Valerian Lebrun leads the Finn Class inaugural WTF Grand Slam after four events

Valerian Lebrun © Robert Deaves

France's Valerian Lebrun is the half time leader in the inaugural World Tour for Finns Grand Slam Series after the first four legs have been completed.

206 sailors have so far taken part in at least one of the events, with a further five events to come. Bas de Waal, from The Netherlands is second with former World No.1 Laurent Hay, from France in third.

The inaugural WTF Grand Slam 2026 is a European-focused circuit launched by the International Finn Association, featuring nine events across eight nations from April to October. With the best four results counting toward the overall ranking, the series will ultimately lead into the Grand Final at the 2027 Finn Gold Cup in La Rochelle.

Points are scaled from 100 points for a win to 10 points for last, with two events counting at present to the total score. While only 16 sailors have competed at more than one event so far, this is expected to increase as the series heads to northern Europe over the coming months.

Laurent Hay - photo © Robert Deaves

Leg 1: Grand Slam Palamos

The 2026 WTF Grand Slam opened in Palamos in Spain with the Mediterranean Finn Cup, from 17-19-April. It was not an easy start with no wind on day one. But sailing always finds a way to reward perseverance. By the final day, conditions delivered, three races sailed in a steady 15 knots, offering a spectacular close to the regatta and a proper test for the fleet. At the end of the series, it was Valerian Lebrun who claimed victory, followed by Laurent Hay in second and Paul McKenzie completing the podium.

1. FRA 111 Valerian Lebrun 7
2. FRA 75 Laurent Hay 13
3. AUS 22 Paul McKenzie 21
4. SUI 59 Simon Bovay 30
5. ESP 161 Miguel Fernandez Vasco 32
6. ESP 71 Xavier Penas 34
7. SUI 37 Ivan Zhukalin 36
8. ESP 7 David Terol 36
9. FRA 96 Florian Faucheux 38
10. ITA 30 Andrea Lino 40

Full results

Grand Slam Cannigione - photo © Robert Deaves

Leg 2: Grand Slam Cannigione

The second leg took the fleet to stunning venue of Cannigione, on Sardinia, for the Italian Championship. A fleet of 53 boats took part from 30 May - 1 June. With the new world champion Alessandro Marega winning seven of the eight races, it was another dominant performance, while the other race was won by Bas de Waal. Light to medium warm breezes gave the fleet some great competitive sailing in a beautiful location at what was undoubtedly one of the stand out venues of the series.

1. ITA 1103 Alessandro Marega 7
2. NED 29 Bas de Waal 27
3. SUI 7 Christoph Burger 27
4. ITA 115 Roberto Strappati 28
5. ITA 30 Andrea Lino 42
6. GER 323 Jonas Jung 56
7. ITA 45 Nicol Capriglione 62
8. ITA 872 Nicola Menoni 80
9. GER 60 Thilo Durach 81
10. BRA 11 Robert Rittscher 85

Full results

Grand Slam Gdynia - photo © Robert Deaves

Leg 3: Grand Slam Gdynia

Martijn van Muyden, from The Netherlands, was the very popular winner at the Open Finn European Championship in Gdynia, Poland. It turned into a high scoring series with a lot of light wind days and very challenging conditions. Even going into the final race, it was wide open, and no one really knew who had won. The new World No. 1, Peter Peet, had a chance to win, leading into the final race, but picked up too many points and ended third, while defending champion Valerian Lebrun, missed the title by one point.

1. NED 60 Martijn Van Muyden 37
2. FRA 111 Valerian Lebrun 38
3. NED 148 Peter Peet 42
4. POL 77 Michal Krasodomski 44
5. NED 29 Bas De Waal 56
6. CZE 54 Matouš Cervenka 56
7. HUN 50 Akos Lukats 58
8. HUN 911 Elemer Haidekker 62
9. POL 13 Tadeusz Bartlewski 63
10. FRA 75 Laurent Hay 64

Full results

Matt Howard at the Grand Slam Brixham - photo © Robert Deaves

Leg 4: Grand Slam Brixham

The fourth leg was the Vaikobi British National Championship at Brixham YC, held from 3-5 July with 35 entries. Former Olympic campaigner and coach to Giles Scott, Matt Howard was dominant, winning five of the eight races sailed in very hot and sunny tropical conditions and generally light and very shifty winds. Returning Peter McCoy was the next most consistent in the challenging conditions while the final race win for defending champion, Lawrence Crispin, moved him up to third overall.

1. GBR 550 Matt Howard 11
2. GBR 188 Peter McCoy 26
3. GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin 31
4. AUS 2 Rob McMillan 46
5. GBR 5 John Greenwood 49
6. GBR 64 Cameron Tweedle 51
7. GBR 799 Jack Acton 52
8. GBR 8 Tim Carver 55
9. GBR 24 Nick Craig 60
10. GBR 2 Allen Burrell 65

Full results

Bas de Waal at Grand Slam Gdynia - photo © Robert Deaves

Four legs are completed and five remain. The next event is Leg 5: Grand Slam Varberg, in Sweden, the combined Swedish and Danish National Championship being held from 21-23 August. After that the series moves to the beautiful Silvaplana in Switzerland, then to Berlin, Germany, on to Medemblik, The Netherlands and ends up at the Finn Cup in Malcesine, Italy, in October.

List of events with entry links and dates

Results from WTF Grand Slam after 4 events: (2 counting, see full list)