Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Statement from the International Finn Association

by Dr. Balazs Hajdu, President IFA 31 Oct 2018 09:33 PDT
Action at Silver Cup © Robert Deaves

The International Finn Association (IFA), representing the Finn class, is very concerned that the late and unannounced submission (037-18) by the World Sailing Board to overturn the extensively discussed and democratically voted Submission M22-18 in May (including the Mixed One-Person Dinghy event and clearly indicating the Finn as the male equipment) is further driving our sport into expensive elitist Olympic events which will result in the decrease of universality and participation in Olympic sailing.

IFA concerns include:

  • A keelboat of the nature proposed by the World Sailing Board would be hugely costly. Very few nations would be able to justify such an expense. Even if the boats at the Olympics were provided (by who and for what reason?), federations would have to buy boats for training and other regattas. This would limit the event to only wealthy nations and significantly reduce the number of sailors and nations able to compete for a place at the Olympics.

  • The Finn class currently has a significant group of young sailors who are above 85kg and have ambitions to compete in the Olympics. Even if their federations could afford to campaign a keelboat, most would have no option but to stop their campaigns. Many would be lost to sailing. As shown from past Olympics with medallists such as Paul Elvstrøm, Russell Coutts, John Bertrand, Iain Percy, Ben Ainslie and Giles Scott, these sailors became some of the most prominent and famous sailors in the sport. This avenue would be closed.

  • Young sailors above 85kg would have no route to the Olympics. Is it really honest and practical to suggest that they can just sail the keelboats? [Or go and play basketball?] That is a misconception. Of course some may, but many would be unable to switch, either through the extreme cost or the availability of much older and experienced keelboat sailors in their nation.

  • The Olympics should be primarily about youth and participation.

  • The Finn class, as the intended equipment for the male part of the Mixed OnePerson Dinghy event under Submission M22-18, is a reliable option for future Olympic equipment, without the high risk and expense involved in experimenting with an untested event with unknown equipment, and which will have limited attraction to the member nations of World Sailing. In 2018 the Finn was the first class to fill the quota at the Aarhus Worlds. It is already established worldwide with huge participation levels and an appeal to the youth, with a solid class administration producing a foundation of stability and constancy. It is one of the most affordable and easily accessible classes on the current Olympic slate. Read further in the attached Appendix.

  • Submission 037-18 disregards the extensive work already done to propose the Duomix option (Submission 047-18), which should be given a chance to succeed. It is aimed at being the most captivating sailing event in the 2024 Olympic Games, for the sailors and the public, by combining individual achievement and mixed performance, providing excitement through athletic sailing performance and exhilarating races against time. It encompasses extreme skills in dinghy sailing with innovation in technology and formats, with the focus on the athletes' performance.

  • The practicalities of running a secure offshore keelboat event have also been well publicised, not to mention similar national or club level regattas and everyday training sessions. How much consideration has gone into that? And how much fuel will be consumed by coach boats during a single offshore training session?

  • The aim to meet gender equality has been already met with the current slate for 2020. In this interview, "World Sailing President on Gender Equality", it is clearly demonstrated that IOC was happy with the event slate for Tokyo 2020 as being gender equal and that full gender equality on events and athletes was not necessary until 2028.

  • Perhaps the real reason for this submission is the hope that Olympic keelboat racing will attract elusive sponsorship money and increased media presence. We feel that this event will be only attractive to a very small number of nations and increase media production costs whereas sailing is already one of the costliest Olympic sports to broadcast. Has anyone contacted the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) or the IOC about whether they would be ready to cover these costs?
In the light of the above, the Finn class calls on all Council members and MNAs to unanimously reject submission 037-18.

Related Articles

Vaikobi UK Finn Nationals at the WPNSA
Lawrence Crispin wins his first title since returning to the class Former Laser World Champion Lawrence Crispin won his first Finn National Championship after returning to the Class nine years ago, having previously won Weymouth Olympic week in the Finn in 1986. Posted on 8 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 overall
A weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais The 6th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy came to a close this Sunday after a weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais. Posted on 7 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted on 30 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik overall
'Incredible' Finn World Masters closes after epic week Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, has won his second Finn World Masters title as the 2025 Finn World Masters drew to a close in Medemblik on Friday, after having won the title on Thursday with a day to spare. Posted on 20 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik day 4
Pieter-Jan Postma wins after bizarre penultimate day The penultimate day of the Finn World Masters in Medemblik threw a curveball at the fleet with very light and tricky winds, some high scores, complex racing, protests and unfinished races. Posted on 20 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik day 3
Pieter-Jan Postma continues to lead after 5 races Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, continues to dominate the Finn World Masters in Medemblik, The Netherlands, after a fifth race was sailed on Wednesday in a north-westerly breeze building from 8-12 knots during the afternoon. Posted on 18 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third. Posted on 17 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups. Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters opens in Medemblik
A bumper entry of 307 helms in The Netherlands The 2025 Finn World Masters has been opened in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Sunday evening. It is the third time the Dutch Finn class has endeavoured to run the Finn World Masters, with two previous attempts cancelled by the pandemic. Posted on 15 Jun
Finn Southern Area Championship at Christchurch
With the Oscar flag flying to signify free pumping Christchurch Sailing Club welcomed 19 Finn sailors to the Finn Southern Area Championships held over a very sunny and windy weekend 31 May/1 June 2025. The event was shared with the Hadron H2 Class who also appeared to thoroughly enjoy the event. Posted on 3 Jun
Armstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range