Norway’s Anders Pedersen stood out on the challenging opening day of the 2026 Finn Gold Cup, sponsored by Porsche Centre Brisbane and hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia. Pedersen secured two race wins in difficult conditions in Moreton Bay, leading the pack with Alessandro Marega from Italy in second place and Australia’s Anthony Nossiter in third. A total of 72 sailors from 14 countries are competing.
The recent weather in Brisbane has not conformed to expectations, with strong winds, heavy rain, and temperatures dropping from the usual 28-30 degrees to around 19-20 degrees. While not excessively cold, the conditions were far from comfortable and quite wet.
Two races were conducted on Sunday afternoon on the Bravo course, located outside Green Island, a 75-minute sail from the club. The day was demanding, with only 46 sailors managing to complete both races amid the forecasted winds of 15-20 knots and higher gusts. Short, steep waves complicated the upwind sailing, while stronger winds accompanied the tide shift, allowing for exhilarating downwind runs. Despite the hardships, competitors returned with smiles, appreciating the day spent on the water.
By the time the fleet reached the racing area, winds had picked up to the mid-20s, though moderated sufficiently for the first race. Jan-Dietmar Dellas from Germany led the fleet at the top mark, edging past Britain’s Lawrence Crispin and New Zealand’s Joe Spooner. Crispin took over the lead by the gate, but Marega overtook him to lead at the final top mark. Pedersen, who had struggled off the start line, fought his way to second by the top mark but regained the lead at the bottom of the run, finishing ahead of Marega, with Brendan Casey from Australia in third.
As the conditions became increasingly challenging, the wind escalated shortly after the start of Race 2. By the time the fleet approached the first upwind mark, winds had reached 25 knots, with Finns dashing downwind like balls of spray. Nossiter led at the first mark, followed by Australia’s David Ellis and Pedersen. Displaying remarkable downwind speed, Pedersen again took the lead, concluding with a second victory. Nossiter finished in second place, with Marega third this time.
Competitors expressed mixed emotions about the day’s intensity. Brendon Hogg from New Zealand noted, “Today’s competition was definitely a step up from what we’ve been doing… the downwind leg was the most scared I’ve ever been in a Finn. I’m glad to finish without a swim.” Nossiter echoed similar sentiments, stating, “It was a great day’s sport… exhausting but rewarding. It was windy in the second race, and I was satisfied with my performance. Everyone returned with smiling faces, even amidst harsh conditions.”
Pedersen reflected, “It was a hard day. I experienced the worst start of the fleet in the first race but managed to come back and win on the last leg. The second race had even more wind, with shifty conditions, making it tricky to judge which side was favourable. But it was a nice day overall, typical of Norwegian weather.”
Forecasts suggest improvement in conditions over the following days, with sunshine and rising temperatures anticipated along with slightly less wind. Racing will resume on Monday, with two additional races planned, running until Thursday.
Results after two races:
1. NOR 1 Anders Pedersen – 2 Points
2. ITA 1103 Alessandro Marega – 5 Points
3. AUS 221 Anthony Nossiter – 9 Points
4. AUS 11 Brendan Casey – 11 Points
5. FRA 111 Valerian Lebrun – 11 Points
6. ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo – 13 Points
7. NZL 111 Karl Purdie – 14 Points
8. AUS 2 Rob McMillan – 20 Points
9. POR 21 Filipe Silva – 21 Points
10. USA 16 Rodion Mazin – 25 Points
Full results can be accessed via this link.
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