‘Incredible’ Finn World Masters closes after epic week in Medemblik

Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, has won his second Finn World Masters title as the 2025 Finn World Masters drew to a close in Medemblik on Friday, after having won the title on Thursday with a day to spare. Laurent Hay, from France, was also secure in second, while Taras Havrysh, from Ukraine, moved up to third on the final day.

The 2025 Finn World Masters has been an exceptional event in all aspects, from the competition, race management, onshore socials, partners programme but most of all for the weather. The 2008 Finn World Masters was also held in Medemblik and also had exceptional weather, so perhaps Finn Masters are just exceptionally lucky. For sure everyone in Medemblik this week felt lucky and privileged to be there. The atmosphere was just incredible.

The final race on the final day was probably the trickiest of the week with light and patchy easterlies mixing up the racing. Hay won the yellow group, to end on equal points with Postma, who struggled in blue group and finally crossed in fourth. Eric Bakker, from The Netherlands led blue group most of the way. On the other course area, Switzerland’s Michael Good won green group, while Havrysh won the red group.

Postma also won the Masters age group, Havrysh won the Grand Masters age group and Hay won the Great Grand Masters category. As is traditional, all 32 Legends (those over 70) and nine Super Legends (those over 80) were celebrated on stage, representing as a group the aspiration of everyone present. New Zealand’s Rob Coutts retained the Legends title, while Rodrick Casander, from The Netherlands, again won the Super Legends title.

Laurent Hay said, “It was a very beautiful championship, and we had a fantastic weather, we had good breeze with a lot of different conditions, so it was really nice. We had some great battles, a lot of sportsmanship. I’m very happy about my championship, I had some good battles with PJ Postma, I tried to do my best, but he was just better. I am super happy and I want to thank all the volunteers, the race committee, and the jury. It was a perfect race.”

A huge thanks to the enthusiastic Organising Committee, led by the unflappable Jan Zetzema, the Royal Hollandia YC and the Regatta Centre Medemblik for the superb welcome, hospitality and convivial atmosphere that made this event such a great Finn World Masters. The crowded award presentation and overly enthusiastic response was enough evidence to how much everyone enjoyed the event. It was epic.

It is not long to wait until the next Finn World Masters, which is being raced on Morton Bay, in Brisbane, Australia, in February 2026, and hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. We can’t wait.

Photo gallery of the day: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720326994037

Final results after 8 races
1 NED 842 Pieter-Jan POSTMA 10
2 FRA 75 Laurent HAŸ 10
3 UKR 8 Taras HAVRYSH 27
4 NED 68 Martijn van MUYDEN 32
5 ESP 7 David TEROL 32
6 NED 703 Eric BAKKER 34
7 GER 501 Fabian LEMMEL 34
8 GBR 790 Nick CRAIG 40
9 AUS 2 Rob McMILLAN 41
10 DEN 7 Søren HOLM 42

Super Legends
1 NED 8 Rodrick CASANDER
2 FRA 23 Daniel CHEDEVILLE
3 GBR 777 Howard SELLARS

Legends
1 NZL 9 Rob COUTTS
2 NED 2 Wouter MOLENAAR
3 FRA 86 Christophe JEAN

Great Grand Master
1 FRA 75 Laurent HAŸ
2 NED 703 Eric BAKKER
3 AUS 2 Rob McMILLAN

Grand Master
1 UKR 8 Taras HAVRYSH
2 NED 68 Martijn van MUYDEN
3 GER 501 Fabian LEMMEL

Master
1 NED 842 Pieter-Jan POSTMA
2 ESP 7 David TEROL
3 HUN 5 Tibor PALLAY

Lady: NED 201 Maria KUIPER
Crutch (11th): HUN 5 Tibor PALLAY
Club Trophy: Het Witte Huis, NED
Nations Cup: The Netherlands
Classic Boat: NED 468 Arthur van den HOVEN