Finn Class WTF Grand Slam continues with Swedish, Danish and Swiss Championships
by Robert Deaves 15 Aug 06:19 PDT
The 2026 WTF Grand Slam ends in Malcesine in October © Robert Deaves
After a six week break since the British Championship, the 2026 World Tour for Finns (WTF) Grand Slam reopens next week with Leg 5 in Varberg, Sweden.
The inaugural WTF Grand Slam is a European-focused circuit featuring nine events across eight nations from April to October, showcasing some iconic venues and events. 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.
After the first four events from April to July, Valerian Lebrun, from France leads the series from Bas de Waal, from The Netherlands, with France's Laurent Hay in third.
From August to October the series travels to Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Italy.
Leg 5: SWE/DEN National Championship
Dates: 21-23 Aug
Website
The series continues with Leg 5 in Varberg, with the combined SWE/DEN National Championship. The Nordic countries put together a programme including the Norwegian Championship in Larvik this weekend, before the sailors take a leisurely trip down the west coast of Sweden to the legendary Varberg. Entries are very healthy with 44 boats from eight countries entered.
Leg 6: Swiss Championship
Dates: 2-6 September
Website
Leg 6 takes the fleet south to beautiful Silvaplana in Switzerland for the Swiss Championship. Already there are 64 entries from 13 countries. There are 16 places still available, with three weeks to go. It is all set to be a fantastic event in a stunning location.
Leg 7: German National Championship
Dates: 7-11 Sep
Website
The following week there are 66 entries from 7 nations for Leg 7, the German National Championship at the Seglervereinigung 1903 Berlin e.V. on the Havel, to the south of Berlin
Leg 8: Open Dutch Championship in Medemblik
Dates: 18-20 September
Website
The penultimate event is the ever-popular Open Dutch Championship in Medemblik, which normally attracts a big entry (more than 50 last year) including the new World No.1 and defending champion, Peter Peet, on home waters
Leg 9: International Finn Cup, Malcesine, ITA
Dates: 2-4 October
Website
The inaugural WTF Grand Slam concludes at one of the most iconic venues on the circuit, with Leg 9 at the International Finn Cup/Menoni Trophy, at Malcesine, on Lake Garda in Italy. Last year there were 78 entries. Entry for this year will open soon.
So far 206 sailors have taken part in at least one event, and this will more than double as the series decides its first WTF Grand Slam Champions.
The rankings so far
Top ten:
| Rank | Country | Sail No | Helm | Events | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | FRA | 111 | Valerian Lebrun | 2 | 1996 |
| 2 | NED | 29 | Bas De Waal | 2 | 194.52 |
| 3 | FRA | 75 | Laurent Hay | 2 | 189.52 |
| 4 | ITA | 30 | Andrea Lino | 2 | 174.67 |
| 5 | GBR | 5 | John Greenwood | 3 | 171.89 |
| 6 | GBR | 64 | Cameron Tweedle | 2 | 160.43 |
| 7 | ITA | 2 | Marco Buglielli | 2 | 156.42 |
| 8 | ESP | 22 | Adrián Bedoya Mey | 2 | 153.38 |
| 9 | GER | 60 | Thilo Durach | 2 | 150.53 |
| 10 | GER | 334 | Andreas Gillwald | 2 | 142.41 |