Royal Hospital School Sailor Sets New Waszp World Speed Record
The Royal Hospital School is proud to announce that Year 13 pupil Toby Smith has set a new Waszp world speed record, reaching an impressive 31 knots.
This remarkable achievement comes just two weeks after Toby previously set the record at 30.4 knots. Although the title was briefly claimed at the Australian Championships, Toby has now reclaimed it and raised the benchmark even further.
The record-breaking run took place during the opening of the UK season championships at Datchet. A particularly windy weekend created ideal conditions for high-speed sailing. Having just crossed the finish line of a race, Toby identified a strong gust moving down the course and capitalised on the opportunity, delivering the record-setting performance.
Toby’s success reflects his exceptional dedication, resilience, and technical skill on the water. His achievement is a testament not only to his personal commitment but also to the strength of sailing at the Royal Hospital School.
The school’s sailing team looks forward to returning to Datchet later this week for the BSDRA Thames Valley Championships.
Ed Sibson, Director of Sailing at the Royal Hospital School, comments 'T
oby’s performance at Datchet was exceptional and a clear reflection of his dedication, composure, and developing mastery of high-performance sailing. To set a new Waszp world speed record of 31 knots, particularly under such challenging and changeable conditions, is an outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud of his progress and the standard he continues to set within the Royal Hospital School sailing programme.'
The Royal Hospital School extends its congratulations to Toby on becoming the Waszp world speed record holder and wishes him continued success in the season ahead.
April 2026