Finn Gold Cup: Images from the Aarhus Storm - SWC Day 7 + Video
by Roberts Deaves/Richard Gladwell 8 Aug 2018 20:16 PDT
9 August 2018
Finn - Race 10 - Day 7 - Hempel Sailing World Championships - Aarhus, Denmark - August 2018 © Robert Deaves / IFA
Finn sailors and their 65 year old Olympic singlehander are generally recognised as being the toughest of all Olympic classes.
The final race of the opening series of the 2018 Finn Gold Cup in Aarhus will go down in Finn Class legend, like all the other epic races that have happened before. These photos are a testimony of the incredible forces of nature, and the Finn sailors' constant battle to use the technologically advanced and reliable equipment together with their sportive ambitions to become at one with the boat and the wind, sailing in perfect harmony.
This is exciting sailing, that inspires sailors worldwide, and which people fall in love with the world over. The competition and desire to overcome fellow competitors and nature is intense, and a lifetime opportunity to excel in something that is both easy and tantalizingly difficult. Seize the opportunity; seize the moment.
That reputation was put to the test at Aarhus on Wednesday on the penultimate race of the regatta when a thunder squall hit the fleet, going from 7 to 37kts in a matter of seconds.
Reports from the sailors had it that nine of the the top ten overall capsized at some point in the race.
Robert Deaves was on hand to capture all the action. To see the full gallery click here
There was action ashore after the race too, with eight redress claims being file against the race committee - for reasons that are not clear as the details of the claim and incident are not published on the protest forms on the online noticeboard.