High School & College Final Qualifier In Michigan

MUSKEGON YACHT CLUB DELIVERS AN INSTANT CLASSIC IN MICHIGAN WITH OUR NEW FAVORITE VENUE
FOR THE REGION 3 QUALIFIER

The final qualifier for the inaugural High School & College WASZP National Championship series delivered exactly the kind of weekend the Class had hoped for when this concept was first imagined: close racing,  a new venue, and proof that Dinghy Foiling can thrive in places many sailors may never have expected.

This past weekend the WASZP Class arrived at Muskegon Yacht Club for the fourth and final qualifier in the 2026 High School & College Championship Series. By the end of the weekend, Purdue University, University of Michigan, and Case Western Reserve University had secured the top three positions and officially qualified for the National Championships in Toms River later this month.

PHOTO - The Top 3 Finishers

First Place #2809 - Purdue University (Christopher Draper)

Second Place #3250 - University of Michigan (Alden Gort)

Third Place #2390 - Case Western University (Roman Fechner)

Congratulations to all three schools and to every sailor who made the trip to western Michigan for a weekend that showcased not only great racing, but the growing momentum behind Dinghy Foiling at the high school and college level.

For many sailors in attendance, this was their first visit to Muskegon Yacht Club. It certainly will not be the last.

The venue immediately impressed competitors and coaches alike with flat water, consistent breeze, easy launching, and a sailing area perfectly suited for modern foiling boats. Combined with an incredibly welcoming membership and professional event organization, the weekend quickly left the feeling that this Club is destined to become an important high performance venue for years to come.

From the moment sailors arrived on Friday, it was clear the organizing team had gone above and beyond. At the entrance to the Club sat a welcome table filled with custom event shirts and hats for competitors and volunteers, printed Sailing Instructions ready for distribution, and beautifully displayed awards waiting for Sunday afternoon. Every detail had been thoughtfully prepared.

Simply put, this is a Yacht Club that knows how to host sailors.

The hospitality continued throughout the weekend, with the Club feeding competitors and volunteers each day and creating the kind of atmosphere that makes young sailors want to stay involved in the sport long after racing concludes.

Friday was spent rigging boats, tuning equipment, and getting in practice laps around the racecourse as teams familiarized themselves with the conditions. By Saturday morning the forecasted breeze had arrived, and the fleet launched early to capitalize on it. Three excellent races were completed before the wind gradually faded and sent sailors drifting back toward shore.

Sunday proved to be the kind of foiling day sailors dream about.

A strong, steady breeze greeted the fleet in the morning, allowing race officials to run five outstanding races in near perfect conditions before the group collectively voted to head in for lunch. Across the weekend, the combination of flat water and pressure created ideal racing conditions that rewarded both boat handling and tactical awareness while still pushing sailors physically.

The racing itself continued to reinforce one of the most exciting developments within the WASZP ecosystem today: the rapid emergence of school-based foiling competition in North America.

As more sailors age out of traditional youth pathways like the Optimist, programs and Clubs are increasingly searching for a modern, athletic, and nationally connected boat that can keep competitive sailors engaged. The WASZP’s multiple rig sizes and one-design format continue to prove uniquely suited for that role, creating a pathway that can begin as young as 12 years old and continue all the way through college and beyond.

The High School & College Championship series has also highlighted how quickly these events can create meaningful community between sailors from different regions and backgrounds. Over the course of four qualifiers, new teams formed, friendships developed, and a growing network of young foilers began to take shape across North America.

Events like Muskegon are exactly how sustainable fleets are built.

A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers and members of Muskegon Yacht Club for their hospitality, professionalism, and enthusiasm throughout the weekend. The Class is deeply grateful for the effort that goes into hosting events like this and for Clubs willing to embrace the future of sailing.

Thank you as well to our technology partners SailSync.ai and Vakaros for continuing to support the series with tools that make racing more efficient and debriefs more productive for sailors and coaches alike.

Thank you to Macatawa Bay Yacht Club and RoboMark for supporting the event with autonomous marks that enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of a fair and competitive racecourse for the sailors .

With the qualifiers now complete, attention turns to Toms River and the National Championships later this month, where the top schools from across the country will meet to decide the first High School & College WASZP National Champions.

Learn more and register on RaceHub.