PENSACOLA, Fla.—Pensacola will host the 2026 International WASZP Games, marking the first time the global foiling sailing championship has been held in North America.
The event will take place March 24–28, 2026, on Pensacola Bay, culminating a two-week series of foiling competitions hosted by the Pensacola Yacht Club beginning March 16. The showcase is expected to draw elite sailors from around the world and feature the largest foiling fleet ever assembled in the Americas.
The WASZP is a single-handed, one-design foiling dinghy capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 knots. Designed by Australian sailor and naval architect Andrew McDougall, the class has grown rapidly since its launch in 2016, attracting competitors from Olympic development programs, professional racing circuits, and emerging foiling pathways worldwide.
Pensacola Bay was selected for its consistent spring winds, protected waters, and established sailing infrastructure. Event preparations have been supported in part by the Schoonmaker Foundation, which has contributed funding to enhance the yacht club’s facilities for international competition.
“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,” says 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, which has hosted athlete development camps at the club over the past year.
The event schedule begins March 16–18 with the WASZP All-Stars, a Champion of Champions sprint competition featuring up to 10 men and 10 women sailors from leading WASZP nations during the 2025 season. The All-Stars event will award $10,000 in prize money and feature short, head-to-head races designed for both competition and spectator engagement.
From March 19–21, a Pre-Games Regatta will offer an open tune-up competition for an expected 30 to 50 sailors. Official measurement and registration will take place March 22–23, followed by an opening ceremony on March 23.
Championship racing for the International WASZP Games will be held in daily three- to five-hour windows aligned with Pensacola Bay’s most consistent wind conditions.
Founded in 1908, Pensacola Yacht Club will serve as regatta headquarters. Pensacola Bay’s warm spring temperatures, reliable thermal breezes, and flat-water race areas have helped establish the city as a premier destination for foiling, including serving as home to the American Magic America’s Cup team and the North American training hub for SailGP teams.
“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,” says James Simkins, PYC Commodore Emeritus.
