TEAM MEMBERS

Alden Gort is a Junior at the University of Michigan studying Naval Architecture and Marine engineering. He grew up sailing 420s at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, where he later taught the race team for two years. In his free time, Alden serves as the MCSA Regatta Coordinator and is a part of the Michigan Sailing Team. He now races WASZPs and VX Ones across North America and looks forward to developing the WASZP Swarm!


Callum Ruch has been racing various boats for 9 years, as well as sailing his family CS33.  He sails out of Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  He started racing in the Optimist class, moving to the 29er Class in Fall 2021. Callum has sailed far afield in Argentina, UK and Italy. One of his favourite memories though, was sailing Waszp in Halifax for the Inspire Racing program alongside the F50s! Callum can’t wait to join the Swarm as a member of this inaugural team, heading back to the WPSA in Portland, UK, for the Waszp Games 2025!


Phoebe Chalmers is a Canadian sailor studying applied mathematics and engineering at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. Her love for sailing stems from my parents, who she grew up sailing with on many different boats. She is passionate about gender equity in sailing and is a founding member of the Magenta Foiling Team, working to develop an international pathway for female athletes into foiling in partnership with The Magenta Project. She has been sailing the WASZP for two years and is excited to be joining the U21 North American WASZP Team to take my WASZP sailing to the next level!


Gaetan Ismael is a freshman at the Severn School with a deep passion for sailing. His journey began in San Francisco, where he honed his skills sailing Optis. He later competed in c420s as a member of One United and the Coral Reef Yacht Club. During the school year, he trains with the Severn High School sailing team. For the past two years, Gaetan has been sailing WASZPs and is passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of sailors in the WASZP fleet!


Henry Krieble, a ninth-grade student from Montreal, Canada, has been sailing since the age of 7. He first learned to sail at Brome Lake Boat Club, where he is still a member, before moving on to the competitive Opti class, where he sailed until he was 13. These early years helped Henry develop strong boat handling skills, racing tactics, and a deep sense of focus. Now, Henry is fully committed to the WASZP class, known for its speed and excitement. He trains regularly at Pointe Claire Yacht Club, where he continues to improve his skills. With a strong passion for the sport, Henry is focused on taking his sailing to the next level in the WASZP class, pushing his limits and striving for new challenges on the water.


Daniel is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHSST) in Alexandria, Virginia. He started sailing at the age of 8 with Annapolis Yacht Club and Severn Sailing Association, where he developed a strong foundation in the sport. After competing in the C420 class for two years with OneUnited, he discovered his passion for foiling and transitioned to the WASZP class. Over the past two years, he has dedicated himself to training and competing in the WASZP, working alongside some of the best sailors in the world to build the Swarm. Sailing out of Annapolis, Maryland, he is excited to continue competing in the highest level of youth events and looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of the WASZP community.


Oliver Soares was born and raised in Bermuda, where his passion for sailing began at a young age. He first honed his skills in the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy, a beloved local class, before branching out to a wide range of other boats. Today, Oliver primarily competes in the WASZP class, where he has found his true focus. With a commitment to becoming the best WASZP sailor he can, Oliver is dedicated to refining his technique and pushing his limits in the sport. His journey continues with the goal of excelling on the global stage and establishing himself as a leading figure in the WASZP community.


Ethan Thompson is a competitive sailor from Canada with a passion for excelling in the WASZP class. He started sailing at 5 years old in Bermuda, this is where he spent his whole optimist career. He then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada where he is focused on becoming one of the top sailors in the Waszp fleet, Ethan has set ambitious goals for the future, including a Top 10 finish at the WASZP Worlds, a 1st place at a SailGP Inspire event finals, and gaining valuable experience competing in larger international fleets. Ethan’s dedication to the sport is driven by a desire to continually grow, learn, and challenge himself at every opportunity. With a clear focus on refining his skills and competing against the best sailors worldwide, he is determined to make a lasting impact in the competitive sailing community.