A Different Kind of Fleet: How the WASZP Class Is Opening Foiling to Everyone

A Different Kind of Fleet: How the WASZP Class Is Opening Foiling to Everyone

Spend a weekend around the WASZP fleet and one thing becomes clear very quickly. This is not a closed, elite corner of the sport. It is one of the most open doors in sailing right now.

That may sound counterintuitive. Foiling has long carried a reputation for being expensive, technical, and difficult to access. But across the United States, that perception is being challenged in a very deliberate way. The Class has focused on lowering barriers rather than raising them, and the result is a model that is beginning to look very different from traditional pathways.

At the center of that shift are the emerging HUBs. These are not one-off programs or isolated clinics. They are structured, repeatable access points where sailors can show up and foil with support. At Severn Sailing Association, sailors can step into a WASZP for around $100, with coaching included. Boats are provided. Systems are in place. The experience is designed so that a sailor does not need to own equipment or arrive with a full program behind them. They simply show up and sail.

Learn about local clinics and activities here.

This is where USFoil enters the picture. Modeled in part on the success of Canadian initiatives, USFoil is working to connect these HUBs into something larger. The idea is simple but powerful. Build local access first. Train coaches. Provide boats. Then connect those sailors into regional and national racing opportunities.

What makes the model compelling is not just that it introduces new sailors to foiling. It does so without forcing them into an immediate spending race. Equipment, coaching, and structure are delivered together. The focus stays on time on the water and progression, rather than on who has the biggest support team.

The Boat Behind the Model

Underlying all of this is the platform itself. The WASZP was designed from the outset as a one design fleet boat for dinghy foiling, and that design philosophy is now proving itself in the real world.

It is a low cost, durable, and highly reliable platform that delivers consistent uptime, which is critical in a learn to foil environment. Boats are sailed hard, often by newer sailors, and still remain operational day after day. That reliability is what allows HUBs to function at scale and keeps the focus on sailing rather than maintenance.

At the same time, the WASZP is becoming a true fleet boat for clubs and programs, particularly those with strong Optimist pathways. For decades, the Optimist sailing has been the entry point for young sailors. The challenge has always been what comes next. The WASZP is increasingly answering that question.

Clubs are adopting it as the natural next step for sailors who outgrow the Opti but still want a clear, competitive pathway with national level events. The structure is familiar. The racing is fleet based. And the progression is real.

A big part of that accessibility comes from the rig system. With multiple rig sizes, the WASZP can be sailed competitively by a wide range of sailors, from around age 12 all the way into masters fleets. It is one platform that scales with the sailor, rather than forcing constant equipment changes. That flexibility is a key reason why mixed age fleets are not only possible, but thriving.

When combined with the Class model of built in coaching, shared resources, and event support, it creates a structure where sailors can progress without the traditional financial barriers that have defined this part of the sport.

Increasingly, it is also being recognized as the gold standard for preparing sailors for high level Olympic and professional racing. The boat is demanding enough to develop elite skills, but consistent enough to allow those skills to be trained and measured in a true fleet racing environment.

That philosophy becomes even more visible at the end of May in Toms River, where two back to back events highlight how the system is beginning to scale.

The High School and College National Championships bring together sailors representing their schools, many of them stepping into charter boats for the event. Coaching is built directly into the registration. There is no separate layer to buy into. No advantage gained from external programs. Everyone arrives on equal footing, with the same access to support and the same opportunity to perform.

It is a subtle but important shift. In many parts of sailing, top events can become an arms race of private coaching and resources. Here, the structure is intentionally designed to avoid that outcome. The result is racing that feels more open, more balanced, and, perhaps most importantly, more welcoming to new entrants.

Immediately following Nationals, the Atlantic Coast Championships continue the momentum. The tone shifts slightly. The fleet broadens. Experience levels mix more freely. But the underlying accessibility remains. Sailors can still fly in, charter boats at subsidized rates, and step into a fully supported regatta environment without the logistical burden that often comes with high performance sailing.

Overlaying all of this is a growing competitive framework. Class Race Teams are beginning to take shape, providing a clear pathway for sailors who want to push further. The North American Triple Crown adds a season long layer of competition that rewards both performance and participation across multiple events. And beyond that, the conversation has already started to turn toward the 2027 World Championship in Lake Garda, a venue that will demand both depth and preparation from the fleet.

What is striking is how these layers coexist. At one end, a sailor can spend $100 at a HUB and take their first foiling steps with structured coaching. At the other, top athletes are building toward international competition. In between, there is a ladder that feels connected rather than fragmented.

For a sport that has often struggled with accessibility at the high performance end, that may be the most notable development of all.

USFoil operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its continued growth is made possible through the support of donors who believe in expanding access to the sport. Through the end of May, one of our sponsors has committed to match all contributions dollar for dollar up to $50,000. For those looking to support the next generation of sailors and help scale this model nationwide, there is a unique opportunity right now to make a direct impact.