Waszp
 | |
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Andrew McDougall |
| Location | Australia |
| Year | 2016 |
| No. built | 3,600 |
| Builder(s) | McConaghy Boats |
| Role | Racer |
| Name | WASZP |
| Boat | |
| Crew | one |
| Displacement | 106 lb (48 kg) |
| Draft | 3.28 ft (1.00 m) (not foiling) |
| Hull | |
| Type | monohull |
| Construction | Infused epoxy |
| LOA | 11.00 ft (3.35 m) |
| Beam | 7.38 ft (2.25 m) with wings extended |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | hydrofoil daggerboard |
| Rudder(s) | transom frame-mounted hydrofoil rudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | catboat rig |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | catboat |
| Mainsail area | 88.26 sq ft (8.200 m2) |
| Total sail area | 88.26 sq ft (8.200 m2) |
| Racing | |
| Class association | One-design |
The Waszp (/wɒsp/ ⓘ) is an Australian class of single-handed, hydrofoiling dinghy, designed by Andrew McDougall in 2016 as a one-design racer for both youth and adult racing.[1][2][3][4] The Waszp class includes 4 different rig sizes, each using the same hull with different wing designs. The design was named 2017 Best One-Design in Sailing World's Boat of the Year Awards.[5]
The waszp hull can be used for sail sizes of 8.2m, 7.5m, 6.9m, and 5.8m rigs, each designed for different age groups and sizes.[6]
Production
The design has been built by McConaghy Boats of Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia since 2016 and remains in production. 750 boats had been built by May 2019 and more than 1,000 by 2022.[1][2][4][7][8]
There are Waszp sales agents in each continent excluding Africa.[9] These brands do not make Waszps but act as distrubutors of the class.
Design
The Waszp is a racing sailing dinghy, with the hull built predominantly of infused epoxy. It has a free-standing catboat rig, a concave plumb stem, a vertical transom, an aluminum frame-mounted, transom-hung, hydrofoil rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable, aluminum, hydrofoil daggerboard. It has folding hiking wings and displaces 106 lb (48 kg). The design crew weight is 140 to 200 lb (64 to 91 kg).[1][2][4]
The boat has a draft of 3.28 ft (1.00 m) with the daggerboard and rudder extended while not foiling and 8 in (20 cm) for launching with the daggerboard and rudder both retracted.[1][2][3]
For sailing the design is equipped with variable angle hiking wings to adjust to skill level. There are also three different sail and mast combinations for smaller or less experienced sailors, with areas of 62.4 sq ft (5.80 m2), 74.3 sq ft (6.90 m2) and 88.3 sq ft (8.20 m2).[1][2][5]
The Waszp can start to hydrofoil in 7 kn (13 km/h) of wind, sustain hydrofoiling in as little as 5 kn (9 km/h) of wind and can reach a top speed of 24 kn (44 km/h).[3]
The Waszp is similar to the developmental Moth class, but as a one-design class with aluminum foils it is half the price and thus appeals to a wider group of sailors.[5]
Operational history
The design is an accepted one-design class in the United States. US Sailing, describes it as "a singlehanded, one-design foiler. Designed by Andrew McDougall, the Waszp offers affordable foiling on a robust boat. The class has a place for everyone; there is a large contingent of sailors who race the boat at a high level while other sailors keep the boat at their local yacht club and go for a rip around the bay!"[4]
The first regatta held in the US was in January 2017, at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Florida and attracted eight boats and sailors.[5]
A February 2017 review in Sail1Design noted, "the Waszp and the Moth are similar in their concepts, but for a couple reasons, the Waszp hits a market of different dinghy sailors. First, the Waszp is half the price of the Moth, you can buy a brand new Waszp in the US for $12,500. Unlike the Moth the Waszp is a one design class. With the Waszp you have adjustable wing angles allowing you to adjust for your skill and for storage. The Waszp comes with retractable alloy foils making it an easy boat to launch. With a free standing rig, you can rig up quickly and have a much easier time getting back into the boat after capsizing."[5]
Events
Waszp Games - 8.2 Champions
Men's
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lake Garda |  Great BritainHarry Mighell |
 United StatesReed Baldridge |
 JapanKohei Kajmoto |
[10] |
| 2019 Perth | Great Britain Rory Hunter |
.svg.png){kind=small} AustraliaTom Trotman |
 NorwayAlexander Hogheim |
[11] |
| 2022 Lake Garda |  New ZealandSam Street |
Great Britain Sam Whaley |
 ItalyEnzio Savolini |
[12] |
| 2023 Sorrento | New Zealand Sam Street |
 DenmarkMagnus Overbeck |
 FranceHippolyte Gruet |
[13] |
| 2024 Sandefjord | Denmark Magnus Overbeck |
Norway Markus Berthet |
Italy Federico Bergamasco |
[14] |
| 2025 Portland | Italy Federico Bergamasco |
 SpainPablo Astiazaran Pérez-Cela |
Spain Antonio Gasperini |
[15] |
Women's
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Lake Garda | New Zealand Elise Beavis |
Norway Nora Doksrød |
Norway Mathilde Bregner Robertstad |
[16] |
| 2023 Sorrento | Great Britain Hattie Rogers |
New Zealand Helena Sanderson |
Australia Tess Lloyd |
[17] |
| 2024 Sandefjord | Denmark Magnus Overbeck |
Norway Markus Berthet |
Italy Nora Doksrød |
[18] |
| 2025 Portland | United States Pearl Lattanzi |
Australia Mina Ferguson |
 BermudaRachael Betschart |
Waszp Games - 7.5 Champions
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Portland | Great Britain Alex Jones |
Norway Martinius Melleby Hopstock |
Norway Pia Henriette Brun Tveita |
Waszp Games - 6.9 Champions
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Lake Garda | Australia Aidan Simmons |
France Maxime Donazzon |
Italy Piero Delneri |
| 2023 Sorrento | Australia Callum Simmons |
Australia Brenn Armstrong |
Australia Henri Levenspiel |
| 2024 Sandefjord | Denmark Madita Grigat | ||
| 2025 Portland | Italy Olivia Castaldi |
Italy Pablo Astiazaran Pérez-Cela |
Italy Pietro Moncada |
See also
Similar sailboats
References
- ^ a b c d e McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Waszp sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Waszp". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b c KA Sail Australia (2021). "Waszp". waszp.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d United States Sailing Association (2022). "About Waszp". ussailing.org. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Waszp". Sail 1 Design. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "Pathway". WASZP. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "McConaghy Boats". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "McConaghy Boats". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "Buy a WASZP". WASZP. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "The International WASZP Games kick off at Campione, Lake Garda". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "RORY HUNTER WINS INTERNATIONAL WASZP GAMES". WASZP. 28 January 2019.
- ^ Ablett, Marc (18 July 2022). "Street wins WASZP Games in pulsating final day". WASZP.
- ^ "Waszp Games – Sam Street successfully defends title". 16 December 2023.
- ^ Ablett, Marc (12 August 2024). "Denmark's Magnus Overbeck Secures Title at 2024 International WASZP Games". WASZP.
- ^ New, Gerald (25 July 2025). "2025 WASZP Games – Federico Bergamasco of Italy takes overall victory".
- ^ Ablett, Marc (18 July 2022). "Street wins WASZP Games in pulsating final day". WASZP.
- ^ "Waszp Games – Sam Street successfully defends title". 16 December 2023.
- ^ Ablett, Marc (12 August 2024). "Denmark's Magnus Overbeck Secures Title at 2024 International WASZP Games". WASZP.
External links
