The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has announced that the UK Waszp Class Association is the first class to be awarded the newly created status of RYA Endorsed Class.
The RYA Class Association Recognition Policy introduced the Endorsed classification to broaden the opportunities available to young sailors and support the RYA’s long-term ambition of keeping sailors engaged in the sport throughout their lives.
Endorsed classes complement traditional Youth Recognised classes by offering exciting, alternative routes for skill development and continued participation in sailing.
The Waszp offers high-performance foiling in a single-handed dinghy that is fun, fast and increasingly popular with younger sailors.
As part of the endorsement process, the UK Waszp Class Association “demonstrated strong governance and a clear commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible training and racing opportunities for young sailors” — key criteria within the RYA’s updated Class Association Recognition Policy.
The class also showed strong youth engagement at events and a proven ability to support sailors progressing through wider forms of racing activity, the RYA added.
Chris Atherton, RYA junior racing manager said: “We are delighted to welcome the Waszp as our first RYA Endorsed Class. The class offers something exciting and different for young sailors, aligning with our goal to broaden opportunities and keep more people racing for life.”
Dan Goodman, chair of the UK Waszp Class Association said: "I'm very excited that the Waszp has been awarded RYA Endorsed Class status thanks to the hard work of the UK Waszp class committee and the RYA racing committee. This reinforces the Waszp’s status as a fun and exciting high-performance single-handed dinghy for all ages. We'll be displaying the logo with pride!"
The endorsement will provide the class with access to RYA coach development support, signposting within the British Sailing Pathway and inclusion in British Sailing Pathway stakeholder activity.
