MEDIA RELEASE

Tilly and Lattanzi Crowned Inaugural WASZP All-Stars Invitational Champions in Pensacola

Pensacola, USA – 18 March 2026 – Pensacola delivered spectacular “champagne” sailing conditions for the final showdown of the inaugural WASZP All-Stars Invitational, where Australia’s Louis Tilly stormed to victory in the Men’s division and America’s Pearl Lattanzi held firm to secure the Women’s title.

In a dramatic final day twist, Tilly surged up the leaderboard with a commanding late performance, while Lattanzi successfully defended her lead to be crowned the first-ever Women’s All-Stars Invitational Champion. Both winners take home a US$5,000 prize and etch their names into the history books of this elite new event.

About the WASZP All-Stars Invitational

The WASZP All-Stars Invitational is an exclusive, invitation-only regatta featuring the world’s top-ranked WASZP sailors. Eight men and seven women—selected purely on merit—compete in a series of short, high-intensity variety of course types, including Slalom, SailGP-style, Distance, and conventional courses..

With no discard races permitted, the format places a premium on consistency, where every result contributes directly to the final standings, leaving no margin for error.

Men’s Fleet: Tilly Delivers Under Pressure

The final day highlighted the exceptional depth of the fleet. Racing commenced early, with the “Delta” flag raised at 07:00 to capitalise on optimal conditions. The Men’s fleet launched at first light, with racing underway at 08:00 in a strong and steady breeze.

Spain’s Pablo Astiazaran set the early pace, claiming victory in the opening two races, followed by race wins from Gavin Ball (USA) and Hippolyte Gruet (FRA).

However, the momentum shifted decisively in the closing stages. Demonstrating composure and tactical precision, Louis Tilly (AUS), the reigning Asia-Pacific Champion, secured back-to-back race wins to finish the regatta. His late surge propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, sealing the overall title and the US$5,000 prize.

“It’s a massive game of snakes and ladders out there. In this format with no drops, it’s all about fighting for every point,” said Tilly.
“With all these top sailors, everything’s on the line, and the prize money adds to the intensity. You have to push hard for everything, and that really showed on the water.”