Finn Gold Cup - ISAF Worlds 2007 Cascais, , July 5-11

One day to go for fleet

Cascais is sunny, windy and beautiful this morning as Finn sailors make final preparations for the 2007 ISAF World Championship

The 2007 Finn World Championship starts on Thursday 5th July as part of the ISAF Worlds, currently under way in Cascais, Portugal. Moderate to strong winds and clear blue skies have so far indicated a challenging week of superb conditions ahead.

Ten races are scheduled between this Thursday and next Tuesday, with two races each day and a rest day on Sunday. The opening three days will be a qualifying series with Monday and Tuesday of next week being sailed in Gold and Silver fleets before the medal race for the top ten and the final series races for the rest of the fleet on Wednesday.

Competition within the Finn class class is often regarded as one of the toughest of Olympic sailing disciplines, combining physical prowess with technical knowledge and tactical expertise. The 77 Finn sailors here in Cascais are competing for the , the classes world championship trophy, and one of the oldest and elitist dinghy trophies sailed for on the international stage.

The Finn is also the oldest Olympic dinghy, having been used at every Games since 1952, when it was selected following a design competition for a single-handed dinghy. Designed by Rickard Sarby from in 1949, the Finn may be 58 years old, but it is arguably one of the most modern looking hiking dinghies around with epoxy moulded hulls, carbon wing masts and hi-tech sails.

The 35 nations represented here in Cascais include many sailors from established nations as well as a number of new and emerging nations trying to qualify for one of the 19 Olympic places at the 2008 Games. At the recent European Championships – albeit held in light winds on Lake Balaton on Central Europe – the top 19 nations finished in the top 26 places. This is going to make gaining one of this initial batch of Olympic spots very hard indeed.

The Basics

Event: Heavyweight dinghy Equipment: Finn Fleet size: 77 Nations: 35 Olympic qualification places: 19 Reigning World Champion: Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) Reigning Olympic Champion: (GBR)

Leading Challengers

Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) Current world ranking: 1 Best results: World Champion 2006, 9th in 2004 Olympics Form: Should adapt well to the conditions off Cascais. Likes steady, breezy conditions and has a powerful downwind technique when the wind exceeds 12 knots and unlimited pumping is permitted. He has held the ISAF World ranking top spot since June 2006 and has to be one of the firm favourites for this event. Results so far this year include fifth at the Europeans, a sixth at the Breitling Regatta and second places at Hyeres and Princess Sofia.

Ed Wright (GBR) Current world ranking: 5 Best results: European Champion 2006, 3rd Finn Gold Cup 2006 Form: In the absence of his main competition for the 2008 GBR Olympic spot – Ben Ainslie (GBR) who has been involved in the Emirates Team America's Cup campaign – Wright will be looking for a solid performance to bolster his chances of going to the pre-Olympics this August as well as giving the selectors a definite indication that Ainslie is not a dead cert for Beijing. Finished third at the Breitling Regatta and fourth in Hyeres.

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) Current world ranking: 3 Best results: European Championship 2006, 2nd. Form: After entering the class in 2005, Kljakovic Gaspic immediately began to make his mark winning the Junior World Championship in his first year and following that up with an 8th in the Finn Gold Cup in 2006. This year he has clearly improved further with podium places at four major regattas and a very close second place at the Europeans.

Dan Slater (NZL) Current world ranking: 2 Best results: 2ns European Championship 2005 Form: A win at the Breitling Regatta in May confirmed Slater as one of the top favourites for 2007. He has finished in the top ten at every ranking regatta except two since he entered the class from the 49er (a class in which he finished 8th in the 2000 Olympics) in 2005, and has steadily moved up to rankings to his current second place. Very determined and committed, Slater is definitely one to watch.

Chris Cook (CAN) Current world ranking: 9 Best results: 3rd Finn Gold Cup 2005, 6th Finn Gold Cup 2001, Form: When on form, Cook can produce great performances, but sometimes struggles with consistency. Cook has been the top ranked North American Finn sailor since he entered the class in 2001 and has a very physical style around the boat.

Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) Current world ranking: Best results: 2nd Breiltling Regatta 2007 Form: Jumped into the Finn from the in 2005 and has steadily improved since then. Sometimes inconsistent he has recorded a string of individual race wins this year in windy conditions and could prove hard to beat if he doesn't make too many mistakes. Finished a disappointing 15th at the Europeans after a third at Princess Sofia, seventh in Hyeres and second in Holland. Likes the breeze so could do well here.

Emilios Papathansaiou (GRE) Current world ranking: 4 Best results: European Champion 2001, runner-up Finn Gold Cup 2005, 2006, third in Finn Gold Cup 2000, 2001, 20002, 5th in 2004 Olympics Form: Probably the most experienced Finn sailor in the fleet, Papathanasiou has had excellent speed all year, winning Hyeres on the medal race and was the only sailor at this year's Europeans to win more than one race. Sometimes a risk taker, and with a liking for flamboyant end of line starts the Greek sailor is still looking for his first World Championship win, after finishing on the podium five times in the past seven years.

Anthony Nossiter (AUS) Current world ranking: 13 Best results: 2000 Olympics 6th Form: Another member of the +39 America's Cup team here in Cascais, Nossiter has proven very capable of winning races, and is a powerful, strong sailor who likes the breeze. Trying to qualify for his third Olympics ahead of fellow Australian .

Daniel Birgmark (SWE) Current world ranking: 6 Best results: 4th 2006 Finn Gold Cup, 14th 2004 Olympics Form: Although he hasn't repeated some of his success in the Laser class, Birgmark has always been there or thereabouts and is consistent throughout the wind range. Quite capable of winning races and putting together a good series. Main competition for Olympic berth is Johan Tillander, who is 10th on the ISAF rankings, having placed 7th at last year's Europeans and Gold Cup.

Rafael Trujillo Villar (ESP) Current world ranking: 11 Best results: Silver Medalist 2004 Olympics, 2nd Finn Gold Cup 2003 Form: Although Trujillo has taken time out of his Finn sailing to compete on board the +39 America's Cup boat, he has still maintained his high ranking position since winning the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics. With a definite liking for windy conditions, Trujillo should perform well here is there is a solid wind every day.

Guillaume Florent (FRA) Current world ranking: 48 Best results: 2nd 2006 Europeans, 8th 2004 Olympics, 6th 2006 Finn Gold Cup Form: Not sailed much since the 2004 Olympics where he famously protested Ben Ainslie out of the second race, but is good in a breeze and capable of posting a good series here.

Ones to watch...

Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) Current world ranking: 66 Best results: 2007 European Champion Form: Recently shocked the established sailors by claiming the 2007 European title on Lake Balaton in , without winning a single race and after only nine months in the Finn. His home club is Sailing School, so it will be interesting how how adapts to the open sea conditions of Cascais.

Gasper Vincec (SLO) Current world ranking: Best results: Europeans 2005, 3rd Form: Just won Week following a fourth at the Europeans, so perhaps peaking at thwe right time. Although Vincec has regularly been in the medal races this year, he seems to struggle in the high pressure regattas, while winning low pressure ones. Often cited as good in light airs and small fleets, Vincec finished a lowly 20th in the 2004 Olympics

Waclaw Szukiel (POL) Current world ranking: 12 Best results: 4th Finn Gold Cup 2005 Form: Entered the class in 1997 and has put in some race winning performances, but the 4th in Moscow in 2005 marks the best he has sailed at a major event.

Rafal Szukiel (POL) Current world ranking: 17 Best results: 8th Europeans 2007 Form: Taller than his brother and having sailed in his shadow for a number of years, Rafal has produced better form on average in the past year and could easily produce a top ten and race winning performance this week.

Zach Railey (USA) Current world ranking: 15 Best results: 6th Europeans 2007 Form: Admits to still being on a steep learning curve, Railey entered the class in 2005 and will be one of the youngest sailors here. Outside chance of winning individual races.

Peer Moberg (NOR) Current world ranking: 16 Best results: Rolex Miami OCR 2007 1st Form: Moberg moved into the Finn in 2005 after three successful Olympics in the Laser, including a bronze medal in 1996. Apart from the occasional regatta he has failed to break into the top ten

Joao Signorini (BRA) Current world ranking: Best results: 2004 Olympics 10th Form: Only got back into the Finn for the first time since the Olympics in September 2006 after competing on Brasil 1 in the VOLVO OR. So far this year he has made it to two medal races including a 10th at the Europeans.

© 2007 Robert Deaves, International Finn Association Reproduction in whole or in part welcomed with credit to author. Event website: www.cascaisworlds2007.com Class website: www.finnclass.org More information: [email protected] Daniel Birgmark

Dan Slater Ed Wright Jonas Hoeg Christense Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic