Finn Class World Championship - Australia's sailors head to Estonia

by Craig Heydon on 23 Aug 2013 Finn Gold Cup 2013 gets underway in Tallinn, Estonia, next week. Australia’s Finn sailors are preparing for their biggest event of the year with racing scheduled to begin on Monday.

Four Australian sailors have made the trip to Estonia for the Finn class World Championship, including London 2012 Olympic Games representative Brendan Casey and up-and-coming Finn sailors Oliver Tweddell, Jake Lilley and Joe McMillan.

Casey has had limited time in the boat since the end of the 2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup back in April but is looking forward to taking on the best Finn sailors in the world next week.

'Without much racing under my belt since the end of the World Cup series in France my approach here is very simple, eyes wide open and go for it,' said Casey.

Oliver Tweddell was the top placed Australian at the recent Finn European Championship, finishing the event 18th, with the Victorian keen to take on the large fleet.

'The Gold Cup is a very prestigious event and it’s always great fun to be a part of,' said Tweddell. 'This year we have 97 Finns entered so it will be another big fleet and the quality is extremely high, which will make racing very intense.

'While I was pleased with my result at the Europeans I felt that I didn’t perform anywhere near my best so I’m looking forward to being able to put everything on the line at the Worlds,' he said.

Jake Lilley is competing in his first European season in the Finn class with the Queenslander already posting some impressive results, being the second placed junior at the European Championships and winning silver at the Junior World Championship earlier this year.

'Tallinn is an amazing city and a wonderful place,' said Lilley. 'The conditions can be rather similar to what I’m used to at home in Brisbane which has been helpful in training so hopefully that will translate into some good racing results as well.

'While I’ve had some good result this year to be honest I don’t think about the results of the Junior Worlds and Europeans,' he said. 'I’m fully focused on what I need to do here and writing the next chapter.'

Joe McMillan is also competing at his first Finn Gold Cup having finished 60th at the recent European Championship.

Racing begins in Tallinn on Monday and continues until Saturday 31 September.

For more information on the Australian Sailing Team visit Australian Sailing Team website.