Deniss Karpak extends at Finn Gold Cup on Day 4

Deniss Karpak from Estonia has extended his lead to 17 points at the 2025 Finn Gold Cup in Cascais, Portugal, on Friday, with a 3, 1. He was only bettered by defending champion Oskari Muhonen, from Finland, now in third, who scored a 1,2. Italy’s Arkadii Kistanov is in second after a 2,5.

With strong winds again forecast, the fleet was sent out to the offshore course for another day of big waves, big surfs and big smiles. After consulting with the fleet earlier it was also decided to sail only two races.

In 16-18 knots, Finland’s Jesse Kylänpää led round the top in race 7 from Martyn van Muyden from The Netherlands, and Karpak. Muhonen rounded about sixth, but Muhonen was in the lead by the gate and extended away to win by a huge margin from Kistanov and Karpak.

In Race 8, with 20-24 knots of breeze, Karpak was the clear leader at the top from Australia’s Rob McMillan. Again, Muhonen came through downwind, but could not catch Karpak. And though he lost to McMillan on the second upwind, the Finnish again passed him downwind to take second, while Hungary’s Domonkos Nemeth finally had a good start to come through for his best race in third.

Italy’s Alessandro Marega said, “It was a very tough day, another day with more waves and very strong wind, I did two sevenths and I’m fourth in the ranking. I’m quite happy about today and let’s see for tomorrow what happens.”

Kylänpää said, “Today was quite ok conditions, a bit more wind would be even better. Today there was too much work in the downwind, with more wind there could be just sitting and enjoying. I sailed a fourth and sixth. The upwinds were quite challenging to find a good spot and speed but then it was mainly ok. Tomorrow I am hoping for some similar breeze; it would wrap up the event well.”

Racing concludes on Saturday. With all the top three having a high discard, the battle is far from over. A possible two races remain, but the forecast is not promising with light and unstable winds until mid-afternoon.

The first warning has already been put back until 13.00 with the latest possible start at 15.00.

Results after 8 races
1 EST 2 Deniss KARPAK 15
2 ITA 51 Arkadii KISTANOV 32
3 FIN 8 Oskari MUHONEN 45
4 ITA 1103 Alessandro MAREGA 50
5 FIN 99 Jesse KYLÄNPÄÄ 51
6 NED 6 Martijn VAN MUYDEN 55
7 FRA 111 Valerian LEBRUN 60
8 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 63
9 AUS 2 Rob MCMILLAN 69
10 BRA 114 Antonio CARVALHO MOREIRA 70