Pensacola’s emergence as a global destination for high-performance sailing will be on full display in March 2026, when the Pensacola Yacht Club hosts a two-week world foiling showcase culminating in the 2026 International WASZP Games, March 24–28, on Pensacola Bay.
The WASZP is an international one-design, single-handed foiling dinghy designed by renowned Australian sailor and naval architect Andrew McDougall. Capable of flying above the water at speeds up to 30 knots, the WASZP delivers high-performance racing in an accessible, athlete-driven format.
Since its launch in 2016, the WASZP class has experienced rapid global growth, with active fleets across Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and emerging regions worldwide. Known for innovative race formats, including fast-paced sprint racing, the WASZP attracts sailors from Olympic development pathways, professional racing circuits, and the next generation of foiling talent.
For the first time in the class’s history, the WASZP Games will be held in North America, drawing elite foiling sailors from around the world to Pensacola’s emerald waters. In the days leading up to the championship, PYC will host a series of high-profile events designed to bring together the sport’s top athletes, emerging talent, potential Olympians and the international WASZP community.
Preparations for the Games have been supported in part by the Schoonmaker Foundation, whose financial investment has helped optimize PYC’s infrastructure for a world-class international regatta and enhanced the club’s ability to host high-performance foiling events.
“Pensacola Bay gives us an exceptional racing venue, and Pensacola Yacht Club is proud to welcome the world’s best WASZP sailors to our waterfront,” said Tom Pace, Race Chair for the 2026 WASZP Games at Pensacola Yacht Club. “With consistent spring breezes, protected waters, and a deep local passion for sailing, Pensacola is the perfect place to showcase foiling at its very best.”
In the lead-up to the Games, Pensacola Yacht Club has also served as a training base for America One Racing (A1R), which has hosted development camps at the club over the past year, further strengthening Pensacola’s role in the athlete development pathway.
The schedule opens March 16–18 with the WASZP All-Stars, a Champion of Champions sprint sailing event featuring up to 10 men and 10 women performers from major WASZP nations during the 2025 season. Sailors will compete for a $10,000 prize in short, high-intensity, head-to-head races designed for both athlete performance and spectator appeal.
From March 19–21, the Pre-Games Regatta will serve as an open tune-up event expected to draw 30–50 competitors, allowing sailors to test equipment, dial into Pensacola Bay’s unique conditions, and gain valuable race experience ahead of the Games.
Official measurement and registration will take place March 22–23, followed by the Opening Ceremony on March 23, welcoming international competitors to Pensacola Yacht Club and marking the start of championship racing.
The 2026 International WASZP Games will run March 24–28, with racing held in carefully selected three- to five-hour windows aligned with Pensacola Bay’s most consistent daily wind patterns ideal for foiling competition.
Founded in 1908, Pensacola Yacht Club will serve as regatta headquarters and host venue, welcoming sailors, teams, and spectators to one of the Gulf Coast’s most historic sailing institutions. Pensacola Bay’s warm spring temperatures, reliable thermal breezes, and protected flat-water race areas provide an exceptional stage for high-performance sailing.
Already home to the American Magic America’s Cup team and now the North American training hub for SailGP teams, Pensacola has rapidly gained international recognition as one of the most dynamic foiling venues in the Western Hemisphere.
Together, the All-Stars, Pre-Games, and WASZP Games are expected to attract the largest foiling fleet ever assembled in the Americas, delivering both world-class competition and significant economic impact to the Pensacola region.
“With nearly two weeks of elite racing, international athletes, and cutting-edge sailing on display, Pensacola is poised to cement its place on the global foiling calendar,” said James Simkins, PYC Commodore Emeritus.
About Pensacola Yacht Club
Founded in 1908, the Pensacola Yacht Club – located on a 17-acre site at the mouth of Pensacola Bay’s Bayou Chico – has long been known as The South’s Finest Yacht Club—promoting world-class sailing, youth development, and competitive excellence on one of the most beautiful and technically dynamic bays in North America.
About WASZP
WASZP is an international one-design foiling Dinghy class featuring a single-handed hydrofoiling dinghy designed by Andrew McDougall. Capable of flying above the water at speeds exceeding 20 knots, the WASZP delivers high-performance racing in an accessible and athlete-driven format. Since its launch, the class has experienced rapid global growth, with active fleets across Europe, North America, Australasia, and emerging regions worldwide. Known for innovative race formats, including fast-paced sprint racing, WASZP attracts sailors from Olympic pathways, professional circuits, and the next generation of foiling talent, helping shape the future of modern sailing.
