Alessandro Marega has won the Porsche Centre Brisbane 2026 Finn Gold Cup after an incredible week of world-class sailing at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia. He becomes the first Italian to win the Finn World Championship. Long-time leader Anders Pedersen from Norway settled for silver, while Brendan Casey made an almost perfect performance over the last two days to secure third place as the first Australian in the standings. Over 70 Finn sailors from 14 nations competed for this prestigious championship.
Heading into the final day, competition was tight, with Marega and Pedersen separated by just a single point. Twelve points further back, Casey, Nossiter, and Rafael Trujillo were separated by a mere eight points, amplifying the importance of the last day’s races.
On the final day, winds fell below 10 knots, combined with 30-degree temperatures, setting the stage for a thrilling finale. In Race 9, New Zealand’s Karl Purdie led early but was overtaken by Casey, who sailed to victory, followed by Purdie and Valerian Lebrun from France. Marega and Pedersen faced challenges at the top mark but Marega’s speed allowed him to advance to eighth place, securing the championship with a race to spare.
In the final race, Lebrun dominated, securing first place, while Britain’s Nick Craig finished strong at third. Casey’s impressive performance landed him in fourth, enough to elevate him to the bronze medal position, while Anthony Nossiter, who had maintained fifth all week, finished fifth overall.
After the races, both winners and competitors reflected on the challenging yet rewarding week. Marega expressed joy over his performance, noting the variability of conditions throughout the week, and especially the high level of competition, including many Olympic and America’s Cup participants. Casey praised both Marega and Pedersen for their consistent performances, while Pedersen acknowledged Marega’s skill, admitting he struggled in the lighter breeze.
Australia’s Hayden Barney claimed the U29 Silver Cup, finishing 34th overall after a solid final day. The evening concluded with celebrations for all competitors, and the induction of Rafael Trujillo into the Finn Class Hall of Fame reaffirmed the event’s significance in sailing history.
As the IFA President noted, the event not only opened avenues for future competitions but also marked a historic moment for Italy in the realm of Finn sailing. Competitors now turn their focus to the upcoming Porsche Centre Brisbane 2026 Finn World Masters.
Final results after 10 races:
1. ITA 1103 Alessandro Marega – 29
2. NOR 1 Anders Østre Pedersen – 36
3. AUS 11 Brendan Casey – 42
4. FRA 111 Valerian Lebrun – 48
5. AUS 221 Anthony Nossiter – 50
6. ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo – 53
7. NZL 111 Karl Purdie – 86
8. AUS 2 Rob McMillan – 97
9. USA 16 Rodion Mazin – 109
10. AUS 37 James Bevis – 110
Full results: https://results.rqys.com.au/RQRegatta/FinnGoldCup26/
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