WASZP

15 elite sailors battle for a $10,000 prize at the 2026 WASZP All-Stars Invitational in Pensacola.

The future of professional sailing isn’t just approaching; it’s arriving in Pensacola. Tomorrow, March 17, the inaugural WASZP All-Stars Invitational officially kicks off, transforming Pensacola Bay into a high-stakes proving ground for the world’s most elite young foilers.

Staged as the high-octane “opening act” for the 2026 International WASZP Games, this exclusive, invitation-only event brings together 15 of the finest male and female sailors from across the globe. These athletes aren’t just racing for a podium—they are competing for a $10,000 USD prize pool and the prestigious title of All-Star Champion.

The Pinnacle of the Foiling Pathway

The All-Stars Invitational represents a massive evolution in the sport. Building on the foundation of the SailGP Inspire program, this event is designed to be the ultimate launchpad. For these 16 sailors, selection is a “badge of honor”—a signal to professional teams and the global sailing community that they have mastered the world’s most widely raced one-design foiling dinghy.

High-Intensity, High-Stakes

Over the next two days, the format will be fast, lean, and punishing. Using a slalom-style sprint format, the athletes will navigate tight courses at full flight, reaching speeds exceeding 20 knots. With the Vakaros RaceSense technology ensuring every start is millisecond-perfect, there is zero room for error.

Located directly in front of the Pensacola Yacht Club, the stage is set for a masterclass in modern racing. It’s not just about the prize money; it’s about being seen, making a mark, and rising as one of the sport’s future stars.

Meet the All-Stars: The 15 Challengers

Who is standing on the line with a chance at the $10,000? From local heroes to international phenoms, here are the athletes to watch:

1. PEARL LATTANZI (USA)

The Reigning Queen of Foiling

Pearl Lattanzi arrives in Pensacola not just as a competitor, but as the woman with a target on her back. As the 2025 International WASZP Games Champion and the 2025 Women’s Sprint Champion, she has spent the last year proving that she is the undisputed pace-setter for female foiling.

Her dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the wider sailing world; Lattanzi was recently honored as a finalist for the 2025 US Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, a testament to her technical precision and competitive grit. Representing Honolulu, Hawaii, Pearl is known for her “Aloha” persona—a blend of high-speed aggression on the water and a composed, professional approach off it. With the All-Stars Invitational offering a $10,000 purse, Lattanzi is the clear favorite to claim yet another historic title on home soil.

2. LIV HÄGGSTRÖM (SWE)

The Global Number One

While Lattanzi took the Games title, it was Sweden’s Liv Häggström who ended 2025 at the very top of the WASZP Women’s Global Rankings. A model of terrifying consistency, Häggström’s season was defined by podium finishes across the European circuit. She represents the formidable Scandinavian foiling contingent and is widely considered the most tactically sound sailor in the fleet. In a short-course sprint format where one mistake can cost the race, Liv’s ability to minimize errors makes her the biggest threat to Lattanzi’s crown.

3. BRIDGET CONRAD (AUS)

The Asia-Pacific Powerhouse

Hailing from a nation obsessed with speed, Australia’s Bridget Conrad brings an aggressive southern-hemisphere style to Pensacola. A runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Championship, Conrad has spent the last season hunting the top step of the podium. She is known for her exceptional boat handling in “survival” conditions—making her a dangerous wildcard if the Northwest winds in Pensacola Bay kick up toward the 20-knot mark.

4. LOUISE METENIER (FRA)

The French Phenom

Representing the legendary sailing heritage of France, Louise Metenier comes to Pensacola as one of the most consistent performers on the world stage. Coming off an impressive 4th place finish at the 2025 WASZP Games in Weymouth, Metenier has a reputation for clinical precision and high-speed maneuvers. In a sprint format where every tack and gybe counts, her experience at the front of the international fleet makes her a formidable threat for the $10,000 prize pool.

5. GRACE POOLE (CAN)

The Canadian Trailblazer

Grace Poole made history in 2025 by becoming the first woman to win the Canadian WASZP Nationals overall, beating a fleet of both men and women. As a leading light of the WeCANFoil program, Poole represents the rapid rise of North American talent. She is a heavy-air specialist who thrives on the physical demands of the WASZP, and she’ll be looking to prove that the Canadian development pathway can produce world-class All-Stars.

6. SOL LOPEZ (ESP)

The EuroCup Champion

Fresh off a dominant season, Sol Lopez enters the All-Stars Invitational with the wind at her back. As the winner of the 2025 WASZP EuroCup, Lopez has spent the last year beating the best foilers across the European circuit. Known for her tactical intelligence and lightning-fast reaction times, she is joining the All-Stars with everything to claim. If she can translate her EuroCup-winning form to the waters of Pensacola Bay, she could very well walk away with the inaugural title.

7. JULIA GEBHARD (GER)

The European Precision Specialist

Germany’s Julia Gebhard rounds out the elite seven. After a stellar top-5 performance at the 2025 International Games, Gebhard has established herself as one of Europe’s most elite young foilers. Her strength lies in her starting—a critical skill for the All-Star Sprint format—and her ability to find “lanes” of clear air in crowded, high-speed fleets.

The battle of the best.

While the talent pool is deep across the board, the All-Stars Invitational maintains a sharp focus by having the Men’s and Women’s divisions race separately. This ensures a clear, unobstructed path to glory for both fleets, allowing the specific tactical nuances of each division to shine. In the sprint format, there is no room for a “settling-in” period—every sailor must be at peak performance from the very first reach.

As the seven women prepare to take their line, eight of the most aggressive male foilers on the planet are readying their own assault on the course. Together, these 15 athletes represent the absolute pinnacle of youth development, each one looking to prove they are ready for the professional ranks of SailGP and beyond.

1. LOUIS TILLY (AUS)

The In-Form Aussie

The Australian All-Star arrives in Pensacola carrying the momentum of a champion. After a dominant performance to secure the title at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Championships in Sorrento, Tilly has proven he can handle the pressure of high-stakes, large-fleet racing. Known for his aggressive starting and tactical confidence, he is widely considered one of the favorites to take the sprint title.

2. PABLO ASTIAZARAN (ESP)

The European Powerhouse

Pablo Astiazaran is a name that commands respect in every foiling fleet. As the reigning 2025 EuroCup Champion and the 2025 WASZP Games Vice-Champion, he has been knocking on the door of a major international title for the last year. He comes to Florida with a singular focus: to go one better than his second-place finish in Weymouth and claim the top spot in the All-Stars.

3. GAVIN BALL (USA)

The Hometown Hero

Racing in local waters with the weight of the home crowd behind him, Gavin Ball is the North American favorite. After closing out 2025 ranked 3rd in the World and delivering a rock-solid performance at the 2025 WASZP Games, Ball knows these Gulf Coast conditions better than anyone. He is exceptionally fast in the flat water of the bay and will be looking to keep the $10,000 prize pool on U.S. soil.

4. HIPPOLYTE GRUET (FRA)

The Swarm’s Sharpest Edge

One of the most competitive athletes from the “French Swarm,” Gruet finished the 2025 season ranked 4th in the World. He is a master of the sprint format, known for high-risk, high-reward maneuvers that often pay off in short-course racing. Hippolyte doesn’t just join fleets to participate; he enters the All-Stars Invitational ready to win.

5. ANDREW CHISHOLM (CAN)

The Great White North Wildcard

Representing Canada, Chisholm is a model of high-performance consistency. By finishing 4th at the 2025 WASZP Games and holding a steady position within the Global Top-10, he has proven he can compete with—and beat—the world’s best. Chisholm is a technician on the foils, and his ability to maintain flight in marginal conditions could be his secret weapon if the Pensacola breeze lightens up.

6. NICK SCHULER (GER)

The German Wildcard

With stacks of international experience and a consistent Top-20 global ranking, Nick Schuler is a sailor you can never count out. Known for his resilience and ability to navigate through high-traffic zones, Schuler is looking to make a massive impact on the world stage here in Pensacola. If the racing gets chaotic, look for Nick to find the clear air.

7. FLINN OLSON (NZL)

The Kiwi Challenger

Flinn Olson carries the proud tradition of New Zealand foiling into the Invitational. He arrives in Pensacola “race-ready” after a hard-fought campaign at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Championships. Like his Australian rivals, Olson is accustomed to high-speed, high-intensity competition and will be a major threat in the reaching starts of the slalom course.

8. ALEXANDRE GROGNUZ (SUI)

The Alpine Ace

The Swiss All-Star is a fascinating one to watch this year. Grognuz has built a reputation for excellence on the ultra-competitive European circuit, putting up strong results in both the EuroCup and the Italian Championship. His technical boat-handling is second to none, a trait developed in the tactical, shifty conditions of the Swiss lakes that should serve him well on the Pensacola Bay slalom course.

The Final Word

As the sun sets on the eve of the competition, the atmosphere in the boat park is a mix of high-tension focus and mutual respect. For these 15 sailors, the 2026 All-Stars Invitational is the culmination of thousands of hours on the foils and a shared dream of professional greatness.

In a sport where the difference between a podium and a wipeout is measured in millimeters, only two will walk away as the inaugural All-Star Champions.

The stage is set. The $10,000 is on the line. Let the flight begin.