Name: WASZP - the one design foiler
Brand: WASZP
Price: 11400.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (5 reviews)

Test pilot dairy #1

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Who are you?

My name is Harry Mighell and I’m 24 years old.

I grew up sailing at Sorrento on Port Phillip Bay, coming up through the junior program into Laser’s, 420’s and 29er’s. For the past three years I’ve been sailing Moths.

I have just finished a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at Melbourne University, with a final year project specializing in motorsports aerodynamic design and joined the KA Sail team about 3 months ago.

What is your role with the WASZP?

Since I’ve started at KA, working with Andrew and the team I’ve been collaborating on various design aspects, in particular foils for the Mach2 and also the WASZP. Much of this work is a blend of computer design, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis and then practical testing on the water.

So I’ve also become one of the test sailors providing feedback that helps with refinement of the WASZP before its goes into production.

What are your impressions of the WASZP?

I’ve sailed the prototype in over a dozen testing sessions now and overall it’s a really good package.

Rigging is a breeze, there’s not many things to do. Literally 4 steps and no more than 10 minutes and you are ready to go. Same packing up – really quick and simple.

The WASZP is really easy to get on and off the beach compared to a Moth because of the retractable foils. In particular when the breeze is onshore and you are battling waves trying to carry the Moth on its side.

Because the foils are really high lift, the WASZP will start foiling at very low boat speed which took me by surprise initially (I weigh 80 kilos). It really takes minimal effort to get up which is nice and I think will be great for those getting into foiling.

The sensation is exactly the same as sailing a Moth upwind, you’re doing 13 – 15 knots and it feels really balanced. Downwind 20 knots is no problem.

Tacking and gybing requires a little different technique than I’m used to on the Mach2 as you pass the tiller extension forward on the WASZP. I’ve nailed a number of foiling gybes now but foiling tacks I’m still working on. Then again I’m still working that out in the Moth too!

In low riding mode the WASZP sails a lot better than a Moth because of its volume distribution.

Not having a boom makes life a whole lot easier with manoeuvres (no hit head) and I’m finding it really nice not having a whole lot of control lines. My Mach2 has 8 different strings to pull, whereas in the WASZP there are only 3.

The lack of stays is also great as it’s really easy to get in the boat over the front or back and as you don’t have to worry about crashing into stays during nose dives. Sailing the Mach2 is a little scary after sailing the WASZP!

What’s the most surprising thing about sailing the WASZP?

Sailing a foiler in waves with breeze on means that you are always going to prone to nosedives. But the WASZP is so different to the Moth. On the WASZP you can lose it and put the bow way under water and it won’t capsize. Seriously, I’ve put it maybe half a metre under and it just pops up. You just round up, get yourself sorted and off you go again. In a Moth you’d be swimming for sure.