Waszp Europeans 2021

WORDS: DUNCAN GREGOR | IMAGES: ANNA SUSLOVA

ake Garda provided for a stunning backdrop for a week of windy Waszp racing. The 2021 Waszp Europeans, held at Circolo Vela Arco, was split into two events, the slalom and the fleet racing. The slalom racing consisted of one day of downwind racing with a knock out system until there there were eight boats in the finals. Three races then decided the ranking of that final eight boats. The fleet racing was a 4-day event with more traditional windward leewards.

Training alongside the Norwegians we had a weeklong training camp a little down the lake in Malcesine. We had a mixed range of conditions with some light to medium afternoon breeze and some windy mornings. The week was a very good learning experience and gave time to get the boat properly set up before the event.

The first day was solely slalom racing, with a light afternoon breeze only lasting two hours the RC managed to run the majority of the qualifying rounds. The breeze being very light at the end lead to low riding by the time the final race of the day finished. The slalom brought a new dynamic to the racing as there were reaching starts making all the boats very close with each other and you have to ensure that each gybe maintains as much speed as possible. As all the races were not finished on Day 1 they would have to be done the following day after the first day of fleet racing. Again in the afternoon with a similar wind pattern as the previous day it led to the breeze slowly dying off for the last races. The finals had three races with the winner having the least points in those three races. The finals racing was much tighter with everyone pushing the start very hard. This led to myself having poor starts but it opened up opportunities to pass through the rest of the race. The last race finished with everyone on the foils as the breeze died as we got to the bottom of the course meaning there were big gains to stay up for as long as possible. I ended up managing to finish 3rd overall after the three races.

The first day of fleet racing was moved to the morning where we got a strong morning breeze. With an 0800hrs first warning signal the sun began to rise during the first race. The starts were definitely the biggest difference compared to more conventional racing with the fleet foiling very early and reaching across the line. The line lane holding was very important as the tacking point over to port was quite a small area which was a common theme of the regatta. The sun rose and the breeze built, creating some steeper chop at the bottom of the course making it pretty ‘loose’ at the bottom gate. The next two days saw very similar conditions from the same angle making for great racing.

The final day the breeze came slightly more from the left opening up the racecourse meaning leading boats could come for the left and right side. Managing to get off the line a bit better by the last few days helped but still struggling with speed in the breeze had me finish my first international Waszp regatta in 22nd place. Finally I would like to thank the Club, the Jacobsens and Monster Marine, without whom competing in the event would not be possible.