Charlie Snell Builds International Experience in European WASZP Campaign
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club youth sailor Charlie Snell has returned from an ambitious European campaign after competing in three major WASZP events across Italy and Spain.
Charlie contested WASZP Foiling Week Malcesine, the WASZP Spanish Nationals and the 2026 WASZP European Championship between 7 and 17 July. Racing was held at Malcesine on Italy’s Lake Garda before the fleet moved to Mar Menor at Los Alcázares in Murcia, Spain.
Preparation for the international campaign began several months earlier at RPAYC. Charlie trained approximately twice a week for two months alongside a group of fellow RPAYC WASZP sailors, while also competing at major Australian WASZP regattas throughout the summer season.
His training focused on improving straight-line speed, completing manoeuvres more consistently and preparing for the demands of starting and racing in a large international fleet.
“The main goal was to come away with race results in a big fleet that I was happy with,” Charlie said.
He set himself the target of recording top-20 or top-30 finishes, limiting errors during manoeuvres and maintaining consistent boatspeed throughout each race. The campaign also provided valuable opportunities to improve his understanding of boat tuning, maintenance and preparation.
The standout moment came when Charlie recorded an impressive 17th-place finish in a fleet of more than 85 boats—a result that comfortably achieved his pre-event objective.
“My best result, being 17th in an 85-plus boat fleet, was definitely the highlight and was well within my goals for the event,” he said.
A sail breakage also produced one of the more memorable moments of the campaign, with Charlie becoming an honorary Swiss representative during the European Championship. While unexpected, the experience added another dimension to a rewarding international tour.
Charlie said competing overseas had accelerated his development and demonstrated the importance of international racing experience for young sailors seeking to improve their performances at home.
His attention now turns to a busy 2026–27 Australian sailing season, with campaigns planned across three competitive disciplines: the 16ft skiff, WASZP and match racing circuits.
Charlie intends to compete at the WASZP Oceanias in Auckland in January and hopes to return to Lake Garda for the WASZP World Championship later in the year. As a member of RPAYC’s Youth Development program, he is also targeting international match racing events in New Zealand and Perth, with longer-term ambitions to compete at events such as the Governor’s Cup and Youth Worlds.
