IFA President Rob McMillan sums up the past season in his address in the new issue of the Finn magazine – FINNFARE.
“As 2023 closes I hope that you can all look back on memorable Finn sailing moments with our brilliant community, supporters, friends and family. Looking to the recent past we are reminded that the weather ultimately controls many aspects of what we do, and it certainly demonstrated its prowess at several events during the year.
Our Open Europeans in Balaton presented real challenges to both sailors and organisers. Our worthy winner Doma Nemeth and the other competitors experienced heavy winds, rain and very cold weather on what one might have expected to be a warmer, lighter event. Nonetheless and despite these challenges the event was very well attended, and it is great to see again (as in Miami) the growth that has been catalysed by this event and the Finn community in Hungary.
Our Finn World Masters in Kavala was dogged by very little wind with only four races completed. Predictably, the week after the regatta the wind retuned. Despite the limited racing, reports from all sailors speak volumes for the social aspects of the event and special experiences that are enjoyed whenever Finn sailors converge.
Our Masters Europeans in Garda, won by the ever-youthful Peter Peet concluded our major events for 2023 with a week of light to medium wind sailing in a beautiful setting.
On top of all this our 2023 World Tour for Finns offered us all the chance to compete in more than fifty events where ranking points can be earned. We leave 2023 with Laurent Hay of France ranked #1. Laurent is a great competitor, clever, fit and tireless, a great role model for us all in pushing himself to be ever more competitive.
Looking ahead 2024 will be an amazing year. We have the Finn Gold Cup in Aarhus, the venue of the 2018 Sailing World Championships, our Europeans in beautiful Cannes and the Finn World Masters in spectacular Punta Ala.
Along with the other events in the 2024 World Tour for Finns we can all look forward to amazing racing and great off the water experiences. Our Finn Gold Cup in Aarhus will also incorporate the Silver Cup and we hope to bring together Youth and Masters together to fight it out for our World Championship in Denmark.”
See you out there in 2024.
