Today in Cascais, Portugal, Deniss Karpak became the first ever Estonian winner of the Finn Gold Cup, after no more races were possible on the final day, Saturday. Italy’s Arkadii Kistanov takes silver, while last year’s champion, Oskari Muhonen, from Finland, takes bronze, as well as winning the Jorg Bruder U29 Finn Silver Cup.
The final day dawned windless with little hope of racing before mid-afternoon. An early postponement was raised at 11.30, but with no wind on the race course the fleet was held ashore. The postponement stretched through the morning and into the early afternoon. The sailors were teased with a very light breeze, but nothing substantial materialised and at 14.00 AP over A was raised, ending the regatta with no more races.
Finn sailing is an individual sport, but as a community, the sailors honour their champions as a group. Deniss Karpak is a well-deserved champion and was honoured by every individual present. His victory is an incredible continuation of a sailing story that has come full circle from his bronze medal in the Laser class here in Cascais at the 2007 ISAF World Championship.
Karpak becomes the first ever Estonian to win a major Finn title. It follows on from much IFA development work there in the 1990s and later, and his win was loved by all sailors in Cascais. It is monumental for Estonian sailing and the Finn class. Apart from one slip-up in Race 2, he has sailed fast and never outside the top four, winning three races, including the lightest and the windiest. What more can you expect from a true champion?
He said, “No words to describe my feelings. You know it was a beautiful week of mixed conditions so for example today we had no races, so it was hard waiting but I’m really happy to win this title, this is a historical moment for the Estonian sailing, this is a big payout for my technical director, my coach and my dad Igor so basically I dedicate this win to my family, and to my little daughter Adeline.
“Also, I’m happy to be here because it’s where everything started for me. 18 years ago I won a bronze medal in the Laser class here exactly in the same sailing club and now 18 years later I won the Finn Gold Cup
“I did really well. I did not train so much for the last six months after the Europeans in Naples, but still the head remembers but the most important thing is here [touches his chest]. I am always connected to sailing with the Finn class so every time I leave sailing I always come back. That’s in my DNA”
On the class, “I think the Finn class is moving the right way. The Finn is a way of life and I am really happy to see that, especially the Masters fleet, with 300 boats starting. That’s impressive. Next year I am coming, as I will be 40. I won’t be in Brisbane but after that will join the fleet.”
Arkadiy Kistanov started the week on the back foot with an OCS, but from then on remained consistent and won one race. Like Karpak, he has only returned to competitive Finn sailing this year and is very enthused by the class and made a call at the prizegiving to generate more youth sailors to inspire the future generations.
“Very happy with this result. I mean I could only dream about it, I am not so happy about my performance to be honest, but I mean it was good enough for all the effort I put. Congratulations to Deniss and Oskari, for being first and third. Crazy week, super cool, super tricky, very tidal races. I am full of happiness and happy to be in the Finn Class.”
Last year’s champion Oskari Muhonen, who was the first ever Finnish Finn Gold Cup winner, had a slow start to the event but when the breeze arrived, he was almost unbeatable, winning three out of five races.
He said, “A tricky start for me with the black flag and the bad races early in the week so I was quite like already done with the winning at least at that point but still quite happy to manage to pull out third after two solid days with more wind. So obviously not what I was aiming for but still pleased to finish third. For next year I think Brisbane might be a bit hard for me logistically but probably I will be back in La Rochelle in 2027.”
Muhonen also wins the Finn Silver Cup, a title he last won in 2020, then for U23 and now as U29. Brazil’s Antonio Carvalho Moreira took silver while last year’s winner, Domonkos Nemeth, from Hungary, took the bronze. In total, 11 U29 sailors were taking part this year.
Fifty-five years ago, the Finn Gold Cup was won in Cascais by the legendary Jörg Bruder, his first of three wins. Fate determined he would remain unbeaten when he was tragically killed in an air crash in 1973 on the way to defend the title for the third time. This week his daughter Georgia has been making a kind of pilgrimage to the Finn Gold Cup in Cascais to complete the circle after writing her father’s story in the book ‘Regatta 977 – Biography of the champion sailor’.
Giorgia was present at the Clube Naval de Cascais to present the Jorg Bruder Silver Cup, donated to the Finn class by the Brazilian Olympic Association, to remember her father. She was on stage with Patrick de Barros, who competed at the 1970 Finn Gold Cup here in Cascais. She also presented a copy of her book to the Clube Naval de Cascais today. The circle was completed.
Past commodore of the Clube Naval de Cascais Jose Matoso, also a Finn sailor in the 1970s, presented many of the prizes to the other winners and top 10.
All told, it has been a great championship wonderfully hosted by the Clube Naval de Cascais, even if not in typical Cascais conditions. But the fleet had three light wind, and five moderate to strong wind races, so it has been a true test of sailing ability. The top three here proved a step above the rest. The level in the class keeps improving with more sailors coming back and motivated to test their Finn skills again.
There is not long to wait until the next Finn Gold Cup. Boats will be packed shortly for the long trip to Brisbane, Australia where the next Finn Gold Cup, preceding the Finn World Masters, will be held in February 2026.
Final 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
Full results here: https://regatas.cncascais.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall/text/2025-finn-gold-cup-en/menuaction/race-inscriptions
Day 5 gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720328845230
All photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/with/72177720328845230
All high-resolution photos for prints and downloads here: https://robertdeaves.smugmug.com/Finn-Class/2025-Events/2025-Finn-Gold-Cup-Cascais
Follow the event through the Finn Class Social Media Channels:
Facebook: @finnclass
Instagram: @finnclass
Twitter: @finnclass
Hashtags: #finnsailing #fgc #finngoldcup #finnclass #finn #sailing #worldsailingofficial
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
