Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Jock sailing at U23 Finn Worlds for Finn Silver Cup aims much higher

by Robert Deaves on 5 Jul 2016
High ambition driving sailor Jock Calvert towards Tokyo dream - 2016 U23 Finn World Championship Robert Deaves
Jock Calvert (AUS) has a dream. This week he is sailing at the U23 Finn World Championship for the Finn Silver Cup in Aarhus Denmark, but he is aiming much higher. After just six months in the class the 18 year old from Tasmania has set his sights on Tokyo 2020.

Calvert has progressed through the Sabot class and Laser 4.7 before moving onto windsurfing. After sailing the 4.7 World Championship in San Francisco he attained a third place finish at the Australian 4.7 Nationals. Later, during five years of windsurfing he went to three youth World Championships in the RS:X. “The highlight of those years getting my first international race win at my final youth worlds, in Langkawi Malaysia.”

By then the 18 year old had outgrown all these classes, but then was introduced to the Finn. “I’ve now been in the Finn for six months, after getting sick of trying to stay lightweight for other classes. I wanted to fill out, eat real food, do a proper gym programme and live my life again. I had a few goes in a borrowed Finn, and it wasn’t long before I got my own.”

How did he adapt to Finn sailing? “I loved it.”

“The Finn appeals to me because it’s a boat that rewards you for effort. It goes fast when you go hard. I love the close racing and feeling of power. The Finn was also pretty much my only option. I started to fill out too much to be fast on the RS:X, and I didn’t love Lasers, so it was always the Finn for me.”



He says he has received a lot of help so far in getting into the class from both the Australian Finn class and the other sailors. 'They've helped me out with all the questions I’ve had, and things I’ve needed.”

In preparing for the Silver Cup, “My coach, Richard Scarr, has done a wonderful job getting me ready for this regatta, making me think twice about what I thought I knew to make sure that I really did know it, being my eyes outside of the boat and getting my skills to a point where I can among other boats will full confidence.”

He has set high goals for the next few years. “My ambitions for the next 12 months are to win the Australian Nationals, and to qualify for the Australian Sailing Squad at the Palma Regatta. After that, I want to be able to mix it up at the big regattas with the best guys and hopefully come back to the Silver Cup to win it.”

Further afield, “It’s a big ask, but in four years I’d love to be able to be battling Jake Lilley and all the other top Aussie guys for selection to the Tokyo Games.”

Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeSea Sure 2025

Related Articles

Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback
The results are in, gathering valuable insights directly from the sailing community Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland.
Posted today at 5:18 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00.
Posted on 10 Jul