Champion du Monde Finn Veteran 2009, June 1-5
Two hundred sixty four Finn sailors ranging in age from 40-86 assembled in Maubuisson, France on a lake near Bordeaux for the 39th edition of this event, attracting participants from 21 nations to the host club Cercle de Voiles Bordeaux, Carcans, Maubuisson (CVBCM) for the annual regatta organized by the Finn World Masters.
German Andre Budzien, sailing a Pata B4 with Pata Willets mast and a North poly, won his third world championship on the final day in the Gold fleet after a four day qualifying series of 130 boats in flight races. (For complete results, go to finnworldmaster.com)
For Friday’s race, the fleet was split into two groups of about 130. The winds were generally were moderate northeasterlies for the first two days, then two days of light and shifty, and on Friday a southwesterly of 15 knots appeared. The French club provided libations, patisseries, fresh oysters and other snacks after each day’s racing, while the club bar had food, liquor, and espressos available all the time.
At Sunday’s opening ceremony following the practice race, Finn World Master president Fons van Gent (NED 748) welcomed the sailors and their companions after a contingent from each nation carried their national flag banner to the accompanying national anthem. Several counties had their whole squad march in the ceremony in a show of support for all their nation’s sailors. The last country to walk-in was France, led by 86-year old Didier Poissant, a former Olympian. The recognition of the world’s Finn sailors at the opening ceremony helped create an atmosphere of international cooperation and sportsmanship.
The host club, CVBCM, is situated beside the Lake of Carcans, which is surrounded by sandy beaches and the Bombannes Forest of pine trees and deer. It is one of the best places for bike path touring between the lake, the forest, and the ocean 3 km away. Maubuisson is a small tourist village that caters to middle-class French on holiday. Its shops, ATM machines, and restaurants only opened for the season on the day before the Finn World Masters began.
The regatta format was 1-2-2-1-1, seemingly a leisurely scheduled, but a half hour to hour sail to the course followed by a one hour sail back in made for some long days, especially when each race usually required one general recall, an I flag, and then a black flag to get a proper start. With 130 sailors of extreme experience and skill in each race, spots on the line were a premium and many paid a penalty as there was seldom even a line sag to find a starting spot within.
The courses were the traditional Olympic triangle, which rewarded those who had a knack for getting in phase with the wind on the three beats in each race, as the races often saw 40 degree shirts and deep holes when the wind was light. Finding clear air was, of course, important, and especially so when big clumps of boats on the course created their own wind shadows. Mark rounding pinwheels of twenty or more boats added to the thrill of the racing.
At the Annual Masters Meeting, representatives of Split, Croatia, site of the 2010 World Masters May 23-28, gave information about the regatta. Prevailing winds there are 8-18 and the venue will be the Gold Cup course.
For 2011, Punta Ala, Italy was selected for the Finn World Masters. It will be May 12-17.
It was also announced at the AGM that registration for the regattas will now only be done through the finnworldmasters.com website.
Report by Charles Heimler, USA Finn 32 (see my blog at charlesheimler.blogspot.com)
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