Corpus Christi Yacht Club Named Official WASZP HUB

March 31, 2026

CORPUS CHRISTI YACHT CLUB NAMED OFFICIAL WASZP HUB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USFOIL

The US WASZP Class and USFoil are proud to announce Corpus Christi Yacht Club as the newest official WASZP HUB for the 2026 season. Located on the Texas Gulf Coast, this addition represents a major step in expanding structured dinghy foiling into one of the most naturally suited sailing environments in North America.

At the center of this development is Sailing Director Joe Hanko, whose leadership and long standing commitment to junior and high performance sailing have positioned Corpus Christi as a natural fit for the HUB model. With consistent breeze, open water, and a deeply rooted racing culture, the venue offers exactly what the WASZP pathway requires: repetition, progression, and real conditions that translate directly to performance.

“This is the kind of sailing environment that accelerates learning in a way you just cannot replicate,” said Joe Hanko, Director of Sailing at Corpus Christi Yacht Club. “We have the wind, we have the water, and we have a culture that is ready to embrace foiling. Bringing WASZP into our program is about giving sailors access to the future of the sport in a structured and sustainable way.”

WHY THE HUB MODEL CONTINUES TO EXPAND

As seen with leading programs across the country, the HUB model is not about isolated events. It is about building a system that works every week.

Strong local programming
Coach development
Accessible entry points
Clear progression into regional, national, and international racing

This approach has already proven effective in places like California and Annapolis, where structured training environments have created consistent participation and measurable performance gains.

Corpus Christi now joins that network with a distinct advantage: natural conditions that accelerate learning.

WHY CORPUS CHRISTI YACHT CLUB

Corpus Christi has long been recognized as one of the premier wind venues in the United States. The combination of steady thermal breeze, manageable sea state, and open sailing area creates an environment where sailors can log meaningful hours on the water without interruption.

That matters.

Learning to foil is not about a single breakthrough session. It is about time on the water, consistency of conditions, and the ability to repeat key skills until they become automatic. Corpus Christi delivers that in a way very few venues can.

Under Joe Hanko’s direction, the club has built a program that emphasizes fundamentals first, then layers in performance. That philosophy aligns directly with the WASZP pathway.

This is not about creating a small elite group. It is about activating an entire sailing community and giving sailors a clear place to start, improve, and advance.

TRAINING THAT CONVERTS TO RACING

A defining feature of the Corpus Christi WASZP HUB will be the direct connection between training and racing.

Sessions will focus on:

Safe and repeatable foiling fundamentals
Boat handling in real breeze
Starts and first beat positioning
Fleet awareness and decision making at speed

Just as importantly, sailors will train in the same conditions they will race in. That alignment is what allows progression to stick.

“This is exactly how the WASZP Class is meant to grow,” said Zaak Beekman, President of the US WASZP Class. “Strong local HUBs like Corpus Christi create consistency for sailors. They lower the barrier to entry while raising the level of performance. When you combine that with the USFoil pathway and national racing opportunities, you get a system that works from day one and continues to build.”

EXPANDING THE GULF COAST PATHWAY

The addition of Corpus Christi strengthens the geographic balance of the North American WASZP network.

With established HUB activity on the East Coast and growing momentum on the West Coast, the Gulf Coast now becomes a critical third pillar. This creates new opportunities for:

High school and college sailors entering the pathway
Winter and shoulder season training in reliable breeze
Regional racing that feeds directly into national events
Integration with USFoil development programs

It also reduces barriers.

Sailors no longer need to travel across the country to access consistent foiling conditions. They can now find that environment within their region, supported by a structured program.

A SYSTEM THAT IS NOW DELIVERING

From HUB based training environments to national race team development supported by America One Racing, the system is no longer building toward something. It is delivering.

Corpus Christi is not an experiment. It is the next step in a proven model.

A model that starts locally
Builds consistently
And connects directly to the highest levels of the sport

The next generation is already out there putting in the time. Time to find a HUB and join them.

A LONG TERM COMMITMENT

The partnership between Corpus Christi Yacht Club and USFoil reflects a shared belief that sustainable growth happens at the club level.

By investing in coaching, access, and repeatable programming, this HUB is positioned to become a cornerstone of dinghy foiling development in the central United States.