Finn (dinghy)
The Finn dinghy is a single-handed, cat-rigged sailboat, and a former Olympic class for men's sailing. Since its debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, the Finn featured in every summer Olympics until 2020, making it the longest serving dinghy in the Olympic Regatta and one of the most prolific Olympic sailboats,[3]. The Finn is a physically demanding boat to race at the highest levels, especially since the class rules now allow unlimited boat rocking and sail pumping when the wind is above 10 knots.[4] The event will not feature on the Olympic programme from 2024.[5]
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Development | |
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Designer | Rickard Sarby ![]() |
Year | 1949 ![]() |
Boat | |
Crew | 1 |
Draft | 0.17 m (6.7 in) |
Hull | |
Hull weight | 107 kg (236 lb) |
LOA | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
LWL | 4.34 m (14 ft 3 in) |
Beam | 1.47 m (4 ft 10 in) |
Rig | |
Mast length | 6.66 m (21 ft 10 in) |
Sails | |
Mainsail area | 10.6 m2 (114 sq ft) |
Racing | |
D-PN | 90.1[1] |
RYA PN | 1060[2] |

Design


The Finn was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the Helsinki Olympics.
in 1952 the hulls were built of timber and the sails were of cotton. Initially there was little understanding of the role of a mast which could bend to reduce power. However over time the Finn sailors learned how to plane timber off the front of their masts for heavy winds and to glue on strips of timber on the front of the masts for lighter winds.[6]
Although the Finn hull has changed little since then, there have been developments to the rig. The original spars were made of wood until the late 1960s and early 1970s, when there was a gradual change to aluminum masts. Aluminum masts are significantly more flexible and allow more control over sail shape, and became commonplace after the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich when they were first supplied to Olympic sailors. More recently, carbon fiber masts have become commonplace in competition Finns.
The sails, too, have evolved and are now commonly made of various laminates such as Technora, polyester, and Kevlar.
The class rules are overseen by the International Finn Association.
Events
Olympic Games
Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
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1952 Helsinki - Open |
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1956 Melbourne - Open |
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1960 Rome - Open |
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1964 Tokyo - Open |
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1968 Mexico City - Open |
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1972 Munich - Open |
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1976 Montreal - Open |
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1980 Moscow - Open |
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1984 Los Angeles - Open |
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1988 Seoul - Male |
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1992 Barcelona - Male |
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1996 Atlanta - Male |
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2000 Sydney - Male |
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2004 Athens - Male |
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2008 Beijing - Open |
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2012 London - Male |
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2016 Rio de Janeiro - Male |
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2020 Tokyo - Male |
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Multiple World Champions
Ranking | Sailor | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | No. Entries |
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1 | ![]() |
6 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 37 |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
3 | ![]() |
5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 24 |
4 | ![]() |
5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
5 | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
5 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
5 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
7 | ![]() |
3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
8 | ![]() |
3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
9 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
10 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
10 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
11 | ![]() |
2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
12 | ![]() |
2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
13 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
13 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
15 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 |
16 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
17 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
18 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
18 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
19 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
20 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
20 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Finn World Championship (Gold Cup)
The Finn Gold Cup serves as the World Championship for the Finn class.
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. | |
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1956 Burnham-on-Crouch |
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1957 Karlstad |
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1958 Zeebrugge |
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1959 Hellerup |
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1960 Torquay |
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1961 Travemünde |
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1962 Tønsberg |
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1963 Medemblik |
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1964 Torquay |
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1965 Gdynia |
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1966 La Baule |
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1967 Hanko |
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1968 Whitestable |
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1969 Hamilton |
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1970 Cascais |
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1971 Toronto |
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1972 Anzio |
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1973 Brest |
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1974 Long Beach |
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1975 Malmö |
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1976 Brisbane |
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1977 Palamos |
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1978 Manzanillo |
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1979 Weymouth |
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1980 Auckland |
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1981 Gromitz |
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1982 Medemblik |
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1983 Milwaukee |
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1984 Anzio |
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1985 Marstrand |
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1986 El Arenal |
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1987 Kiel |
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1988 Ilha Bela |
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1989 Alassio |
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1990 Porto Carras |
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1991 Kingston |
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1992 Cadiz |
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1993 Bangor |
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1994 Pärnu |
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1995 Melbourne |
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1996 La Rochelle |
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1997 Gdańsk |
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1998 Athens |
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1999 Melbourne |
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2000 Weymouth |
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2001 Marblehead |
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2002 Athens |
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2003 Cadiz |
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2004 Rio de Janeiro |
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2005 Moscow |
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2006 Split |
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2007 Cascais |
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2008 Melbourne |
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2009 Vallensbæk |
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2010 San Francisco |
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2011 Perth |
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2012 Falmouth |
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2013 Tallinn |
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2014 Santander |
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2015 Takapuna |
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2016 Gaeta |
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[7] |
2017 Balatonföldvár |
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[8] |
2018 Aarhus |
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2019 Melbourne |
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[9] |
2021 Porto |
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[10] |
2022 Malcesine |
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[11] |
2023 Coconut Grove |
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[12] |
Finn Junior World Championship (Silver Cup)
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. | |
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1999 Melbourne | ![]() |
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[13] |
2000 Weymouth | ![]() |
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[13] |
2001 Marblehead | ![]() |
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[13] |
2002 Athens | ![]() |
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[13] |
2003 Cádiz | ![]() |
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[13] |
2004 Rio de Janeiro | ![]() |
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[13] | |
2005 Moscow | ![]() |
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[13] |
2006 Split | ![]() |
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[13] |
2007 Moscow | ![]() |
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[13] |
2008 Melbourne | ![]() |
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[13] |
2009 Balatonfüred | ![]() |
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[13] |
2010 San Francisco | ![]() |
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[13] |
2011 Moscow | ![]() |
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[13] |
2012 Maubuisson | ![]() |
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[13] |
2013 Malcesine | ![]() |
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[13] |
2014 Hoorn | ![]() |
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[13] |
2015 Valencia | ![]() |
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[13] |
2016 Kaløvig | ![]() |
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[13] |
2017 Balatonfüred | ![]() |
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[14] |
2018 Koper | ![]() |
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[15] |
2019 Anzio | ![]() |
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[16] |
2020 Canet | ![]() |
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[17] |
2021 Tihany | ![]() |
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[18][13] |
Masters Finn World Championship
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. |
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1970 St Moritz (SUI) | ![]() |
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[21] |
1971 Medemblik (NED) | ![]() |
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1972 Gargnano, Lake Garda (ITA) | ![]() |
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1973 Nauchatel SUI | No title awarded insufficient races | |||
1974 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1975 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1976 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1977 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1978 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1979 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1980 Lake Lipno (CZE) | ![]() |
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1981 Port Carmargue (FRA) | ![]() |
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1982 Lake Neusiedl (AUT) | ![]() |
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1983 | ![]() |
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1984 | ![]() |
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1985 | ![]() |
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1986 | ![]() |
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1987 | ![]() |
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1988 | ![]() |
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1989 | ![]() |
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1990 | ![]() |
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1991 | ![]() |
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1992 | ![]() |
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1993 | ![]() |
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1994 | ![]() |
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1995 | ![]() |
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1996 | ![]() |
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1997 | ![]() |
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1998 | ![]() |
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1999 | ![]() |
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2000 | ![]() |
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[52] |
2001 | ![]() |
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2002 | ![]() |
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2003 | ![]() |
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2004 | ![]() |
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2005 | ![]() |
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2006 | ![]() |
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2007 | ![]() |
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2008 | ![]() |
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2009 | ![]() |
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2010 | ![]() |
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2011 | ![]() |
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2012 | ![]() |
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2013 | ![]() |
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2014 | ![]() |
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2015 | ![]() |
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2016 | ![]() |
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2017 | ![]() |
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2018 | ![]() |
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2019 | ![]() |
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2020 Port Zelande | Cancelled COVID-19 | [72] | ||
2021 Mar Menor | Cancelled COVID-19 | |||
2021 Los Alcázares | ![]() |
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[73] |
2022 Helsinki (FIN) | ![]() |
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[74][75] |
World Sailing SailorID / Reference
[55] [23] [59] [54] [31] [26] [71] [30] [44] [27] [41] [28] [42] [47] [50] [66] [19] [60] [43] [49] [20] [38] [46] [45] [69] [34] [48] |
Continental Championships
- 2006 Finn Open European Championship
References
- "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- Administrator. "History of the Finn". www.finnclass.org.
- "Finn battling to retain Olympic status". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- "Finn dinghy: Farewell to Olympics". Yachting World. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- personal experience
- Deaves, Robert. "Finn Class". www.finnclass.org.
- "2017finngoldcup". 2017finngoldcup.
- "2019 Finn Gold Cup". sailingresults.net.
- "2021 Finn Gold Cup" (PDF). 2021.finngoldcup.org.
- "2022 Finn Gold Cup". fragliavela.sailti.com.
- "2023 Finn Gold Cup". fragliavela.sailti.com.
- Administrator. "Silver Cup – Junior Worlds". www.finnclass.org.
- "Finn Silver Cup 2017 - Finn U23 World Championship MVM Sport Club - Balatonfüred, Hungary". 2017.finnsilvercup.org.
- "Finn Silver Cup 2018 - Finn U23 World Championship - Koper, Slovenia". 2018.finnsilvercup.org.
- "Finn Silver Cup 2019 - Finn U23 World Championship - Anzio, Italy". 2019.finnsilvercup.org.
- "Finn Silver Cup 2020 - Finn U23 World Championship - Canet, France". 2019.finnsilvercup.org.
- "Finn Silver Cup 2021 - Finn U23 World Championship - Lake Balaton, Hungary". 2021.finnsilvercup.org.
- Mel Oskamp at World Sailing
- Othmar Reich at World Sailing
- "Finn World Masters History from Finnatics" (PDF). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- Andreino Menoni at World Sailing
- Andre Mevel at World Sailing
- Vernon Stratton at World Sailing
- László Zsindely at World Sailing
- Georg Oser at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Karel Hruby at World Sailing
- Jiri Maier at World Sailing
- Gyorgy Wossala at World Sailing
- Friedrich Muller at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Walter Mai at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Henning Wind at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Peter Raderschadt at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Hans Fatzer at World Sailing
- Jiri Outrata at World Sailing
- Kurt Schimitzek at World Sailing
- Mikael Brandt at World Sailing
- Hermann Heide at World Sailing
- Roland Balthasar at World Sailing
- Peter V at World Sailing
- Lawrence Lemieux at World Sailing
- Wolfgang Gerz at World Sailing
- Minski Fabris at World Sailing
- John Greenwood at World Sailing
- Andrew Cooper at World Sailing
- "Results by year".
- Hein Pieter Okker at World Sailing
- Eberhard Bieberitz at World Sailing
- André Budzien at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Allen Burrell at World Sailing
- Michal Maier at World Sailing
- Michael Gubi at World Sailing
- Agustin JUAREZ MARRERO at World Sailing
- Mihail KOPANOV at World Sailing
- Han BERGSMA at World Sailing
- Jürgen EIERMANN at World Sailing
- Laurent Hay at World Sailing
- Christen Christoph at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Vladimir Krutskikh at World Sailing
- Finn at World Sailing
- Giacomo Giovanelli at World Sailing
- "FWM 2020". Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- "fvrm.sailti.com". fvrm.sailti.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- "Finn WM 2022 - FINN World Masters 2022". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- "Finn World Masters 2022 manage2sail".