Hosted in our very own backyard at WPNSA, the 2025 WASZP Games proved to be a competitive week of high-quality action on the water in Portland.

Supporting 16 sailors from seven nations including the UK, Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, Finland, Hong Kong, and Bermuda – Performance Academy coaching was delivered by James Parker-Mowbray, Ross Banham, and Ross Harvey.

This year the standard of racing had clearly gone up a level, with the 250+ strong fleet of WASZP sailors relentlessly pushing both themselves and their boats to the limit. A key factor in the increased competitiveness on display was the introduction of the new V2 rudder on the WASZPs. With its enhanced performance characteristics, it helped to enabled greater control and responsiveness, allowing sailors to race more aggressively coupled with tighter precision.

Day one of racing saw the A fleet launched straight into some heavy breeze and rolling swell out in the bay which was a real test of boat handling and confidence under pressure. As the week progressed, conditions gradually lightened, challenging sailors to stay switched on tactically and maintain focus as the margins narrowed.

Portland Harbour delivered foiling conditions every single day, and we saw a wide range of breeze across the week, with generally stronger and more consistent wind inside the harbour, and more variability and sea state when racing was moved into the bay. The event team did a great job of rotating fleets between course areas, which gave everyone an opportunity to race in different conditions while also ensuring racing remained fair and high quality.

Alex Jones, one of four 2025 Performance Academy Sailing Scholarship (PASS) recipients, was crowned the 2025 7.5 Rig WASZP World Champion after an incredibly impressive week of sailing. Fellow Brit and Performance Academy sailor Theo Smith joined Alex on the podium with a fantastic third-place finish in the 7.5 fleet.

We had three sailors qualify for Gold Fleet and numerous podium finishes across a variety of categories. That said, our focus is never just about results, it’s about how our sailors develop and learn throughout the competition. Across the group, our sailors demonstrated a real hunger to improve, and it was great to see them supporting one another, and apply the coaching work we’ve looked at throughout the season.

“It was amazing to have such an incredible event hosted right in our backyard. Seeing the spectacle of 250 WASZPs racing at such a high level was a unique experience as a coach.

“The energy, the talent, and the sheer scale of the event created an atmosphere unlike anything else.”

James Parker-Mowbray, Performance Academy Manager & WASZP Coach