WPNSA WASZP

WPNSA WASZP 12/13 AUG

In the summer I was lucky enough to sail a waszp for the first time whilst being coached by the experienced Jaz Boote and here are some things I learnt. 

• I learnt that foiling boats handle and work differently to displacement boats. If you have a displacement boat, then you have a force of buoyancy holding the leeward side up making it easier to keep the boat from heeling too much or capsizing. Whereas if you have a foiling boat such as the waszp you don’t have that and you need to balance the force of the sail the force of the foils and your body weight to keep it from capsizing.   

• I also learnt how to ‘take off’: to take off you need 6 knots of boat speed meaning that you may have to bear away a little to pick up speed. This means that initially you won’t be pointing as high as you would in a regular displacement boat. 

• To tack you need speed and although I didn’t manage a foiling tack I can give some instruction on how to do a ‘low riding’ tack which is much easier for beginners. Tip 1; switch sides later than you feel is normal because unlike displacement boats where you want to switch early you need to keep the wings out of the water Tip 2; don’t turn too sharp! The foils are much easier to stall than a normal rudder. Tip 3; go in flat and leave flat try to stay central pre act don’t react 

I also found out that being small it was quite difficult to right a capsized Waszp…so I was lucky my brother was there to jump in and help!! I can’t wait to have another go!!

Written by Dylan Cullen