Year: 2018

The NOR for the 2019 Finn Masters is available here: Finn Masters 2019 NOR

We haven’t got any other info than the results pdf and these fine photos, but it looks like it was a good time.

2018 – BUCYC – GYA FINN Championship Results (1)

San Diego (September 19, 2018) San Diego Yacht Club hosted the first of the Finn Trifecta regattas – the Finn Pacific Coast Championships (PCC) this past weekend, September 15-16, 2018. Thirty Finns raced on North Coronado Roads tucked under Point Loma, battling for the championship title.

The weekend’s conditions were what SDYC’s Commodore and Regatta Chair Michael Dorgan calls ‘champagne sailing’ with clear, sunny skies, mid-range temperatures and 8-10 knots of breeze to carry the sailors around the course. The races on Saturday and Sunday were consistent in that the top six finishers sailed neck and neck in all the races. Due to the course location, the winds were consistently favored right, but with enough shifts to encourage fairness for clean racing.

Coming in first overall was Robert Kinney’s AK47, followed by Rob Coutts’ Priscilla in second and Paul Didham’s Hoop Dreams in third.

Long time Finn sailor Rob Coutts started off the regatta with a first place on Saturday, and despite another bullet and a few seconds, he missed the win by one point overall. Paul Didham’s ability to finish third overall using a borrowed boat showed his true talent, sailing consistently all weekend. Commodore Michael Dorgan spent some time before the races giving Paul some hardy advice and tips for the course. “I guess I gave him too much info as he was showing me up on Saturday!” the Commodore joked.

“I’d be lying if I did not say I was pretty jazzed [to win]. I tried to keep my nose clean at the start and not do too much dumb stuff on the course. My advice to others comes from advice I was given: Shut up and put the bow down!” Kinney commented.

After racing concluded Saturday evening, sailors joined around the SDYC pool and Pavilion and enjoyed a Finn sailor’s meal: pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and a delicious Kolsch Pilsner donated by regatta sponsor, Ketch Grill and Taps.

The Finn PCCs is sailed annually up and down the Pacific Coast, but after a four year hiatus, Commodore Michael Dorgan revived the event incorporating it into a One Design Weekend at SDYC. What started as a regatta with 10 Finns quickly grew into one of the largest Finn regattas.

Coming up this weekend, you can find the Finn Master’s North Americans back on Coronado Roads. SDYC can expect to see a handful more Finn’s and sailors out on the water, including Darrell Peck, an top Finn sailor with more than 30 years’ experience and Olympic campaigns, World Championships and coaching expertise. Peck will challenge World Champion Henry Sprague and Rob Coutts, both winners of their age categories at the Finn Masters World Champions, as well as PCC Winner Robert Kinney and many other hopeful Finn Champions.

As Commodore, Michael Dorgan stated a goal to host Finn regattas and he secured the Finn Trifecta: PCCs, Master’s North Americans and the Olympic Classes Regatta. “By having and holding two large regattas in a row, it allows sailors from out of town to leave their boats here and spend some time with us in San Diego. It also helps build the local Finn fleet, brings newer boats to the area and provides plenty of recognition, exposure and publicity to the fleet.”

Results

San Diego (September 23, 2018) It’s been a Finn filled weekend at the San Diego Yacht Club with two back to back Finn regattas: the Finn Pacific Coast Championships (Sept. 15-16) and the Finn Masters North American Championships (Sept. 21-23). This weekend, the Finn Masters North American Championship hosted 29 Master Finn sailors (age 40 and over) eager to compete on the beautiful Coronado Roads situated just south of Point Loma which juts out into the blue Pacific Ocean.

What else can you expect from a September day in San Diego but mild temps and clear, sunny skies? This weekend was that! With a cool breeze ranging from 8-12kts, sailors from all over the country raved of the amazing conditions in SDYC’s tucked away home of Point Loma, California.

The top Master was Darrell Peck/Child’s Play, grinding through four of the eight races in first place. His worst race and discard was a seventh. Behind Peck were two amazing sailors, SDYC’s Commodore Michael Dorgan/Finnster in second and second overall from last week’s Pacific Coast Championship was Rob Coutts/Priscilla in third.

Peck came out from Oregon for the weekend after participating in a handful of Finn regattas in August, making for good practice. “I felt like I had great speed and great confidence. I borrowed a newer mast and sail for this event, so it was a great combination and I only had two bad luck races that I was able to come back from.”

While he might have made his success look effortless to his peers, Peck did experience some equipment problems on the course when his tiller universal was damaged in Sunday’s races. Thankfully, the Race Committee tossed Darrell some duct tape, he mended his broken piece and stayed competitive.

The real excitement grew in the battle for second with Dorgan and Coutts. The two were tied at the end of Saturday (day two out of three). Despite Coutts bullet in the final race, Dorgan’s consistent 3-2 for the day put him two points ahead of Coutts for the regatta. “I had to have a great start and sail fast upwind to compete against Rob’s speed downwind. I tried to sail a conservative race and stay next to him the whole time. In addition to a great race neck and neck with Rob, it was an honor to finish next to Darrell Peck,” explained Commodore Dorgan.

A unique twist to this particular Finn Masters North American Regatta was that Commodore Dorgan decided to invite ‘junior’ (age 40 and under) Finn sailors to participate. “It was absolutely fantastic to have the juniors on the course. The more youth you can have involved in the fleet, the more it is going to help it grow. The US Finn Class mentions in their mission to promote Finn sailing to the youth, so we did exactly that by having them sail with us today. Plus, they help us older guys pull the boats up the ramp!”

Each day of racing ended with evenings filled with delicious food, great music and good camaraderie. On Friday, the sailors enjoyed music by SDYC Junior Director John Fretwell’s band Stylus Overhang. Saturday, they relaxed with good beer by one of the sponsors, Ketch Grill and Tap, around a bonfire, and Sunday, concluded with a wonderful awards ceremony.

Commodore Dorgan ended the weekend with a comment on the fleet and the Masters. “It’s gives me great satisfaction to see all these guys sailing and having fun and using their boats. The most important thing for a Master is to be active, sailing, competing, and to be out in the fresh air enjoying God’s gift: the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Next for the Finn fleet is the San Diego Olympic Classes Regatta (SDOCR) on October 6-7, 2018. This will be the third and final regatta of the Finn Trifecta happening this fall at San Diego Yacht Club.

Finn Masters North American Championship Results

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Casey Allocco.
Casey Allocco
Communications Coordinator
o: 619-758-6316
e: casey@sdyc.org

About SDYC
The San Diego Yacht Club encourages and fosters an environment that helps and continues to produce the best in the world of boating-related activities. Founded in 1886, SDYC has become a world renown sailing community recognized for its success in bay sailing, ocean racing, cruising, angling, and its world class youth sailing program. SDYC is consistently ranked among the top 5 yacht clubs in the U.S. and is recognized by the Club Leadership Forum as one of the finest facilities of its kind in the world.

Photos

Results

Rody bested the fleet of 10 boat fleet that gathered on the shores of Lake Erie off of North Cape Yacht Club in LaSalle Michigan this past weekend in big breez and rain to take home the crown Great Lakes Champion as well as some valuable points in the 2018 LATIS Great Lakes Championship Series presented by Offshore Spars in partnership with Dockline and Eco Cart Safe. Rody sailing his first Finn regatta on Lake Erie was pleased with how accommodating and professional the NCYC staff and race committee were. Mazin also explained how great it is to have an active Finn circuit during the summer months and how such a circuit will help and grow Finn sailing threw out North America. Again congratulations to Rodion Mazin on his victory.

Second went to Finn Grand Master representing National Yacht Club in Toronto Canada Simon Van Wonderen. Simon who was 4th in the Grand Master division and 9th over all at last year’s North American Master Championships held at North Cape Yacht Club took 2nd with 9 points. This was a big change from last year’s light and shifty masters and it shows how big of a difference in conditions that you can see on the lakes. Simon hopes to have a good showing at North Americans and CORK and hopefully take over the lead in the Great Lakes Championship Series.

Third went to the 2018 Michigan State Champion and current leader in the GLCS, representing The Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto Canada Adam Nicholson. Adam had a solid performance in the big breeze on the Western Basin keeping his point total to 11 and increasing his lead for the series. The big breeze and great hospitality of NCYC made the drive from Toronto worth it for my family and I. Adams 3rd place gives him a nice but not a safe lead in the GLCS as we get ready for the NA’s.

The rest of the results…
4. CAN-3. ************ Ian Bostock. WRSC
5. USA-405. @#%!!!! Scott Frissell. North Cape Yacht Club
6. USA-101. Finn Peter Frissell. North Cape Yacht Club
7. USA-4005. !!!! Eric Frissell. North Cape Yacht Club
8. AUS-819. Bondi Xpress. John Woodruff. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
9. USA-24. Harambe. Will Libcke. Pontiac Yacht Club
10. USA-88. Woody’s Overflow. Ray Matuszak. Put-in-Bay Yacht Club

Thanks to North Cape Yacht Club for hosting a great event.

Here is the NOR: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/17030/NOR_2018_RM_Finn_championship_woform.pdf

The July Solo newsletter is available now, just click this link to enjoy all of the latest FINN news from around the nation. Solo newsleter 7.18 master pdf

https://willowbankyc.com/finn-toilet-bowl-info/

Click here for the NOR for the Finn Great Lakes Championship: 2018 Finn Great Lakes NOR

Adam Nicholson representing the Royal Canadian Yacht Club wins the 2018 Michigan State Finn Championship.

The regatta was the first Finn event on Lake St. Claire in over 40 years which ran as part of the Bayview One Design hosted by famed Detroit Bayview Yacht Club.
Adam bested the fleet in a wide range of shifty conditions this weekend to take the championship home to Toronto as well as valuable points for the LATIS Great lakes Championship Series presented by Offshore Spars in partnership with Dockline and Eco Cart Safe. “This regatta surpassed my expectations of sailing in Detroit and is a must do for sailors looking to be challenged by good competition” says former Team Canada and world travled sailor Adam.

Last year’s champion representing the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Brisbane AUS John Woodruff was second after being forced to take a 4th on race 3 due to an unfavourable shift, was happy to see strong competition from the field. “This regatta was very good for the Finn class, it has put a lot of Detroit sailors in aww of what the Finn is capable of doing in a wide range of conditions.” Woody also ad’s “having our launch site at Crescent Sail Yacht Club has drawn a lot of interest from both Star and Lightning sailors to the Finn. We hope to capitalise on this by building a new fleet on Lake St. Claire and see more Finn activity in Detroit in the near future”

New boat owner Will Libcke representing Pontiac Yacht Club was third this year. Will chartered a class owned boat last season and got bit by the Finn bug pushing him to purchase a boat from Dinghy Racing USA’s Joe Chinburg. This was his second regatta with the new boat which he’s getting dialed in. “Its awesome to see the enthusiasm in the Finn especially from sailors in other fleets.” Will is going to oversee a Finn sailing evening this Wednesday night June, 6th at Crescent.

In forth was University of Toledo sailing team member and North Cape Yacht Club sailors Brian Pribe. This was the first time in a Finn for the 170 pound Rocket who used the class owned Devotie. “This was one of the best sailing experiences I’ve ever had. I learned so much and can’t wate to use what I’ve learned when coaching the juniors at Put-In-Bay this summer.” Brian plans on sailing the Finn a lot more and after graduating his first purchase will be a Finn.

Class Secretary and North Cape Yacht Club member Peter Frissell rounds out the top 5 in this year’s MSC.

Thanks to all who were involved this past weekend and we look forward to next year’s regatta.

Upcoming events on the LATIS Great lakes Championship series presented by Offshore Spars in partnership with Dockline and Eco Cart Safe
Lake Erie Championship
Great lakes Championship @NCYC
North American Championship
Toilet Bowl
CORK
Lake Ontario Championship
FINNSTAR Intergalactic’s
Frostbite

Hope to see you all there.