Displaying items by tag: Finn Europeans

9th December 2020

Entries Now Open for 2021 Finn Europeans in Hyères

The Notice of Race for the 2021 Open and U23 Finn European Championship has been published and registration is also now open.

The 66th Finn Europeans will take place in Hyères, France from 16-23 April.

Registration runs until 31 January for the first round, with the second round from 15 February to 15 March. The schedule includes three days of measurement followed by a 10-race series from Monday 19 to Friday 23 April.

The championship is part of a carefully planned event strategy for the class that leads from Palma’s Trofeo Princesa Sofia in March through to the Finn Gold Cup in Porto, Portugal in May, after which many sailors will head back to Tokyo to prepare for the Olympics.

International Finn Association president Balazs Hajdu said: “This year proved that Covid-safe events could take place and we are delighted that the 2021 Open and U23 European Championship will be held in Hyères as part of the iconic Semaine Olympique Française, an event that the Finn class has been involved in since the very beginning of its history.

“I am sure that the French organisers will provide perfect Finn races as the sailors prepare not only for the final Olympic qualification event, but also for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo three months later.

“I would like to thank all those involved in putting this event together with great cooperation in showcasing our amazing sailors at this quintessential event in the sailing world.”

Hajdu also expressed his hopes that Tokyo 2020 “will not be the last year for the Finns on the Olympic circuit”, following the IOC’s recent postponement of its decision on its would-be replacement, the Mixed Offshore Keelboat event, for Paris 2024.

The most recent Finn Europeans were held at Gdynia in Poland, where Northern Ireland sailor — and solo Olympic campaigner — Oisin McClelland recorded a personal best and finished 23rd in the overall standings.

Published in Tokyo 2020

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Fionn Lyden Pulls Out of Finn Europeans Due To Illness

Fionn Lyden’s week in Cadiz has been scratched, leaving Oisin McClelland as the only Irish sailor competing in Cadiz

Illness has forced Balimore’s Fionn Lyden to withdraw from the Finn Europeans getting underway in Cadiz today, Friday 9 March.

Irish Sailing’s James O’Callaghan confirmed the news as sailors from across Europe take to the waters of Andalusia ahead of the first races next Monday.

Lyden’s illness means that Oisin McClelland of Donaghadee Sailing Club will be the only Irish representative among the near 100-strong field as he progresses his Tokyo 2020 campaign.

Afloat.ie has more on the first big test of the year for Finn sailors gearing up for the Olympic qualifier this summer in Denmark.

Published in Tokyo 2020

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Beneteau 31.7 sailing in Ireland

In Ireland, the Beneteau First 31.7 Ireland One Design Class Association encourages and develop the use of the Beneteau First 31.7 yacht as a one-design keelboat, mainly for racing.

Each year the association stages national championships with boats coming from different sailing across Ireland. The main centre is Dun Laoghaire Harbour where the bulk of the fleet (15 boats) are based at the National Yacht club but are moored at Dun Laoghaire Marina.

The Beneteau 31.7 boat is not new to Dublin Bay, as boats of this size and type have competed in DBSC in the Cruiser 2 class for some years.

However during the 2006 season, due to their increased numbers, DBSC granted the class its own racing start, thereby facilitating one-design racing for this cruiser/racer.

Since then it has become one of the biggest one-design keelboat classes on the Bay.

One-design rules were drawn up to discourage modifications, maintain a level playing field and set a generally ‘Corinthian’ ethos.

To preserve the cruising dimension, the boat races with cushions aboard.

Numbers entered in DBSC have settled down to approx 15-18 boats, and regular Thursday and Saturday attendances over the season are usually of the order of 14 to 16 boats, reflecting good participation by members. Racing is close and competitive.

In addition to scratch results, ECHO results are also posted. This combines the best of both worlds, providing one-design racing which the members like, while also providing an incentive and interest in turning out for those boats who may not always approach podium position on scratch.

At A Glance – Beneteau First 31.7 Specifications

L.O.A 9.61 m
Hull length 9.50 m
L.W.L. 8.80 m
Beam 3.23 m
Draught min (Deep draught keel) Cast iron 1.90 m
Ballast weight (Deep draught keel) 1 025 kg
Air draught (max) 13.90 m
Light displacement (EC) 3 750 kg
Fuel capacity 30 l
Freshwater capacity 160 l
Engine power 21 HP