A new WASZP class speed record has been set in UK waters, with British teenager Toby Smith clocking 31.0 knots during a blustery weekend.
The milestone run came moments after racing had finished, rather than during a planned record attempt.
Smith said he spotted an opportunity as conditions intensified. “I’d just crossed after a race,” he said. “I looked behind me and saw this huge gust rolling down the course.”
He added: “And I thought… this might be the moment.”
The high-speed run followed immediately, with Smith committing to the gust and pushing the foiling dinghy to its limit.
The 31-knot mark sets a new benchmark for the WASZP class, underlining the performance potential of the one-design foiler in strong conditions.
Further details and data from the record run are available via the WASZP class website.
