The 2024 Finn Open European Championship was opened in sunny Cannes Sunday evening with more than 150 boats completing registration and equipment inspection. This makes it the largest Finn European Championship of all time and heralds the start of what looks like a challenging week on the waters off Cannes.
The huge fleet is split into two groups with the opening day split based purely on World Ranking positions, followed by a final series after a minimum of four races have been completed. With a challenging forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, three races have been scheduled for Monday.
A warm-up regatta over the weekend was thwarted by lack of wind on Sunday meaning that Saturday’s results stood. World No. 1 Laurent Hay, from France, took the win from Valerian Lebrun and Finland’s Kristian Sjöberg.
In the evening the competitor’s briefing and opening ceremony was held on the club’s terrace overlooking the bay of Cannes. Jean-Pierre Gailes, Commodore of the Yacht Club de Cannes, said, “It is with great pleasure and great pride that I welcome you to the 68th Finn European Championship. It is a great honour to welcome your prestigious class to our beautiful town of Cannes.
“Your presence here illustrates your spirit of competition and your dedication to our beautiful sport, and we are looking forward to seeing how the competition unfolds on the water and to witness the exceptional talent of each sailor.”
The IFA Vice President, Andy Denison, responded by thanking the club, the volunteers and all those who had taken the time and effort to organise the championship, and drew attention to the fact that this was the largest Finn Europeans of all time, highlighting the expanding class numbers worldwide. Finally, Hervé Brilland, replied on behalf of IFA France to thank the club and IFA for organising the championship.
Racing is scheduled to start at 12.00 on Monday and continues through until Friday.
Gallery from Sunday: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720321361167
Results from warm up regatta:
1 FRA 75 Laurent HAŸ 3
2 FRA 111 Valérian LEBRUN 4
3 FIN 201 Kristian SJOBERG 10
4 BEL 18 Sigurd VERGAUWE 12
5 SUI 7 Christoph BURGER 14
6 SVK 1 Peter MOSNY 15
7 GBR 5 John GREENWOOD 17
8 GER 164 Claus WIMMER 23
9 FIN 50 Freddy MARKELIN 25
10 ITA 11 Paolo CISBANI 25
EVENT WEBSITES
https://finnclass.org/event-page/2024-open-europeans (for media updates)
2024.finneuropeans.org (for links and other info)
NOTICE BOARD & RESUTS
https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/OFEC2024#!/
SCHEDULE
Fri 18 Oct – Sun 20 Oct – Measurement/Registration
Sun 20 Oct – Practice Race and Opening Ceremony
Mon 21 Oct – Racing (2 races scheduled)
Tues 22 Oct – Racing (2 races scheduled)
Weds 23 Oct – Racing (2 races scheduled)
Thurs 24 May – Racing (2 races scheduled)
Fri 25 May – Racing (2 races scheduled) followed by Prizegiving
Facebook: @InternationalFinnClass
Instagram: @finnclass
