Finn Masters looking forward to La Rochelle return
News by Robert Deaves
Next week, the Finn class returns en-masse to La Rochelle, France for the 2013 Finn World Masters. To date some 307 sailors from 27 countries have pre-entered and if all show up it is destined to be not only the largest Finn Masters ever, but also the largest Finn event ever.
While the seniors have held their European Championship in La Rochelle in 2004 (and will again in 2014), the Masters' last visit was way back in 1996, when it was held over the same week as the Finn Gold Cup. But the event has moved on a long way since those distant days when it only attracted a mere 120 boats, though a look at the results list from 1996 shows that many of the same names will be competing next week.
Last year's winner, and the winner for the last three years, Michael Maier (CZE) is back. He is undoubtedly the favourite to take a record equalling fifth Masters title, and barring any disasters shouldn’t have too many problems doing so. The real interest is around who will be chasing him closely enough to cause an upset, or end up on the podium with him.
Allen Burrell (GBR) will be looking for a third successive medal, having been runner- up to Maier in 2011 and 2012. He commented, “It's going to be a great event with 300 Finns and hopefully some perfect weather conditions. The level is always increasing as we get older and younger sailors come in so getting into the top 10 is going to be harder than ever this year, especially with a lot of new sailors competing. Hopefully La Rochelle will suit the bigger, stronger sailors so I hope to be fighting for a medal at the end of the week, but with that many boats anything can happen.”
Laurent Hay (FRA) has been the top Frenchman in recent years at the Masters but he agreed with Burrell. “This year the level should be very high, with of course Mike Maier the best of us. There is also Uli Breuer (GER), Allen Burrell, Karel Van Hellemond (NED) (his first Masters), Andre Budzien (GER), Rob Coutts (NZL), Jorgen Svendsen (DEN).....and several other new sailors in the Masters. So my goal is first to have beautiful races with a lot of pleasure, and if I finish in the top 10 I will be satisfied.” Explaining the expected conditions, he said, “In La Rochelle we could have different type of winds. The sea breeze sets between 14-18 knots if the weather conditions are OK. But the main characteristics of La Rochelle is a strong chop due to shallow water.”
The fleet is split in Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Grand Grand Masters (60-69) and Legends (70+). There are a record number of Legends this year, 27 in total, including the Legend champion for the past two years Howard Sellars (GBR).
There are also many new faces this year including some very strong and successful sailors from across the world. As well as van Hellemond, Svendsen (Danish champion and world number 1 in OK Dinghy, there is Karl Purdie (NZL), a double OK Dinghy world champion who stepped into the Finn the first tie last year.
He said, “ I've always wanted to sail a Finn but it was only at the end of my OK Dinghy career that I was getting big enough and financial enough to be able to sail one. So to sail one is kind of a dream come true. A big attraction I must admit was the Masters scene where you get to line up against past Olympians and medallists.”
“My own goals next week are to hopefully give the top 10 a bit of a run for their money, though long term of course it would be nice to finish top three. It will also be great to just mix with and meet past and current greats of the class. Given the number of entries I can see getting off the start line in good shape will be hard.”
The age range of sailors is as large as the fleet size. The youngest is 39 (you have to turn 40 in the same year to qualify), while the oldest is 78 year old Gus Miller (USA). Surprisingly this is only Miller's second Finn Masters. He said,“The first was also in La Rochelle in 1996.” Miller finished 12th. “I was also in La Rochelle for the 2008 Europeans where I coached the Chinese Team as part of an IFA Development clinic.” Miller said he is using the Masters as a “warm up/practice regatta for the Finn Gold Cup in Tallinn,” this August. Miller famously stated that he wouldn't give up Finn sailing until he had sailed a Finn Gold Cup in Tallinn, though no one really expects him to keep to his word.
Finn Masters President Fons van Gent (NED) said, “It is a great pleasure to return to La Rochelle again and I am sure the Société des Régates Rochelaises will do a wonderful job in keeping us happy on and off the water. So far we have more than 300 entries but it is not about the numbers but about the quality of racing and in this I am sure the Société des Régates Rochelaises will do us proud. It will be nice to meet so many Finn Masters and their families again, especially the large contingent of Legends. It shows that La Rochelle is a popular venue.”
It's been a very sad few days, but the 300 or so Finn sailors arriving in La Rochelle are hoping to lift their spirits a little bit with a memorable week of friendly and competitive racing. Racing begins on Monday 20, May with eight races scheduled until Friday 24, May.
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
Record Finn World Masters opened amid inclement weather
News
The 2013 Finn World Masters has been officially opened at the Société des Régates Rochelaises (SRR) in La Rochelle, France, though Sunday's practice race was cancelled as strong winds, accompanied by incessant rain, kept the sailors ashore all day. A few sailors did venture out for some last minute practice, while the rest preserved their energy for the racing which starts Monday.
After four years of unseasonably warm weather at the Finn World Masters events across Europe, the fleet seems to have run out of luck. La Rochelle is being subjected to strong winds and rain with temperatures struggling to make it over 15 degrees. The sailors here lobbying for the 2015 Masters to be in Greece are doing a strong trade. A vote on that will be held on Wednesday at the Masters meeting.
In spite of the particularly nasty weather, the sailors here are in good spirits enjoying each others company and the facilities of the club and the beautiful town of La Rochelle. The forecast for Monday is for more of the same, but then the outlook is better, though it is not expected to warm up to normal temperatures until the end of the week.
In the traditional way, the event was opened by the Masters President Fons van Gent (NED) handing over the Finn class flag to the SRR President Claire Fountaine (FRA). Claire Fountaine welcomed all the sailors to La Rochelle and apologised for the bad weather but wished everyone “good sailing”.
Pierre Lemaire (FRA), the Principle Race Officer said, “Some of you know me from Maubuisson [at the Finn World Masters in 2009] four years ago. I am sorry we had to cancel the practice race today as the wind was too strong, but I am sure we will have some nice racing tomorrow and through the week ahead.”
Then Jonathan Lobert (FRA), bronze medalist at the London 2012 was introduced. He said, “I am very pleased to see so many people here. There are not so many Finns in La Rochelle but it is growing and a lot of Masters have been training with us. I hope you have a great week and I hope to be part of you guys when I am a little bit older.” Then van Gent closed by saying, “I am very happy to see you all here again after many years. On behalf of the Masters organisation and the SRR I welcome to all of you to the Masters 2013. I thank the SRR very kindly for hosting our event and we hope the weather will improve, the winds will be less and the sun will shine.”
And then he presented Ms Fountaine with the Finn class flag to declare the championship open. Then followed a drinks reception which was very well received.
In the end, 284 Finn sailors have made it to La Rochelle, making it the largest Finn event of all time. Eight races are scheduled between Monday and Friday, with the first starts on Monday from 14.00.
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
Perfect score for Lidecis and Budzien after first races in La Rochelle
Day one
They said come to France, it will be sunny and hot. They said the water will be warm and they said it never rains here. They lied. However they were right about one thing. The racing on the opening day of the 2013 Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was simply
fantastic. Despite the cold inclement weather, with low These photos were taken from the back of a Finn using a stern cloud, non-stop drizzle and mount and a GoPro camera set to time lapse images. A larger temperatures around 10 gallery will be posted soon. degrees, about 95 per cent of the fleet went racing and a grand time was had by all.
The fleet of 285 Finns was split into two starts of around 140 boats each. After the first two races, three times champion Andre Budzien (GER) shares the lead with Erik Lidecis (USA), sailing his first Masters, after both sailors won both races in their respective fleets. Karl Purdie (NZL), in his first year in the Finn is in third after a 4, 2.
Yellow fleet got away first, and to everyone's surprise, the first time. The wind was 12-14 knots and a big swing in the wind on the first upwind that came back just in time for Erik Lidecis (USA) to lead round the top mark and extend to win. He was followed across the finish by Lars Hall (DEN) and defending champion Michael Maier (CZE). He then led the second race from start to finish again, this time with Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) in second and Maier again in third.
Lidecis said, “I had two mid-line starts, managed to punch out OK. In the first race it went pretty hard right but I was left. Luckily it came back to the left enough for me to cross the fleet and the rest was just about following the course. It's the first day and I didn't know where everything was, so just about getting round the course and staying in the puffs. I was able to extend pretty good and then it's easier to stay ahead when you have a nice gap.”
“In the second race we just had so many starts, it was difficult to keep it consistent, but I got another mid line start came out well. The first beat had smaller oscillations and the leaders all pretty much came out of the middle. So I was just playing the shifts up the middle. And then I managed to stay in front again. It was lighter with smaller waves and the second beat became really shifty. It was real fun.”
The lines here are so long, with the starting boat in the middle, how does he choose where to start? “I don't like the leverage out to the side. If you get it wrong on one side it's hard to come back, but in the middle you can always at least salvage half of it. I have good speed and I am younger than a lot here so I was going a bit faster.”
Was he surprised to win both? “Yes, it's exciting. It's great to beat Maier twice. I think he's not too happy about that. But that's cool. If it ended today I'd be happy. To come all this way and in a boat I've only sailed twice and do this is just great.” Lidecis is being coached here by the 2010 Finn World Champion Ed Wright (GBR). “I've learned a lot from him. He so driven and focused and just pushes me all the time, so he's definitely made a big difference.”
Both races in the Blue fleet were by Budzien, though he had a harder time than Lidecis. Both blue fleet races had one recall. In the first race Tauras Rymonis (LTU) led at the first with with Budzien in third. Budzien pulled through downwind to take the win. In the second race he rounded the top mark in 30th but surged through to the lead downwind again. He lost two places on the next upwind but retook the lead on the final downwind to win his second race of the day.
The general recalls for the second race took their toll with 39 black flag disqualifications across both fleets.
While the real surprise of the day was that four time champion Maier got beaten twice, Karl Purdie put in two great results to sit one place ahead of Maier. Twice the OK Dinghy World champion, he switched to the Finn last year. “Coming from the OK to the Finn was not too much of a transition, apart from the free pumping that is. At my home club in Wellington Josh Junior (NZL) also sails a Finn, so it is a chance to help him prepare for Rio. We train together a lot.”
“In NZ the Finn fleet is great, with really friendly guys happy to share knowledge and while being competitive on the race track also happy being social off it. The racing is fantastic too with Josh, Andrew Murdoch (NZL) and Matt Coutts (NZL) all actively supporting and racing in our regional regattas. I think over the coming few years I wouldn't be too surprised to see three NZers regularly making medal races at ISAF grade 1 events and challenging Team GBR.”
“Regionally over NZ and AUS I would say there is not quite the depth in Finns competitive- wise that there is in the OK due to the smaller amount of people sailing them. But I love the challenge of sailing them. It's just so physical and unrelenting. Downwind has been a real challenge but with Josh to train against that's improving. The tuning aspect provides a further dimension and adds a lot of interest for me. Overall I would say this is by far physically and tuning wise the most challenging boat I have ever sailed.”
Two more races are scheduled for Tuesday, with less wind forecast and also less rain. The sailors live in hope. The championship concludes on Friday.
Results after 2 races
1 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 2.00
1 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 2.00
3 NZL 111 Karl PURDIE 6.00
4 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 6.00
5 LTU 7 Tauras RYMONIS 9.00 6 SWE 22 Stefan FAGERLUND 11.00
7 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 15.00
8 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 15.00
9 ITA 2 Marco BUGLIELLI 20.00
10 GER707 Uli BREUER 21.00
Full results after day 1: http://www.srr-sailing.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/05/finn_world_s1.htm
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
Four winners but Budzien takes narrow lead
DAY 2
With little respite in the weather, the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle, completed two more great races in moderate, cold winds. Three time champion Andre Budzien (GER) takes the lead from Erik Lidecis (USA) and Michael Maier (CZE). Race wins went to Budzien, Maier, Paul Blowers (GBR) and Karl Purdie (NZL).
Tuesday opened bleak in La Rochelle with strong winds, rain and low temperatures. By race time, things were marginally better. The rain had stopped and the breeze had stabilised at 10-12 knots. The sun almost showed its face between races, but then the wind kicked back in for the windiest race so far. In spite of all this it was another great day's sailing, ending with a fantastic reach back to La Rochelle as the wind peaked at 15-16 knots
Today the groups were decided using Monday's overall results. Regatta leaders Andre Budzien and Erk Lidecis were split, with Budzien having a slightly better day to stay at the top, while Lidecis slipped one place, but just one point behind. Four times champion Michael Maier is in third, just four points off the lead, but with a win in
race four, he matched Budzien's points for the day. The yellow group got away first with the left side proving favoured. The leading group included Ray Hall (NZL) and Tauras Rymonis (LTU) who crossed in second and third, but it was Budzien who took the win. Towards the end the wind really faded away and it almost warmed up, but then a solid and increasing 10-12 knots kicked in for the fourth race which started at the third attempt under black flag.
After a big left shift just before the start, which left a lot struggling on the right, Rymonis was again up the front, this time with Uli Breuer (GER) ahead and Maier chasing hard. Maier worked his way through to take the lead for his first win with Breuer second and Rymonis third. Between them Breuer and Rymonis had the best day across both fleets.
In the blue fleet a lot of the favourites were struggling in the first race, but Paul Blowers (GBR) took a great win after rounding the top mark in fifth. He crossed the finish just ahead of Svend Vogt Andersen (DEN) with Marco Buglielli (ITA) in third. Lidecis crossed in seventh to lose the overall lead.
The fourth blue fleet race also had problems getting away. With the wind increasing Karl Purdie found his way to the front to take the win from Karel van Hellemond (NED) and Lidecis. However it was not to be Purdie's day as he picked up a DNE in the first race of the day after failing to retire from the race following a second yellow flag Rule 42 penalty, most likely costing him any chance of a top 10 position.
Blowers explained his race three win, “I had a reasonable start and I wanted to go centre right up the first beat, and I had a working compass today, so I could the shifts happening. I got round the top mark in fifth and had reasonable speed on the other guys and took one boat on each leg of the race and ended up with a very close finish with Svend Vogt Andersen. There was just a couple of feet in it, but I was really pleased to win the race.” This is Blowers second race win at a Finn World Masters after a race win in Punta Ala at his Masters début two years ago.
When asked why he was here he said, “The attraction of the Finn masters for me is meeting up with my mates from around the world, sailing a boat that helps me keep fit and a boat that I can be competitive in, as well as sailing with a group of people that have a similar mind set to me. It's just great.”
One of the 'new' Finn sailors here is Svend Jacobsen (DEN), who only got a Finn last year after being attracted by the Masters regattas. One of three former OK Dinghy World champions present this week (Jacobsen won it back in 1963), he said, “I decided to buy a Finn last year after having tried one in a small regatta in Denmark. I then remembered what I heard from Ib Ussing Andersen's father, when we had a conversation between two races in 1962. Ib's father was mid 50s and I was 17 years old. He Said to me “Svend when you grow old you should change your OK Dinghy for a Finn, because in the Finn you can take a nice walk in the cockpit between two races. This is impossible in the OK.”
“One of the other attractions for me is the Masters regatta. I think it is a great idea, and no other classes seem to have adopted the idea like the Finns have. I stopped dinghy racing in 1995, after having raced the Pirat dinghy for 12 years (after the OK). My reason for giving up dinghy racing was that I felt I was too old - at that time I was 50. It sounds crazy now that I race the Finn, a much more difficult boat.” He recalls sailing a Finn 50 years ago. “I tried a Finn at the first Danish championship in 1963. I borrowed an English Finn, No. 10, from James Ware, but that was my first and only appearance in the Finn until now.” Jakobsen lies in 248th place, though the smile on his face says he is clearly enjoying every minute of the racing.
Racing continues on Wednesday, with gentler conditions forecast. Before that the sailors have their annual Masters Meeting where they will decide the venue for 2015, among other business. The championships concludes on Friday.
Results after 4 races.
1 GER 711 Andrea BUDZIEN 11.00
2 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 12.00
3 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 15.00
4 LTU 7 Tauras RYMONIS 15.00
5 GER 707 Uli BREUER 26.00
6 NZL 2 Raymond HALL 43.00
7 FRA 75 H Laurent AY 43.00
8 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 44.00
9 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 47.00
10 ITA 2 Marco BUGLIELLI 51.00
Full results after day 2: http://www.srr-sailing.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/05/finn_world_s3.htm
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
Maier makes most of moving day at Finn Masters
DAY 3
It was moving day at the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle; the day everything changes, the day between the beginning and the end. There
were lots of changes at the top with several favourites picking up high scores after the only race sailed. Michael Maier (CZE) sailed a flawless race to claim his second race win and take the overall lead. Andre Budzien (GER) sailed one he would probably prefer to forget and
dropped to second, while Erik Lidecis (USA) placed seventh to end the day on equal points with Budzien.
The forecast for the day was not good. The weather chart showed just 4-6 knots of wind, though as the Masters arrived for their annual Masters Meeting, the sun was trying to break through the grey cloud and for the first time this week it was starting to feel warm. The sailors set out for the race area in just a few knots of wind and it looked like a different place from the last few days. However as it got closer to the start the wind picked up to 8-10 knots with complete cloud cover and a distinct drop in temperature.
The races were characterised by a gradual shift in the breeze to the right with those who chose the right side looking very pleased with themselves at the top mark.
In the Yellow fleet, Rainer Wolff (GER) was first round the top mark from Thomas Schmidt (GER). The chasing pack included Fergus Allan (GBR), Michael Staal (D) and Allen Burrell (GBR). However Schmidt had taken the lead by the next leg and extended on the fleet for a nice win. With Wolff maintained second place, Burrell had made the best of the start on the right side and immediately tacked out to the right to come back well placed into the top mark, and then moved through to take third at the bottom of the second downwind and held it until the finish.
Michael Maier dominated Blue fleet, leading from start to finish after also starting on the right and benefiting from a sizeable right shift that left those further right footing off to lay the mark. Second placed Neil Robinson (GBR) rounded the top mark about fifth and worked through the boats while the French battle for third was won by Laurent Hay (FRA) from Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA). Second overall Erik Lidesic (USA) lost some places on the final downwind to cross in seventh. This now means that Maier has taken the lead from Budzien (who finished 29th in Yellow fleet) and Lidecis.
Schmidt, who was the Finn world champion 25 years ago in 1988, explained his race. “I was on the front row on the right side and the wind was quite shifty to the right. I got a good start and sailed a good way up the first beat straight out and then tacked to the right a bit before coming back into the top mark in second. I was first at the next gybe mark and downwind I sailed quite well with nice speed and on the second beat I pulled away.”
On the second upwind, the mark had been changed to the new wind.“But I couldn't see the new mark. It was a white buoy, quite small and there were no rubber boats around it and it was very difficult to see. But in the last 400 metres a rubber boat was there. I had quite a gap on the next boat so I wasn't worried, but it was very hard to find.”
Schmidt now moves up from 8th to 5th overall. “I have been training with some other guys on the River Elbe in Hamburg. It's quite a similar area to hear with the current, so that was good training. It's really nice to see so many boats here this week and also very nice to win a race in front so many Finns.”
Gus Miller, the oldest sailor at this event at 78 made a few astute observations about the sailors in La Rochelle, “A number of things are striking about this Masters Finn fleet. The number of coaches / minders, the good gear, the fitness level for the age, the joy at being here and the up to date techniques being used.”
Several of the sailors are working with top international sailors to improve their game. He continued, “Ed Wright and Lauri Vainsalu are here along with other very good Finnsters acting as coaches. Many masters have done well in life, are used to hiring and managing expert people and expect results from themselves. Out on the water these coaches act as rescue in case the old boy gets into trouble. Most of the Masters are very aware of their limitations and have developed ways of compensating.”
“It is not unusual to see two white haired gentlemen with a tape measure and spring scale on a halyard in a deep discussion of the best leech tension for a particular mast sail combination - should it be 31 or 32 kg. Other popular discussions involve what top young Finn sailor a particular mast or sail came from or what instructions a particular sailmaker was given for a certain sail. The old game of evolution and technology in the Finn goes on even though everyone knows it is impossible to build a super Finn. It is an interesting struggle just to stay even. If you want to start a conversation with an unknown Finn sailor, all you have to do is ask him how his luff curve is." “Then there are the stories and remembered incidents of who was who and what was what. Old sea dogs remembering what it was like to have a strong reliable body and a subtle mind. A phrase such as, “Was not it you in 1961 at the top mark in Kiel who...”, followed by much laughter is not uncommon. It seems that this regatta takes 20 years or more off of each competitor.”
At the Masters Meeting in the morning, the President Fons van Gent (NED) announced he was stepping down and presented Andy Denison (GBR) as his replacement. Denison (GBR) said, “I will give this my utmost attention. I was president of the British Finn Association for seven years so I think I know what we want. I can't organise the sunshine but I can try and make it as fair as possible. I will keep the balance as best as I can. During his terms Fons has done wonders with this organisation; he has done absolute wonders. He has created a structure and a working platform that will take us well into the future.”
Then van Gent was presented with a half Finn model and received a standing ovation from the several hundred sailors present. Fons said, “It is not difficult to do something well when you like doing it and I liked doing this job very much.”
In addition Yves Zoccola (FRA) retired from the Masters committee and Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) was elected in his place. Next up was the vote for the venue for 2015 wth bids from Bracciano in Italy and Kavala in Greece. Bracciano took 55 votes and Kavala took 76. So the 2015 Masters will head to Greece for the first time in the event's history.
Racing in La Rochelle continues on Thursday, with a return to stronger winds forecast. The championship concludes on Friday, when the top 10 will sail a medal race, the first time this has happened for the Masters.
Results after 5 races
1 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 8.00
2 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 11.00
3 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 12.00
4 LTU 7 TaurasRYMONIS 15.00
5 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 18.00
6 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 24.00
7 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 26.00
8 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 29.00
9 NED 41 Karel VAN HELLEMOND 30.00
10 GBR 642 Adrian BRUNTON 39.00
Full results after day 3: http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
No racing on penultimate Finn Masters day
DAY 4
Too much wind spoiled the show for the 285 Finn Masters at La Rochelle on Thursday. With the wind whistling through the rigging all morning the sailors waited ashore under postponement for a final announcement at 14.30. By this time the wind afloat had moderated to 14-16 knots and the first fleet was sent out. However by the time they got there it was a solid 24-26 knots and the fleet was turned around and sent straight back in.
So there is no change to the overall positions as the fleet heads into the final day on Friday with one more race for the colour groupings and the medal race for the top 10. On paper the defending champion Michael Maier (CZE) is the favourite for a record equalling fifth Masters title. He has a useful, but slim, three point cushion over Andre Budzien (GER) and Erik Lidecis (USA), which means that for either of them to win they must put a boat between themselves and Maier. Behind them any of the boats down to ninth could theoretically take the overall win – but they need to bide their time and wait for the leaders to make the mistakes.
The medal race was introduced for the first time last year in Pwllheli to create a structure where the leaders could race for the title on the final day. Sometimes in the group system this had not happened. However last year the race was cancelled because there was not enough wind to sail. This year it is looking likely that the reverse might be true. The forecasts show strong winds again, but we'll have to see what transpires in the morning. The final group race is scheduled for an earlier than scheduled start time 10.30 with the medal race directly afterwards.
During this week we have been trying some new ways to record the fleet on video using front and aft facing stern mounted cameras and some time laspe movies of the fleet on shore.
Here are a few of those made so far.
- Dinghy park full to empty in 60 seconds: http://youtu.be/P4EUgbt8Vss
- Launching and recovery of 285 Finns in 67 seconds: http://youtu.be/ZoblH7sGvjs
- Return to club after racing abandoned: http://youtu.be/dIUM3M3kZA8
The 2013 Finn World Masters concludes on Friday when the new champion will be decided. The start time has been rescheduled for 10.30 to try and get the final race in before the strongest winds arrive.
Top ten going into the medal race.
1 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 8.00
2 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 11.00
3 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 12.00
4 LTU 7 TaurasRYMONIS 15.00
5 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 18.00
6 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 24.00
7 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 26.00
8 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 29.00
9 NED 41 Karel VAN HELLEMOND 30.00
10 GBR 642 Adrian BRUNTON 39.00
Full results after day 4: http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633
Kiwis rule and then Maier takes fifth Finn World Masters
LAST DAY
Final days are always difficult for organisers and competitors alike but the final day of the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was made more difficult by the strong winds and early rain showers that swept through the area. Michael Maier (CZE)) took the world
Masters title after winning the medal race in style, while Andre Budzien (GER) took silver and Erik Lidecis (USA) the bronze.
The day began with the first final colour grouping races for all but the top 10. A much reduced fleet headed out into a solid 15-16 knot very cold
breeze and were met by an approaching rainstorm. This ultimately led to a short postponement as the wind killed the wind and the sailors were left slopping around and shivering. However it soon came back but at a reduced
strength and one very shifty race was held for Yellow and Blue fleets.
Yellow fleet's start featured a large left hand shift just minutes before the gun with those at the pin almost laying the top mark on port tack. The wind was back up to 10-12 knots so it was fantastic sailing conditions with nice long waves downwind. The leading group of Ray Hall (NZL), Jan Eckert (SUI), Dirk Meid (GER), Piet
Eckert (SUI) and Jurgen Eiermann (GER) had a full on battle around the course, eventually finishing in that order.
In the Blue fleet Karl Purdie (NZL) made it a Kiwi double by winning his second race of the series, leading from start to finish, from Uli Breuer (GER) and Franceso Faggiani (ITA). Both Purdie and Breuer paid a heavy price for failing to immediately retire from races on a second yellow flag penalty earlier in the week and both would otherwise have made the medal race. Purdie's scoreline of 4, 2, DNE, 1, 31, 1 is perhaps a warning that he will be a force for the future (though perhaps after reading the rules again).
While the group races were rescheduled for the earlier start time of 10.30 to avoid the strongest of the forecast wind, the medal race was strangely rescheduled for later in the day so that it could be held in the river off the club when the tide had risen sufficiently to lay a course. This was so it could be watched by spectators. It was a gamble as the wind was forecast to rise all day and the Masters has a wind speed limit of 20 knots.
But the medal race got away at 15.30 after one general recall in well in excess of 20 knots. Sailed in the narrow channel just off the marina it was a gusty, shifty race that generally favoured the right side under the town. Regatta leader Michael Maier escaped from a poor start on the first attempt but made the best of the second start to lead round the entire race. Karel van Hellemond (NED) was flagged out of the start for infringing another boat's water and started last. However he was back in contention at the top mark and moved into a comfortable second place on the second upwind. Third place in the race finally went to Andre Budzien (GER) after a close battle with the chasing pack.
This all meant no overall change in the leading three boats with Maier taking a well deserved and record equalling fifth World Masters title after undoubtedly the toughest of all his five Masters titles. Budzien, the three times champion, took the silver while newcomer Erik Lidecis (USA) took the bronze after not really figuring in the medal race.
This year has featured the largest ever entry at a Finn World Masters, with more and more sailors both qualifying by getting older and being attracted to the fleet by the level of competition. Next year the Finn World Masters heads to Sopot in Poland.
Final results top 10
1 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 10 (1)
2 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 17 (3)
3 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 20 (4)
4 LTU 7 Tauras RYMONIS 25 (5)
5 NED 41 Karel VAN HELLEMOND 34 (2)
6 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 34 (8)
7 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 38 (6)
8 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 38 (7)
9 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 47 (9) 10 GBR 42 Adrian BRUNTON 59 (10)
Grand Masters:Andre Budzien (GER), Thomas Schmidt (GER), Michael Staal (DEN) Grand Grand Masters: Henk de Jager (NED), Seppo Ajanko (FIN), Dirk Seret (AUS)
Legends: Friedrich Muller (GER), Minski Fabris (CRO), Howard Sellars (GBR)
Full results after day 5: http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master
Follow the racing online at the club website at:http://www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world- master/ as well as on www.finnclass.org andhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Finn- Class/110408332633