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Finn World Masters 2011
Punta Ala in Italy, 12.-19.Juni 2011
www.finnclass.org - Regatta Europa
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Record breaking entry for 2011 Finn World Masters
http://www.finnclass.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251:record-breaking-entry-for-2011-finn-world-masters&catid=66:major-championships-2011&Itemid=34
What happens when you add 300 Finns to a popular Italian beach resort with fantastic sailing conditions and a full social programme, while reuniting
sailing friends from across the globe for a week of relaxed and friendly but fiercely competitive sailing?
Next week at the PuntAla Camping Resort on the Tuscan coast in Italy we will find out. The 2011 Finn World Masters has broken all records this year
with 306 Finns from 29 countries pre-entered.
The previous record set in 2009 of 264 registered boats looks set to be smashed as the boats starts to gather this week for the first race on Monday
13th June. The Finn World Masters seems to get more popular every year, not least by Finn sailors getting older and reaching the qualifying age.
Unsurprisingly Italy is fielding the largest team with 52 boats, while Germany and The Netherlands are not far behind on 50 and 47 apiece. Great
Britain has 26 and Switzerland has 21, and there are entries from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and South Africa.
The defending champion is Michael Maier (CZE), who also won the event in 2006. He is still sailing almost full time on the senior Finn circuit, so he
is definitely the one to beat.
Also expected to be at the front will be the three times winner Andre Budzien (GER). Budzien's three wins from 2007 to 2009 followed straight on from
four times as runner-up, while last year he was runner up for the fifth time. His remarkable record of eight consecutive top-two placings is a record
within the class.
Others to look out for include the 2005 and 2007 bronze medalist Allen Burrell (GBR), who recently won his first British national title; bronze
medalist in 2009, Laurent Hay (FRA) who should perform well if the wind is light; silver medalist in 2009 Jurgen Eiermann (GER); and Marco Buglielli
(ITA), another good performer in light winds.
Surprisingly a lot of the top ten from the past few years will not be present, and while this means there could be some new names at the front it also
highlights that the event still has a long way to go to reach saturation. The milestone of 200 entries was only reached in 2008, and with 300 boats on
the water looking likely for 2011, one wonders where this will end and whether venues can be found to host such massive regattas.
The Grand Masters (50-59 years) section has 99 entries, and while Michael Gubi (AUT) is not defending his title, last year's runner up Lars Hall (DEN)
is competing. In the Grand Grand Masters (60-69 years) section, with 77 entries, the defending champion is Luksa Cicarelli (CRO) while last year's
Legend (70+) winner Richard Hart (GBR) is also back to defend his title.
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Foto: www.finnclass.org
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At 73 years old, Hart is sailing about as fast as he has done over the past 20 years and recently won a race at the British Nationals, beating sailors
50 years his junior in the process and earning himself a nomination for the Seahorse Magazine Sailor of the Month award. Last year he was virtually
unchallenged for the Legend trophy, but this year there are more Legends competing than ever before. A total of 23 Legends will line up to win one of
the most coveted trophies in the class. To be a Legend world champion is the ambition of almost every sailor in the class; in fact just to be a Legend
is the ambition of almost every sailor in the class.
The venue – and the major sponsor for the event – is the PuntAla Camping Resort, a massive bungalow, mobile home and camping park set in a pine
forest on the shores of the Mediterranean in the Maremma region of Tuscany. The racing will be organised by the resort's own sailing club, the Circolo
Velico Cala Civette. Most of the competitors will stay in the resort for the week, with the boats launched from the perfect sandy beach into the
sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. The popularity of this venue has undoubtedly been a key factor in the massive pre-entry this year.
The racing will be held within the Gulf of Follonica, which is largely protected offshore by the Island of Elba, Napolean Bonapart's once-while place
of exile. The bay is not unknown to Finn sailors. Scarlino, located a few miles up the coast, hosted the 2008 Finn Europeans, and will again host it
in 2012. The geography of the gulf means it is protected from strong currents and very strong winds, and it has a fairly reliable seabreeze.
The practice race and opening ceremony will be held on Sunday 12th June. To cope with the large entry, the huge fleet is being split into various
heats, changing each day. Eight races are scheduled from Monday 13th June to Friday 17th June, when the new 2011 Finn Masters World Champions will be crowned.
About the event: The 2011 Finn World Masters has attracted more than 300 entries from 28 nations worldwide. The Finn World Masters was first sailed
for in 1970 with 18 boats competing. It has grown in size almost every year and the entry in 2011 is the largest ever entry for a Finn regatta. There are four categories of sailors: Master (40-49), Grand Master (50-59), Grand Grand Master (60-69) and Legend (70+). The defending World Masters
Champion is Michael Maier (CZE) after winning the title for a second time last year in Split, Croatia.
About PuntAla Camping Resort: Located beside the Mediterranean in the heart of the Maremma region in Tuscany, Italy, the PuntAla Camping Resort is
situated within a pine forest that used to be a hunting reserve for the Great Duke of Tuscany. It now covers an area of 27 hectares and includes 127
mobile homes, 60 bungalows, 350 caravan pitches and 150 tent pitches. It is an international destination offering peaceful, relaxed and comfortable
seaside holidays. In 2005 the Sailing Club 'Cala Civette' was established and it has hosted several major championships and events in recent years.
Event website: www.finnworldmaster2011.org - PuntAla Camping Resort: www.campingpuntala.it
World Masters: www.finnworldmasters.com - Class website: www.finnclass.org
This press release was sent to you by the International Finn Association ( http://www.finnclass.org/ ).
Its contents are free for editorial use in any shape or form, with a credit to the source.
For clarification please email robertdeaves (at) yahoo.co.uk
© International Finn Association 2011
18.06.2011 - Finn World Masters day five
16.06.2011 - Finn World Masters day four – Maier takes one point lead
15.06.2011 - day three – very close at the top
15.06.2011 - Burrell and Maier keep perfect score
13.06.2011 - day one – smiles all round
12.06.2011 - 2011 World Masters officially opened
09.06.2011 - Record breaking entry for 2011 Finn World Masters
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