Sandefjord Seilforening is gearing up for a spectacular high-speed regatta in Sandefjordsfjorden! The action kicks off this weekend with the Norwegian Championships for IQFoil and WASZP. Up to 120 WASZPs and 20 IQFoil boards will be competing on Saturday and Sunday, with the Norwegian champions crowned on Sunday.
Both classes feature an open championship, allowing sailors from other nations to participate, though they are not eligible for the Norwegian champion title.
On Monday, August 5th, the opening ceremony for the ROCKWOOL WASZP Games 2024, a World Championship for WASZP sailors, will take place. The regatta is fully booked — in record time — with 180 sailors from 20 nations! The sailing club has worked hard over the past year to prepare, and is now ready for a spectacular championship! The attempt to get 180 foiling dinghies to start simultaneously could potentially set a world record, as it has never been done before! This will happen on the morning of Tuesday, August 6th!
Since these are 180 foiling dinghies that can reach speeds well over 20 knots, comprehensive safety measures are necessary to ensure the safety of both the sailors and the spectators. These measures are mandated by the Norwegian Coastal Administration and are based on our positive experiences from previous years.
Safety boats will be on the courses to direct passing traffic and intervene if situations arise. We hope that the public will join us in creating a great championship by following the advice and guidelines we have provided.
Spectators can find all necessary information on a dedicated page for them:
SANDEFJORD SEILFORENING - Publikum (sandefjordseilforening.no)
One important note for passing boats that accidentally find themselves in the way: stop your boat, stay put, and wait for assistance from one of our safety boats. The sailors have control over their boats, so the best thing a boat can do is remain still.
Norway has favorites in both the women's and men's classes, with former European champions and Eurocup winners from Norway. In the women's class, the top contenders are from our own club, Sandefjord Seilforening. The sisters Nora and Hedvig Doksrød will likely battle side by side — fiercely — to bring the gold back to Sandefjord.
In the men's class, Markus Berthet from KNS is the strong favorite, being the reigning European Champion from 2023.
We at Sandefjord Sailing Club are very excited to host the championship. Spectators are warmly welcomed to visit us on Seilerholmen. Shuttle transport will be available from Granholmen to the islet. Just show up and wait for a spot.