During the opening ceremony of the Porsche Centre Brisbane 2026 Finn World Masters, Tim Tavinor became the second inductee into the Finn Class Hall of Fame, following Rafa Trujillo, who was inducted just a week earlier at the closing ceremony of the Finn Gold Cup.
Tim Tavinor’s contributions to the Finn class are profound. In the early 1990s, he collaborated with Luca Devoti to establish Victor Boats and develop the Devoti hull, which significantly advanced Finn sailing globally. It can be argued that without this innovation, the class may not have experienced the growth it has for over three decades.
After relocating the boatbuilding operation to Eastern Europe, Tavinor stepped back from Finn production in 2005, acquiring Petticrows boatyard in Burnham-on-Crouch, where he continued to build world-class Dragons. In 2014, he returned to Finn manufacturing with the Petticrows Finn, which was later sold to DC Composites in the Netherlands, leading to the renowned TT2 Finn production. In 2022, Tavinor took on the role of chair of the Technical Committee of the International Finn Association.
A former competitive sailor, Tavinor campaigned Finns during the 1980s and 1990s and nearly qualified for the Olympics.
Rob McMillan, who introduced the award, highlighted Tavinor’s relentless pursuit of performance, stating, “When he was dabbling with the Finn, you were never quite sure what he was up to. He always tried to find extra performance from the equipment.”
The partnership between Tavinor and Devoti has left a lasting legacy in Finn sailing. Devoti, who also has an impressive record, will join Tavinor in the Hall of Fame at a later ceremony.
The impact these two have had on the class cannot be overstated, and their recognition is well-deserved.
Photo gallery is available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720332140866/
Legends of the Finn Class include numerous icons such as Paul Elvstrøm, Jørg Bruder, Hubert Raudaschl, and many more, all of whom have been instrumental in the success and legacy of the Finn Class. The last inductions were made in 2015, and the International Finn Association is reinvigorating this celebration of class heroes, so stay tuned for more updates.
For more information on the Hall of Fame, visit: https://finnclass.org/the-finn/hall-of-fame.
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