A Focus on Foiling
Ready or not, foiling is here, and it is not suprising that young people are drawn to it.
To get more sailors up to speed on these high-flying boats, Severn Sailing Association (SSA) has a focus on foiling this spring. Clinics are now underway that allow sailors to step into a fully rigged WASZP foiling dinghy and receive three hours of professional coaching. And the cost is just $100 a day.
Travis Carlisle, SSA’s junior program director says, “This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the WASZP, which isn’t as difficult to sail as some people might imagine but does take some time to learn. For those unfamiliar with the boat, it has two rig styles, small or big, depending on the sailor’s size, similar to the ILCA 6 and 7.”
Carlisle continues, “This series of learn-to-foil clinics are ideal for sailors in high school and college. Sessions are held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and run by coach Owen Hennessy. Sailors looking for more time on the water can extend their day with private coaching. The April sessions will lead up to the inaugural high school and college WASZP Region 4 Qualifier hosted by SSA on April 25-26, which feeds into Nationals scheduled for the end of May. Our clinics will continue into the summer, when any high-performance boat, such as the moth or 29er may participate, and adults can also join.”
The program is supported by USFoil, a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to expand access to dinghy foiling across the United States. USFoil has begun placing subsidized WASZP fleets at key sailing centers, paired with coach certification, structured programming, and ongoing development support. The program is designed to dramatically reduce the capital burden typically associated with high-performance fleets, and SSA is part of the growing network that includes Richmond Yacht Club, Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation, and Corpus Christi Yacht Club.
Learn more at usfoil.org, waszp.us and severnsailing.org.
