Hawaii’s path to WASZP world title

Hawaii has always developed sailors its own way—by chasing what makes the sport fun and addictive for young people. That culture shaped American foiler Pearl Lattanzi, who began in O’pen Bic (now Open Skiff), crossed into the foiling WASZP Class alongside a cohort of Hawaiians, and learned to turn “undersized” into “undeterred.”

By 2025 in Weymouth, she had become the first American woman to win a WASZP world title, a triumph built on community, method, and an unwavering declaration of intent.

Roots, Community, and a Turning Point
Lattanzi’s first spin on a WASZP came in 2018, it was love at first flight, followed by a formative trip to Foiling Week Lake Garda in 2019. She was still learning the WASZP, so the result sheet didn’t matter; the revelation did. Hawaii’s village took it from there.

“My mom was huge for our WASZP fleet, really forward-thinking,” Pearl says. “We had a progressive mindset from the start, and I’m so thankful for it.” – Full report