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Aarhus Prepares for the 2024 Finn Gold Cup
31 August – 7 September 2024
The 2024 Finn Gold Cup is set to take place in Aarhus, Denmark, featuring an impressive mix of both new and seasoned talent. This championship follows a six-year break since Aarhus last hosted the Finn World Championship during the 2018 Sailing World Championships.
Hosted by Sailing Aarhus at the Aarhus International Sailing Center, the event also includes the Finn Silver Cup for Under 23 sailors. Currently, a total of 112 boats are registered, comprising seven U23 competitors from 21 countries. The racing will kick off on Tuesday, 3 September, with a total of 10 races scheduled over five days.
The event highlights the growing interest in Finn sailing within the Nordic region, which boasts 32 entries. Germany takes the lead in national participation with 34 entries, as the Finn Gold Cup follows the recent German IDM held in Hamburg.
Hungary’s Doma Nemeth stands out as a favorite, being the current Senior and Junior European champion and last year’s Finn Gold Cup runner-up in Miami. He returns to competition after a year-long hiatus. Last year’s champion, Ed Wright, will not defend his title, as he is participating in the 5.5 Metre World Championship during the same week.
Finland’s Oskari Muhonen, who was the runner-up at the 2022 Gold Cup, is also on the entry list, though his participation is not yet confirmed. The 2022 European champion from Spain, Miguel Fernandez Vasco, is making a comeback after a year’s break following his third-place finish at the 2023 Finn Gold Cup in Miami.
Additionally, the French duo of Valérian Lebrun and Laurent Hay are expected to pose a challenge, with Hay being the World number 1 and current World Masters Champion. Lebrun, a former Masters champion, finished as a runner-up this year, making both competitors formidable against the younger entrants.
Britain’s Cameron Tweedle, a recent British title holder, will also be competing after participating in various sailing classes. Former Danish Olympian Jens Eckardt returns to major Finn regattas after years in the OK Dinghy class, having won the Danish Finn title just last weekend.
The entry list is full of talented sailors, including the 2023 World Masters champion, Filipe Silva, the 2023 European Masters champion, Peter Peet, and Britain’s multiple world champion in several other classes, Nick Craig. The only former Finn Gold Cup winner participating is Germany’s Thomas Schmid.
As a celebration of the Finn class’s 75th anniversary, this event promises to be a vibrant festival of sailing held concurrently with the Aarhus Festival.
Jon Koch Hansen, CEO of Aarhus International Sailing Center, expressed pride in hosting the 2024 Finn Gold Cup, stating, “Having two such significant events in one season highlights our event strategy. The coincidence of this event with the 75th anniversary of the Finn class and the Aarhus Festival only adds to our excitement.”
Registration and equipment inspections will take place from Saturday, 31 August to Monday, 2 September, with racing concluding and the crowning of a new world champion set for Saturday, 7 September.
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Alex Tanaka, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Singapore, has a deep passion for the sea that began in childhood. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the National University of Singapore, Alex has built a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling. Their work captures the excitement of sailing and the intricate details of maritime life, making them a respected voice in the sailing community. When not writing, Alex enjoys exploring new waters and participating in local regattas, always seeking the next adventure on the horizon.
