Pensacola delivered champagne conditions for the final showdown of the inaugural WASZP All-Stars Invitational. In a dramatic shift on the leaderboard, Australia’s Louis Tilly surged to the top to claim the Men’s title, while America’s Pearl Lattanzi successfully defended her lead to secure the Women’s crown. Both athletes walk away with a US$5,000 prize and the honour of being the first-ever All-Stars Invitational Champions.
Australia’s Bridget Conrad was 3rd in the women’s division.
The WASZP All-Stars Invitational is an elite, invitation-only event bringing together the top-ranked WASZP sailors from around the globe. Eight men and seven women – selected purely on merit – go head-to-head in short, high-intensity sprint races. With no discards allowed, the format demands absolute consistency; every single result counts toward the final trophy.
The final day showcased the level of the fleet. With the “Delta” flag displayed at 07:00, the Men’s fleet hit the water at first light to maximise a perfect weather window. Racing began at 08:00 sharp in a punctual, high-velocity breeze.
Spain’s Pablo Astiazaran opened the day with a statement, winning the first two races, followed by bullets from Gavin Ball (USA) and Hippolyte Gruet (FRA). However, the narrative shifted in the final hour. Louis Tilly (AUS), the reigning Asia-Pacific Champion, delivered a clinical finish by winning the last two races of the regatta. His composure under pressure allowed him to leapfrog the competition and secure the overall title and the US$5,000 top prize.
“It’s a massive game of snakes and ladders out there. In this format with no drops, it’s just all about fighting for every point. With all these good sailors, everything’s on the line and the extra cash prize just makes it so intense. You have to push hard for everything, and that was shown out on the water.”
Louis Tilly – WASZP All-Stars Champion – Men’s Category
In the Women’s fleet, Pearl Lattanzi (USA) started exactly where she left off yesterday, taking the bullet in the first race of the morning. While the competition was fierce, with Bridget Conrad (AUS) and Grace Poole (CAN) each claiming two race wins during the six-race session, the massive points cushion Lattanzi built on Day 1 proved insurmountable.
Lattanzi’s consistency across the two-day event earned her the inaugural title and US$5,000, cementing her status as the benchmark for female foiling following her 2025 WASZP Games victory.
Lattanzi stated, “Today was a bit of a simpler racecourse because we had wind the whole time. Everyone had an equal opportunity to foil; it was just managing your lane. The laylines come up very, very quickly when it’s a bit heavier like that, so a strength of mine today was picking those correct laylines and being on my targets. I think that was probably the key to success.”
The champions will be crowned at the American Magic performance and innovation centre in Pensacola – SailGP’s first long-term training base, purpose-built to support year-round performance and technical development. It’s a strong connection for WASZP sailors in the All-Stars Invitational, with recognition taking place at a facility dedicated to developing the sport’s next generation of talent.
The inaugural WASZP All-Stars has been a resounding success, proving that when you combine world-class talent with a high-stakes, spectator-friendly format, the results are electric. From the 7:30 AM cold-weather starts to the ‘snakes and ladders’ drama of the no-drop racing, this showcased the incredible calibre and resilience of these athletes. Beyond the intense competition and the history-making prize pool, the event highlighted exactly what makes the WASZP class so special: a community that is as professional and cutting-edge as it is welcoming and fun. As the Class prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the All-Stars has set a thrilling new gold standard for the future of foiling.
Coming up:
The 2026 WASZP Games are coming up in Pensacola, Florida, from March 22nd to March 28th. The Swarm will race at one of the world’s most sought-after foiling venues, in what’s going to be the biggest one-design foiling event in history for North America.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: WASZP All-Stars Invitational
Location: Pensacola, Florida, USA
Dates: March 17–18, 2026
Prize Purse: US$10,000 (US$5,000 per fleet)
Event Website: racehub.waszp.com
Event Photos: WASZP SmugMug
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