WASZP UK National Championship 2025 at Draycote Water Sailing Club

WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water © James Tomlinson Photography

If there's one thing you can rely on at a WASZP event, it's that there's never a dull moment. Four days at the 2025 UK Nationals delivered the full WASZP experience — 56 boats entered, howling gusts, hang-time, tactical headaches and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. The country's sharpest foilers put on a show that proved once again why this class never disappoints.

The Midlands breeze wasted no time showing its teeth. Day one was a baptism of fire with vicious gusts ripping across Draycote. In Main Fleet, Martin Evans, Toby Smith and a fast-charging Roo Purves came out pushing hard, trading bullets in the opening four races before Peter Cope found his groove to snatch the final win of the day.

WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water - photo © James Tomlinson Photography

The boat park stayed lively well into the evening, with the social bringing out the same competitive streak — this time in a glider-building contest that saw polystyrene pushed to its engineering limits.

Sunday brought a change of pace and a test of precision. The morning sprint races set off in two flights, with Cope finding the front of the Yellow fleet and James Crossley running the table in Pink, each taking three wins from four. Behind them, Max Rawlinson, Thomas Dempsey, Samson Cross and Alex Jones all grabbed second-place finishes, while Merryn Attridge, Andrew Bridgman and James Deaton picked up well-earned thirds. Katy Jenkins posted two excellent top-five results, and Henry Keegan earned unofficial "metronome of the day" status with four straight fifths. The afternoon's long-distance race was pure WASZP theatre: big shifts, bigger mid fleet battles and wild downwind rides that rewarded clean tacks and nerves of steel. Epic battles were being fought out on the water across the whole fleet: in the 7.5 rig, the 6.9 rig and across the age categories.

WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water - photo © James Tomlinson Photography

When the spray settled, Cope still held the upper hand, but Crossley, Evans and Purves were on his heels.

Monday morning turned the dial to eleven. Thirty-plus-knot gusts blasted across the lake, delaying racing until lunchtime and testing even the hardiest sailors. When the starting gun went, the fleet launched off the line finding the shifts and the biggest pressure before rounding the mark and screaming downwind, with top speeds nudging the high twenties. Cope stayed cool under pressure, bagging another trio of wins while the rest of the fleet focused on keeping their boats in one piece.

WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water - photo © James Tomlinson Photography

By Tuesday, conditions showed no sign of easing. Race one, lap one downwind gate rounding was WASZP racing at its raw, grinning, white-knuckled best. With Cope sitting on a healthy lead, the real drama unfolded just behind him as the chasing pack fought for podium spots. The final races were a blur of blistering starts, lively mark roundings and plenty of airborne moments for all the wrong reasons. A single capsize could swing the rankings — and often did.

When the results finally landed, Peter Cope stood tall as the new WASZP UK National Champion, finishing on just 18 points from 15 races. Smooth, steady and unflappable, he led a podium of impressive sailors. Katy Jenkins held on to top female to claim the WASZP UK Female National Champion title with a fantastic week of racing.

Peter Cope and Katy Jenkins win the titles in the WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water - photo © James Tomlinson Photography

On the speed front, Toby Smith claimed bragging rights with a blistering 27.6 knots on the final day — proof that commitment and a straight-line gust still count for plenty.

Four days, eighteen races and countless foiling highs later, the 2025 WASZP UK Nationals delivered on every front — big breeze, tight racing and more whoops than a roller-coaster queue that left the class buzzing.

Prize Winners:

1 Peter Cope - Youth (U21) - 8.2 m - 18 pts
2 James Crossley - Youth (U21) - 8.2 m - 32 pts
3 Martin Evans - Master (30+) - 8.2 m - 38 pts

Female overall standings:
1 Katy Jenkins 8.2 m
2 Helena Mills Bowers 7.5m
3 Imogen Green 6.9m

Top Supermaster (50+):
1 Daniel Goodman

Top Master (30+):
1 Martin Evans

Top Core (21-29):
1 James Deaton

Top Youth (U21):
1 Peter Cope

Top Junior (U19):
1 Roo Purves

7.5m Champion:
1 Alex Jones

Top Female 7.5m:
1 Helena Mills Bowers

6.9m Champion:
1 Oscar Hoyle

WASZP UK Nationals 2025 at Draycote Water - photo © James Tomlinson Photography

Green Fleet

A new initiative for 2025 has seen the introduction of a Green Fleet at open events, created to give foiling novices a supportive space to learn the ropes and benefit from dedicated coaching. Acting as a bridge between training and competition, the format allows sailors to build confidence at their own pace — stepping up to join the main fleet when ready, or for any sailor in Main Fleet dropping back into the Green Fleet for guided coaching if conditions push beyond their comfort zone on any day of racing.

The Green Fleet had its own roller-coaster week, braving everything the conditions could throw at them and learning fast every day. Four sailors stuck it out for the full event, with a few others dipping in for a race or two to pick up tips before heading back to mix it up in the main fleet. "Super good effort from all the sailors — they should all be very proud of themselves," said coach Ross Harvey, summing up a week that demanded commitment, resilience and plenty of smiles.

Overall Results: