Nearly 300 Finns at World Masters

6:47 AM Mon 1 Jun 2009 GMT

The biggest Finn event of all time starts in Maubuisson in south-west France on Monday. Nearly 300 Finn sailors from 24 nations have pre-entered for the 41st Finn World Masters Championship, smashing all previous records. Each year this event just gets bigger and bigger.

The host is the Cercle de la Voile de Bordeaux Carcans-Maubuisson, with the racing being held on the Lac de Carcans, about 20 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean.

The favourite to take the title this year has to be the double defending champion Andre Budzien (GER) who has stamped his authority over the fleet in the past two years. However he has a lot competition to overcome to take a third successive title.

The pre-entry list includes the likes of 2006 champion Michael Maier (CZE), 2000 Olympic Silver medalist Luca Devoti (ITA), 2003 champion Eberhard Bieberitz (GER), 1972 Olympic Silver medalist Ilias Hatzipaulas (GRE) and last year's runner up Mikail Kopanov (BUL). There are also too many others to mention all too willing to have a crack at the title and many will feature this coming week.

Anyone who turns 40 during the year can enter the Finn World Masters and this year competitors range in age from 40 to 86. The oldest competitor, most likely in any dinghy championship anywhere in the world, is Didier Poissant (FRA), who very aptly competes in the Legend category for the over 70s. There are 24 Legends pre-entered this year, more than double last year's turnout, which perhaps proves more than anything that Finn sailing keeps you young.

Six races are scheduled between Monday and Friday, with fleet groupings up until Thursday, when there will be a gold and silver fleet split for the final race. Race one starts Monday at 14.00. It's going to be an awesome sight.

Event website: finn.france.free.fr/masters2009.html
Masters website: /www.finnworldmaster.com/

by Robert Deaves

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