Author: Rodion Mazin

The 2021 Great Lakes Championship had been scheduled to take place over the weekend, 10 to 11 July 2021. Unfortunately, the upcoming thunderstorms prevented the Sunday racing, which was handled with ease by the competent race committee of the North Cape Yacht Club. The PRO had been ready to take on the challenge and planned to complete four races on Saturday in preparation for the Sunday foul weather.

 

The eight competitors from Michigan, Illinois, New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met on a 0.7-mile racecourse. The NNE wind ranging from 10 to 14 knots, 30-degree oscillating shifts, and a two-foot short swell, offset by the waves bouncing from the shore, challenged the Finn sailors, making for a complicated and unpredictable beat. It is worth mentioning that “Larry Sprinkle’s” (the weatherman) forecast was wrong, and predicted 4-5 knots turned into perfect Finn weather. 

 

The first start for the Finns sounded at 1240, just five minutes after a 21-boat Lightning fleet. Pin end of the starting line was favorite by at least 20 degrees, so the expected pile-up on the pin resulted in some fails. Stephen Smeulders (USA 1000) tried to squeeze between the pin and Rodion Mazin (USA 16), but the continued left shift forced him to tack and receive a penalty. Nikita Mazin (USA 7) played the shifts just right, staying further on the left side of the course he rounded first on the upwind mark and stayed first to the finish. Jack Jennings (USA 5078) won the second upwind leg but couldn’t match Rodion’s downwind speed, and as a result, placed third in the first race, losing 25 yards to Rody. Stephen Smeulders (USA 1000) couldn’t recover from the bad start and finished fourth. At the back of the fleet, Chuck Rudinsky (USA 40) took control over the rest of the fleet. 

 

The second race was a repetition of the first one, with the favorite pin-side of the start. Nikita Mazin and Stephen Smeulders took off with an incredible upwind speed. Playing the shifts and staying more to the left-hand side of the course, both got a comfortable lead over Rody Mazin and Jack Jennings. Rody’s secret weapon, downwind speed, came in handy again. He was able to overtake USA 1000 just 30 yards before the finish but couldn’t catch his brother, who finished first again.

 

The third race changed things a bit, the wind shifted to the right, and the boat end was “favorite” this time. The fleet didn’t want to commit to either side; most of the boats started in the middle. The 1991 Sunfish World Champion, Stephen Smeulders, showed infallible upwind skills. He led the third race till the 30 yards before the finish when he was overtaken by USA 16. Nikita Mazin (USA 7) made some bad choices on the upwind legs, picking the right side of the course and following the right-hand side trend throughout the race. Unfortunately for him, the left side paid back as it did in the first and second races. This mistake cost Nikita a regatta win.

 

The fourth and final race of the short but exciting Great Lakes Championship brought a comfortable win in the race and a regatta win to the class secretary, Rodion Mazin. Starting just above Jack Jennings and Stephen Smeulders, Rody took an early lead over the exhausted Finn fleet. Rolling over Stephen and forcing him to tack over to the right side, Rody tacked to the port just 20 seconds behind Stephen and tacking advantage of the header. Within the next few minutes, he capitalized on two more shifts, headed to the left lay line, and from there led to the end of the race, gaining more ground during both downwind legs. Nikita Mazin took second place, taking advantage of the downwind pumping practice during the national championship in Corpus Christi. Stephen Smeulders finished in third with a 3 point lead over Jack Jennings. 

 

The North Cape Yacht Club offered great sailing conditions and unmatched hospitality. We hope to see competitors from Canada joining us next year during this iconic event. Next on the schedule is Canandaigua Tune-Up Regatta and an iconic Cazenovia Toilet Bowl. Come over and sail with us! The Northeast and Great Lakes circuit is growing, and Finns are invited to attend more regattas.

 

Full Results: 

1. Rodion Mazin (USA 16) – 2, 2, 1, 1 – 6
2. Nikita Mazin (USA 7) – 1, 1, 3, 2 – 7
3. Stephen Smeulders (USA 1000) – 4, 3, 2, 3 – 12
4. Jack Jennings (USA 5078) – 3, 4, 4, 4 – 15
5. Charles Rudinsky (USA 40) – 5, 5, 5, 7 – 22
6. Will Libcke (USA 3) – 7, 6, 6, 5 – 24
7. Peter Frissell (USA 101) – 6, 8, 7, 6 – 27
8. JJ Miller (USA 260) – 8, 7, DNF, DNF – 29      

 

Light conditions greeted the Finn Fleet at the US Open Sailing Series Olympic Classes regatta in Long Beach, California. “AJ” Nosar continued where he left off at the SDYC Olympic Classes regatta battling out the overall lead w/ San Diego’s Rob Coutts, but leading after day one. Multiple race winners including U25 Peter Sangmeister, James Lawson and AJ Nosar. Racing continues today on Alamitos Bay, predictions for more 8-12 knot light breeze.

Day two of the US Open Sailing Series/Olympic Classes regatta sailed out of ABYC saw more of the same, light, shifty breeze in the 8-12 knots range. Robert Kenny came out swinging Sunday morning after making the adjustment of “getting my head out of the boat and looking around more….” which definitely helped as he won the first race of the day. Second race went to Rob Coutts, whom won last months Olympic Classes regatta (SDYC) and recently finished 3rd during the Finn Nationals in windy Corpus Christi, Texas a couple weeks ago, setting up a 3-way show-down-winner take all- in the finally race of the series.Anatolli “AJ” Nosar struggled Sunday w/ an 8th and 6th place, putting his overall lead in jeopardy, but in the end and last race, finished 2nd in the final race, good enough to secure his overall WIN when Kinney and Coutts were OCS. AJ commented, “The rest of regatta was with ‘San Diego’ weather conditions- where I have to train more! Last race decided everything and my rivals Rob Coutts and Rob Kinney did false start so I was a little lucky. Fantastic feelings and hope the next year we will have Olympic classes regattas AND FINNS…” Robert Kinney climbed back to 6th in the last race to secure 2nd overall, and the young and local Peter Sangmeister finished the regatta w/ a 3rd and winning the last race advanced Peter to the podium, in 3rd overall-ahead of Coutts in 4th and John Reiter in 5th.

Regatta Report by Mike Dorgan and Photos courtesy of US Sailing

Registration is now open for the 2021 Finn North American Championship in Pass Christian, MS – 30 September to 03 October. Register today!

Registration is now open for the 2021 Great Lakes Championship and Canandaigua Tune-up Regatta.

Register Today!

U.S. Finn National Championship has concluded with 7 races over 3 days. The last planned race had to be cancelled due to passing thunderstorms.

Rody Mazin (USA 16) and John F. Dane (USA 69) were match racing it from the start of the race 7. Taking it to the left and covering each other all the way to the windward mark, John F. couldn’t match Rody’s downwind speed, but took the top master award nevertheless.

The fight for the third place between Nikita Mazin (USA 7) and Rob Coutts (USA 9) went to Rob in a 19:19 tiebreaker. Rob, also the top Great Grand Master showed stamina and skills commendable for the weather conditions on the first 2 days.

Top Legend Charles Rudinsky (USA 40) took a win over Henry Sprague (USA 74).

Top Grand Master Scott Griffith (USA 1138).

Full results: https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21811#_newsroom+results

Big thank you from the USA Finn Association (USAFA) to the Corpus Christi Yacht Club (CCYC) and James Bland for hosting a top notch event in top notch conditions. We are sorry for all those who couldn’t make it, you truly missed a fun Finn regatta. We, USAFA, hope that the Finn fleet will grow in Texas and can’t wait to come back to CCYC for another major North American event.

Pictures by Mike Malloy

The first fay of the U.S. Finn National Championship brought epic conditions, as was promised by the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. Winds from 16-18 knots gusting to 25, 3-4 ft swell, and warm weather. Oscillating wind shifts with the overall left hand (East) trend throughout the day. First bullet of the day went to John F. Dane (USA 69) and two bullets to Rody Mazin (USA 16). Close behind Rob Coutts (USA 9) and Nikita Mazin (USA 7). Kudos to the Great Grand Masters Rob Coutts, Michael Mark, Peter Frissell, James Bland, and David Pearce for going out there and showing how it’s done. Top Legend Charles Rudinsky, followed by Henry Sprague.

Finn fact: Henry Sprague won all three races of the U.S. Nationals Championship 61 years ago when he was just 15 y.o. Henry, you are truly a stud!

Join the most diverse Olympic class today at https://finnusa.org/join-the-class/ Challenge yourself and you will get better in any other class. There is truly no dinghy out there that offers comfortable sailing in winds ranging from 4 to 30 knots. All it takes is some practice and determination.

Pictures by Mike Malloy

Full results: https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21811#_newsroom+results

Sailing is a beautiful and diverse sport. There is not a person in this world who would doubt it. It is one of not many sports that brings a high school student and a grandmaster, a rookie and a seasoned sailor on the starting line, and a lot of time, both will have close chances of winning the race. Moreover, Finn sailing specifically allows big guys in a whopping range of 80 pounds to be competitive. Big boys, 190 to 270 pounds, battling close on the racecourse and having a blast! 

The Annual Wickford Regatta at the eponymous town in Rhode Island ran through the weekend of June 5th and 6th. It proved the statement about the diversity of the Finn class to be more relevant than ever before. Wickford attracted competitors from Illinois, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The old and new, small and big boats, rookies and masters, all gathered in Wickford to have fun and learn. This was the first time the Finn class visited this venue and what a venue it was! Winds ranging from 10 to 28 knots, tidal currents ripping at 3 knots, and some crazy 30-40 degree shifts, both shifting persistently to the right on the first day, and oscillating on the second day.

The Narragansett Bay challenged the eight boat fleet from the very beginning of the regatta. Stephen Smeulders (USA 1000) took an early lead by winning the first and the second races. He saw the never-stopping right shift and was able to hold a relatively fast speed in his brand new Fantastica. Rodion and Nikita Mazin, USA 16 and USA 7 were trailing behind with five points each after the first two races.

The third and final race of the first day was sailed in challenging 25-28 knot winds. Only 5 out of eight were able to finish this one. Rodion took an early lead at the start and continued to control Stephen through the race, which turned into a match-race duel. At the end of the first day the first three places 4,6, and 8 points respectively went to Stephen Smeulders, Rodion Mazin, and Nikita Mazin. The legend Chuck Rudinsky and the great grandmaster Peter Frissell were fighting it out for the fourth place. Both stayed ahead of the rookies and showed quite a skill, sailing in the treacherous conditions of the Narragansett Bay.  

The second day of the regatta started with the light pressure, but unfortunately, the first race had to be abandoned due to the 180-degree shift. After an hour and a half wait, the pressure finally filled in from the southwest. This time around, the oscillating shifts made the game a little bit more interesting, but Rodion Mazin didn’t give anyone a chance. After a clear start, he again controlled the fleet, played all the shifts just right, and held a comfortable lead over Stephen Smeulders and Nikita Mazin in the last two races. Final results are available at Wickford Regatta 2021 – Series Standing (regattanetwork.com)

Next on the agenda is the U.S. National Championship in Corpus Christi, TX, followed by the Great Lakes Championship in Monroe, MI, and Cazenovia/Canandaigua August series in upstate New York. 

The GYA Finn championship contested in conjunction with Buccaneer’s Spring regatta last weekend was one of the best regattas we’ve held in a while. The challenging conditions truly tested the skills of the 10 boat Finn fleet and taught many lessons to the less experienced finnsters. For example, one who shall remain nameless (JB) learned the reason why you must tie your “Jesus knot” in the right spot or go swimming. Also learned in that same incident is why most masters have some stirrups tied in their boats to make it easier to get back in after a refreshing swim. Also learned by some is to make sure your bungees holding your mast chocks in place are in good shape or you lose those chocks when you go swimming. The good news is that no masts were broken and no permanent damage was done to the fleet. A quick look at the standings showed way too many alphabet scores and not enough numerical ones. But that is what is great about sailing in general and finning in particular, you are always learning.

Another quick look at the scores showed how competitive the front of the fleet was, 2 points separated the podium finishers. In fact, the regatta win came down to the last second at the last finish. To recap, after Saturday’s two breezy races ( 15-20 kt sea breeze with big waves ), yours truly had a 2,1, with a one-point lead over John Dane the elder and 2 points over Thomas Duffy the younger. Sunday was a big change in conditions with the first race in maybe 8kts from the east. Thomas put the hammer down finding some great pressure from the left for a big win leaving JD and me picking up second and third respectively which then left a three-way tie between us all. The second race was pretty much the same conditions but now with JD winning, Thomas second, and I stuck in third, leaving JD in the lead by 2 over me and 1 over Thomas. With my excellent math skills still working, I knew I had to win the last race and put a boat between John and me to win, a tall order. However, the wind gods smiled upon me and the big sea breeze came back. At the last weather mark, I’m leading with Thomas in second and JD in third, and my defense of the illustrious GYA championship looking good…or was it? With the big wind back on, I needed to focus on sailing and as Thomas held a good lead over JD, I felt no need to watch them closely. However, as I approached the finish, I heard, not saw, but heard a boat smashing through the waves on a full-on plane and I knew who it was. The question was could JD make up the distance to Thomas? They come down to the finish neck and neck, I stopped after finishing to watch this battle. They cross the line, whistles go beep, beep very quickly. I can’t tell who won for sure but I had a sneaking suspicion that Dane had done it. And you know the story, he did. So for the regatta Dane 1, me 2, and Thomas 3. Congrats John Dane III, 2021 GYA champ!

While I did not successfully defend my championship, I can honestly say that I enjoyed that competition more than any in recent memory. Yes, my body is sore but I am so stoked that we all had so much fun in true Finn conditions, warm sun and water, big breeze, and great camaraderie. Thanks to all competitors and especially the race committee and PRO Commodore Hunter for a job well done!

John and Thomas had so much fun, they left their boats so they can do some sailing with us. So this week, we are back to the usual schedule Thursday at 5, Friday 4, Saturday 3, and Sunday racing at 2. There is some big breeze for tomorrow and then slowly backing off over the following days. I’m definitely on for tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday.

Who else is sailing and when?

By Michael Mark

After two and a half months of search and deliberations the 2021 North American Championship (NAC) has been moved from CORK, Kingston, Canada to the Pass Christian Yacht Club, Pass Christian, MS, USA. The event will take place 30 September to 03 October, 2021.

This alternate location and dates will allow for more diverse attendance across the North-American continent. In the wake of the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in Canada and continues lockdowns, USAFA made decision to find an alternate NAC site in 2021.

We would like to remind everyone the bids are open for the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Nationals, North American Championship, and North American Masters Championship. Please submit your bids/proposals to finnsecretary@gmail.com.