Author: Rodion Mazin

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July 18–19, 2026 · Willow Bank Yacht Club · Cazenovia, NY

Some trophies you fight to take home. This isn’t one of them.

In 1968, Art Diefendorf and Rush Marshall started a Finn regatta on Lake Cazenovia. A few years later they salvaged a cast-iron toilet from the dismantled local railroad station, bolted on a sense of humor, and crowned it the perpetual prize. Nearly six decades later, the Toilet Bowl remains one of the most beloved fixtures on the North American Finn circuit — a sacred class artifact that stays at WBYC, the winner’s name engraved alongside the sailors who came before.

Don’t let the name fool you. Lake Cazenovia is a tactician’s proving ground, famous for 180-degree shifts, downdrafts, mystery puffs, and wind phenomena best described as UFO-grade. Lead changes, mid-fleet reshuffles, and the occasional mark pileup are part of the deal. The America’s Cup spends millions chasing this kind of drama. We just need a competent race committee and a small lake with a mind of its own.

Bring the whole crew. Willow Bank is a genuinely family-friendly venue, with tent and trailer camping right on the club grounds, a swimming beach, and plenty to keep everyone happy between races. Kids splash and play while the fleet is on the water, and the lakeside setting makes the whole weekend feel more like a summer getaway than a regatta. It’s the kind of place where the boat park and the beach blanket are equally part of the fun.

Whether you’re chasing the Bowl, the Grand Master and Legend trophies, or just a good weekend on the water, all Finn sailors and all boats are welcome – modern race boats and classics alike. Lunch both days and a Saturday night dinner round out a regatta that’s as much about the camaraderie as the racing.

Come find out who’ll be crowned this year’s lord of the spindrifts and commander of the eddies.

Register now: https://willowbankyc.com/regatta/LFUNhLeG5u

The USA Finn Association Classifieds Have Been Rebuilt — Buy, Sell, and Charter With Ease!

The classifieds section of the USA Finn Association has been completely rebuilt from the keel up, and it’s live now at finnusa.org/finnusa_classifieds.

Whether you’re hunting for your next hull, clearing space in the garage, offering a charter, or arranging transportation to the next regatta, the new system makes it simple to connect with fellow Finn sailors across the country.

What’s new:

Post it yourself. No more emailing the webmaster and waiting. Create your own listing — For Sale, Wanted, Charter Available, or Transportation — straight from the website in a few minutes.

Edit anytime. Every ad comes with a private link, so you can update the price, swap photos, or mark an item sold whenever you like — no account or login required.

Your email stays private. Buyers reach you through a secure contact form on your listing. Your address is never shown publicly, keeping the scammers and spam bots out.

Up to 10 photos per listing. Show your boat from every angle with a clean photo gallery and full-screen zoom.

A cleaner, more intuitive board. Filter by category, search by keyword, and browse 20, 40, or 100 listings per page with simple page navigation. Everything is built to match the look and feel of finnusa.org and works just as well on your phone.

Every listing is reviewed by our team before it goes live, so the board stays relevant and trustworthy.

Take a look, post your gear, and help keep good Finn equipment moving through the fleet.

➜ Browse the boards: finnusa.org/finnusa_classifieds

Registration is now open for the 2026 Finn U.S. National Championship

https://abyc.org/regatta/Ne1SCubJdO

Early entry encouraged! Take advantage of a 20% discount.

The winner of the regatta will get an opportunity to receive USAFA sponsorship for the 2027 Gold Cup.

For charters and housing, submit your inquiry to: usafinnmedia@gmail.com

With the start of the new year, it’s time to renew your annual Finn Class membership. An active, up-to-date membership is required to compete in all major Finn Class events.

If you’re unsure of your current status, you can easily check by looking up your sail number here: https://finnusa.org/usafa-documents/ . If you have questions or need assistance, feel free to contact the Class Secretary at secretary@finnusa.org.

Please note that annual memberships expire at the end of December, so be sure to renew to stay eligible and connected. Update your membership here: https://finnusa.org/join-the-class/

Your active participation directly supports USA Finn Association programs, the Finn Class publication Finnfare, and other initiatives that promote and grow Finn sailing in the United States.

The 2026 USA Finn Association regatta schedule is now available.

Major Regattas: 2026 Major Event Schedule – USA Finn Class

All Finn Regattas: Event Calendar – USA Finn Class

The USA Finn Association (USAFA) is proud to introduce four Finn Development Incentive Programs aimed at strengthening participation, performance, and long-term sustainability of the Finn class in the United States. Taken together, the initiatives address the primary barriers facing the class: cost, access to equipment, limited youth exposure and the challenge of maintaining a competitive international presence.

The World Championship Sponsorship Incentive is the most performance-focused program. By funding the national champion’s entry fee and boat charter for the Finn Gold Cup, USAFA ensures that the top American Finn sailor is represented on the world stage. While narrow in scope, the program reinforces a clear performance pathway and links domestic success to international competition. This connection is important for maintaining the relevance of the U.S. Finn fleet within the global class and for setting a tangible goal for elite sailors and providing an incentive for a younger generation to compete at the Finn national stage.

The Travel Grant Program addresses participation rather than podium results. By reimbursing part of the travel and registration costs for sailors under 29, the program lowers the financial burden of attending regional and national regattas. Regular travel and racing are essential in a geographically large country, and this support helps younger sailors remain active in the class during a period when competing demands often pull them away from Finn sailing.

The Future Finn Champions Invitational targets a longer-term development challenge: attracting new talent. By inviting experienced sailors from other classes to compete in major Finn events with boats, coaching and mentorship provided, USAFA reduces the traditional entry barriers of cost and unfamiliarity. This program recognizes that the Finn class must actively recruit from outside its existing membership to remain healthy, particularly as sailors transition out of youth and collegiate pathways.

The Boat Grant Program complements these efforts by addressing access to equipment. Loaning or leasing competitive boats to committed sailors enables participation that might otherwise be impossible. By tying boat access to racing commitments and mentorship, the program encourages sustained involvement rather than short-term use.

Individually, each program serves a specific need. Collectively, they form a structured development ladder: access to boats, support for participation, exposure for emerging talent and incentives for elite performance. While modest in scale, these initiatives provide a practical framework for stabilizing and gradually growing the Finn class in the United States through targeted, disciplined support rather than broad, unfocused spending.

Sailors interested in taking advantage of the USA Finn Association’s new incentive programs will have their next opportunity at the 2026 USA Finn National Championship, scheduled for May 15–17 at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, California. Results at the national championship determine eligibility for several programs, including the World Championship Sponsorship Incentive, which supports U.S. representation at the 2027 Finn Gold Cup. The event will serve as a key entry point for sailors seeking financial support, equipment access and development opportunities through USAFA’s expanded program offerings. Program guidelines and application materials are available on the USAFA website under the USAFA Documents section USAFA Documents – USA Finn Class. A direct link to the USAFA Incentive Programs is provided below.

Direct link to the USAFA Incentive Programs: https://finnusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/USAFA_Incentives_Program_final.pdf

Greetings USAFA Members and Friends,

During informal conversations at and following the 2025 U.S. Nationals at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, several sailors expressed strong interest in attending the 2026 Gold Cup in Brisbane, Australia.

The Gold Cup is scheduled for February 12–19, 2026 and will be immediately followed by the Finn World Masters from February 20–27, 2026. Additionally, the Australian National Championship, serving as a warm-up regatta, is planned for February 7–12, 2026.

To support a seamless sailing season and encourage maximum participation from North American sailors, USAFA has worked with local fleets to organically schedule major USAFA events as follows:
• October 2025 – North American Championship in Newport Beach, CA. Boats will be shipped to Australia immediately after.
• January 2026 – Boats arrive in Australia.
• February 2026 – Participation in Australian Finn events (Nationals, Gold Cup, World Masters).
• April 2026 – Boats return to the U.S.
• May 2026 – U.S. Nationals in Long Beach, CA.

The club website is: https://www.rqys.com.au
The Event website with entry forms, Notice of Race is here: https://www.rqys.com.au/international-finn-2026-events/

The projected transportation cost for a round-trip shipment of one boat (based on stacking nine boats per container) is approximately $1,500. The final market price can only be finalized no more than 60 days before the shipment date.

Given the time commitment, financial costs, and physical demands of competing in three back-to-back events, it is expected that most sailors will choose to participate in either the Gold Cup or the World Masters, rather than both. This opens an opportunity for two sailors to share the transport cost by shipping one hull with two masts, each using the same boat for different events.

If you are interested in attending any or all of the 2026 Australian events, please contact Phillip Ramming at rpramming@gmail.com. Phil is the primary point of contact for coordinating the shipping logistics to Australia.

Rob McMillan, International Finn President from Australia, reports that to date, approximately 60 boats from Europe have expressed strong interest in attending, and 50 Australians are expected. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Brisbane is a fantastic venue with plenty of real estate to store boats for as long as needed. The local fleet has arranged volunteers to meet the containers when they arrive, unpack them if necessary for customs, and transport them to the Club for storage. It is a very welcoming / sailor-oriented Club. He says sea breezes from 12 to 18 are standard for that time of year.

The Gold Cup will be sailed in open water outside Green Island. The Masters Worlds will be inside Green Island in more protected waters.

We hope to see a strong North American presence in Australia!

Very respectfully,
Rodion Mazin
USAFA President

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all members of the USAFA who placed their trust in me with their votes during the 2025 USAFA Annual General Meeting. Together, we engaged in meaningful discussions and approved significant updates to the USAFA bylaws, alongside forwarding valuable proposals to the IFA. Stay tuned for more details, courtesy of our exceptional secretary, Anna Broughton.

Next, we owe a tremendous thank you to the Key Biscayne Yacht Club for hosting a spectacular regatta. Their efforts seemingly won the favor of Poseidon, Boreas, and Eurus, blessing us with a diverse range of sailing conditions. This showcased a true test of skill and determination, ultimately crowning the finest Finn sailor in the U.S.

I also wish to convey my deep appreciation to Robert McMillan, the current IFA President, who journeyed to Miami with a clear purpose: to strengthen the IFA and advance its mission. A formidable competitor, Robert brought intensity to the racecourse, and it was an honor to meet and challenge him on the water.

As we look forward to an exciting summer of sailing, I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve elected an outstanding team of Vice Presidents. I’m confident their leadership will energize USAFA’s grassroots initiatives and further expand Finn sailing across the U.S.

To those considering whether to join the Finn class and measure your abilities against some of the world’s top single-handed sailors, now is the perfect time. The U.S. offers numerous affordable options to get started. Embrace the Finn—it’s a rewarding challenge that hones your skills, deepens your understanding of the forces acting on a boat, and sharpens your edge not only in this class but in others as well.

Keep sailing, and keep thriving.

Rodion Mazin
USAFA President