The WASZP European Games will head to Baie de Quiberon from 17-23 July 2023 for the class’s first major international championship in France. Based out of the Ecole National de Voile et des Sport Nautique (ENVSN), the event is expected to attract in excess of 150 boats!
The Baie de Quiberon is a foiling paradise and the perfect location for WASZP racing. Protected from the Atlantic by the Quiberon Peninsula, the large bay offers flat water and multiple course areas for any wind condition. The thermal wind and prevailing westerly breezes blow over the low-lying causeway, which results in butter-flat water and consistent foiling conditions for racing.
The ENVSN has one of the best facilities in Europe for a major championship, with every possible need of a sailor catered for. The on-site boat repair workshop, accommodation, restaurant, classrooms and gym provide a sailor with everything they need to have a great event. Just a short distance from the venue is the popular tourist town of Quiberon itself, which boasts sandy bays, surf beaches, green spaces and a large array of bars and restaurants for sailors and their supporters to enjoy outside of the racing.
The WASZP fleet in France has seen significant growth over the past two years thanks to the hard work of the French WASZP Class Association and Activ’Sailing – the French WASZP Agent. The French WASZP Academy has attracted a lot of young talent to the class and is successfully feeding into international WASZP events and the SailGP Inspire program in St Tropez. The class has also enjoyed the backing of the French SailGP team, who have used the WASZP as a training platform for the SailGP Women’s Pathway Program. Now with a European Games scheduled for 2023, the popularity of the class in France is due to soar.
With the WASZP Games 2023 scheduled for Sorrento, Australia, the European Games in Quiberon will see the biggest WASZP fleet in Europe and is set to break records for the largest European WASZP regatta in history! Working with the ENVSN, CDV56 and with the backing of the local government, the French WASZP Class Association is on track to deliver a sensational week of foiling.
As with any WASZP event, entry is open to all WASZP sailors. Beginners are encouraged to attend and enjoy the experience of a WASZP championship! There will be coaching, post-race debriefs and technical talks that will provide some of the best learning opportunities for sailors across the entire fleet. WASZP events are always inclusive and have participants of all abilities, ages, genders and nationalities, so all sailors are guaranteed to find like-minded people to sail alongside and compete against!
