Australian sailor Jack Ferguson (18) has been selected to compete in the WASZP Grand Final, after winning the Inspire Racing X WASZP racing competition that took place at the Australia Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG in December. He will compete against other top young athletes from around the world to receive a cash prize to support their professional sailing career and be provided with further training with a SailGP team.
SailGP has launched the first Inspire WASZP Grand Final – Championship of Champions, which will see the top young athletes from around the world (male and female) compete for the overall season podium at the Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix, March 26-27. This is the culmination of Season 2’s Inspire Racing x WASZP series and offers young sailors an unparalleled opportunity to race at the highest level.
Inspire Racing x WASZP is a world-class program that provides a stepping stone for under 21s to develop foiling skills and create a pathway to F50 catamarans. It has a strong focus on inclusivity – aiming to diversify sailing through its programs to foster talent and eliminate gender, racial and socioeconomic barriers.
The young athletes will race during the SailGP event weekend, on the same waters as the F50s over the Grand Final weekend. The winners will be awarded on Sunday, March 27 and receive a cash prize to support their professional sailing development. The top male and female winners will also get further training by joining a SailGP team’s training and tech sessions at a Season 3 event, including a chance to sail onboard the F50.
Throughout the season, promising young sailors were selected through their governing bodies, WASZP Class association and SailGP Inspire racing events to ensure the highest level of diverse talent and a 50:50 gender balance. SailGP is supporting travel and accommodation costs for the athletes.
Australian sailors and Sydney locals Brooke Wilson (18) and Jack Ferguson (18) were selected to compete in the WASZP Grand Final, after winning the Inspire Racing X WASZP racing competition that took place at the Australia Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG in December.
In addition to racing in the WASZP Grand Final, the young athletes will take part in lead-up training clinics in San Francisco with professional foiling coaches, as well as meet-and-greets with athletes and senior members of SailGP staff to receive invaluable career advice, work experience and additional fitness training.
General Manager at WASZP, Marc Ablett said: “Everyone at WASZP is so proud to be able to provide this opportunity alongside SailGP. From the very beginning we have strived to inspire a generation to find alternative pathways in the sport, creating a path forward beyond youth sailing into a professional environment. To be here at the completion of SailGP Season 2 and see how much impact the Inspire program has had around the world is surreal. We want to continue this work and build on the foundation created. If we can provide inspiration for just one young sailor to chase their dreams and know that it is achievable, through WASZP as a vehicle and SailGP as a league, then we have changed the game.”
SailGP Inspire will run a series of programs in San Francisco as part of its overall objectives to use sailing as a force for good and build a future for youth through sustainable sport, across its racing, learning and career programs. More details will be announced ahead of the Season 2 Grand Final.
Confirmed participants //
Brook Wilson (18) and Jack Ferguson (18) // winners from Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney presented by KPMG
Emilie Bouchet (18) and Eliott Savelon (20) // winners from France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
Sofia Caputo (16) and Zeno Marchesini (16) // winners from Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto
Hattie Rogers (21) and Zac Blomeley (20) // winners from Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
Mathilde Robertstad (18) and Lennart Frohmann (17) // winners from ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Aarhus
Neus Bover (18) and Jaime Harguindey (19) // winners from Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz
Sean Herbert (20) // qualifier from New Zealand
Rinko Goto (16) and Teruaki Shimakura (17) // qualifiers from Japan
The winners from the WASZP Americas Championship event, which is being held in San Francisco Bay from March 15-19, will complete the line-up and represent the United States.
SailGP Season 3 Schedule* // 2022-2023
May 14-15 // Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess
June 18-19 // United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 30-31 // Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
August 19-20 // ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Copenhagen
September 10-11 // France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 24-25 // Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz
November 12-13 // Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas
2023 // New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
*Further events will be announced next month to complete Season 3, which will conclude April 2023 and is expected to comprise ten events.
ABOUT SAILGP // SailGP races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. The world’s most exciting race on water, SailGP features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe, building to the grand final – and sailing’s top prize of US$1 million. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydro foiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. Visit SailGP.com for more information.
ABOUT SAILGP INSPIRE // SailGP Inspire, a first-of-its-kind global youth sailing and career program is used as a force for good and a tool to develop life-long skills. Through Inspire’s three distinct programs – Learning, Careers, and Racing – SailGP is able to build a future for youth through sustainable sport. Inspire programs promote climate advocacy through clean energy initiatives, and forges pathways to a more diverse and inclusive sport. Helping to deliver the program is a group of like-minded partners, including RS Sailing, WASZP, Rooster, MarkSetBot, World Sailing Trust, Marlow Ropes, ePropulsion and Doyle sails, who, combined, provide the technology and equipment to help make SailGP Inspire possible both on and off the water. Visit SailGP.com/Inspire for more information.