2026 WASZP GAMES Turn Tactical as Pensacola Delivers a Brutal Reality Check
Day 3 on Pensacola Bay flipped the script. The intensity remained, but now it came laced with pressure, shifting breeze, and unforgiving consequences. The race committee adapted, sticking with a windward–leeward format as conditions hovered in that tricky zone – light, yet just enough to foil. Four races were completed, and by day’s end, the leaderboard had been thoroughly shaken.
A Day for the Sharpest Minds
Under sunny skies but with shifty pressure lines, Day 3 tested the fleet mentally as much as physically. Clear air and pressure management were decisive, with only a handful of sailors managing to piece together a clean scoreline.
As Pablo Astiazaran (ESP) summarized during the daily debrief:
“It was a day that you had to play safe, no risks and sail around without losing power.”
It was racing defined by discipline – where avoiding mistakes proved just as valuable as outright speed.
Age is just a number in the 6.9 Fleet
Francesco de Santis (ITA) – just 16 – and Bodhi Rushin (USA) – only 11 – are locked in a fierce battle in the 6.9 fleet.
An 11-year-old pushing a 16-year-old this hard, in a fleet of sailors several years their senior, speaks volumes about both. De Santis is a product of Italy’s strong 6.9 system – a leading force built on structured training and a deep youth pipeline, with the FIV (Italian Sailing Federation) heavily investing in and supporting its development.
Both have shown composure and consistency on the water, and with two days still to race, the title remains wide open.
Hopstock Strikes Back and Draws Level in the 7.5 Fleet
Martinius Melleby Hopstock (NOR) delivered his strongest performance of the regatta, attacking the leaderboard with two race wins and two additional top-three finishes. The Norwegian capitalized on a rare off-day from Pearl Lattanzi (USA), who posted four fourth-place finishes. As a result, it’s Hopstock who heads into the final two days with momentum and confidence. With two discards providing some protection, both sailors will know that clean racing from here is the priority.
Casey Small (USA) holds third, significantly closing the gap from 13 points to just 6, sitting close enough that any slip from the top two would bring her right back into the conversation. With two race days remaining, this title is far from decided.
Sitzmann Makes His Move in the 8.2 Fleet
Thomas Sitzmann (USA) does not speak much in the boat park but does all the talking in the water. The American stated that he is also in contention today, winning the day and claiming three out of the four races. He now sits tied at the top on 15 points with Gavin Ball (USA), who had a more turbulent day. After an early UFD-discarded-Ball recovered with two third place finishes and a fourth, also discarded, limiting the damage but conceding ground. Just behind, Pablo Astiazaran (ESP) remains firmly in contention, reducing the gap by another point and sitting on 23 points. The leaderboard remains compressed – both Sitzmann and Ball will know that staying out of trouble in the opening race of Day 4 is just as important as winning it.
The Battle Tightens Heading into the last two days
Pensacola is delivering, and the fleet is putting on a show. Anyone who thought the regatta was decided yesterday got it wrong – it’s wide open, and the pressure is only building.
The leaderboard is compressing, margins are razor-thin, and with the breeze set to strengthen, expect even tighter, more aggressive racing in the final two days.
