SailGP announces Championship of Champions
SailGP has launched its first Inspire Waspz Grand Final – Championship of Champions, which will see the top young athletes from around the world (male and female) compete for the overall season podium at the Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix, March 26-27. This is the culmination of Season 2’s Inspire Racing x Waspz series and, says SailGP, offers young sailors an unparalleled opportunity to race at the highest level.
Inspire Racing x Waspz aims to provides a stepping stone for under 21s to develop foiling skills and create a pathway to F50 catamarans. It has a strong focus on inclusivity – aiming to diversify sailing through its programmes to foster talent and eliminate gender, racial and socioeconomic barriers.
The athletes will race during the SailGP event weekend, on the same waters as the F50s over the grand final weekend. The winners will be awarded on Sunday, March 27 and receive a cash prize to support their professional sailing development. The top male and female winners will also get further training by joining a SailGP team’s training and tech sessions at a Season 3 event, including a chance to sail onboard the F50. Thanks to supporting partner Rooster, all participants will receive a kit bundle for making it to the grand final.
“The Inspire Waspz Grand Final brings the talent of the next generation together on the global stage to compete and learn from the best sailors in the world,” says SailGP chief operating officer Julien di Biase. “As part of our better sport strategy, we are supporting and developing the talent of the future, regardless of background, and creating a clear route to competing onboard the F50s. I look forward to not only seeing the young sailors in action in San Francisco, but also competing in the sport in the future at the highest level.”
Throughout the season, promising young sailors were selected through their governing bodies, Waspz class association and SailGP Inspire racing events to ensure the highest level of diverse talent and a 50:50 gender balance. SailGP is supporting travel and accommodation costs for the athletes.
In addition to racing in the Waspz grand final, the young athletes will take part in lead-up training clinics in San Francisco with professional foiling coaches, as well as meet-and-greets with athletes and senior members of SailGP staff to receive invaluable career advice, work experience and additional fitness training.
“Everyone at Waspz is so proud to be able to provide this opportunity alongside SailGP,” says general manager at Waspz, Marc Ablett. “From the very beginning we have strived to inspire a generation to find alternative pathways in the sport, creating a path forward beyond youth sailing into a professional environment. To be here at the completion of SailGP Season 2 and see how much impact the inspire programme has had around the world is surreal. We want to continue this work and build on the foundation created. If we can provide inspiration for just one young sailor to chase their dreams and know that it is achievable, through Waspz as a vehicle and SailGP as a league, then we have changed the game.”
SailGP Season 3 Schedule* // 2022-2023
May 14-15 // Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess
June 18-19 // United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 30-31 // Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
August 19-20 // ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Copenhagen
September 10-11 // France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 24-25 // Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz
November 12-13 // Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas
2023 // New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
