht Club for the inaugural GP on the WASZP racing calendar. Additionally, five sailors joined the Green Fleet, expertly coached by Ross Harvey, and a Magenta Foiling Clinic ran alongside making it a buzzing weekend both on and off the water.
You know that moment when you're staring at the sky, trying to guess which square the weather roulette wheel is going to land on? That was Poole harbour on Saturday morning.
The fleet got the full range: light airs to start, pressure bands gusting down the course, sunshine popped up teasingly, and rain showers crashed the party too. By the afternoon the breeze had properly filled, and four good races were in the bag.
Racing was anything but straightforward, but if consistency was a sail-trim setting, those at the top of the fleet had it tuned. Peter Cope and James Crossley battled hard, trading bullets across the day. Martin Evans and Ben Harris were never far away and bagged the second-place finishes in Race 2 and 4.
Back ashore, the action didn't stop. Saturday evening's lasagna was swiftly followed by some fiercely contested model land-yacht racing. Cardboard, tape, questionable engineering decisions — and the kind of competitive spirit that proves sailors don't switch off, even indoors.
Sunday dawned brighter, with blue skies and a shifty northerly that kept everyone on their toes, offering plenty of opportunities to gain (or lose) in a single leg.
Thomas Dempsey read it perfectly in the first race playing the pressure bands to take the bullet. Peter Cope slipped back into gear, winning the next two races, with James Crossley stacking up three second-place finishes keeping the pressure on at the top. Elsewhere, Dan Goodman posted a third and fourth, securing himself fourth overall, while Merryn Attridge had a strong day with two thirds landing him top of the Junior U19 category.
Meanwhile, Alex Jones added some DIY drama to the mix with a grub screw failure forcing an on-water boat surgery session. Repair sorted, he came back to put together a string of top-five finishes to close the weekend in style.
Green Fleet and Magenta Foiling Clinic sailors also had their moments, buzzing around close to the club and taking flight in the breeze. Lots of smiles and visible improvement across the weekend.
Results:
1st Peter Cope
2nd James Crossley
3rd Martin Evans
Top Female: Helena Mills Bowers
Top Youth U21: Peter Cope
Top Junior U19: Merryn Attridge
Top Master: Martin Evans
Top Super Master: Daniel Goodman
Top 7.5m rig: Alex Jones
Top U16: James Broad