Where are all the Finns?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13331
Printed Date: 29 Jun 25 at 7:24pm
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Topic: Where are all the Finns?
Posted By: H2
Subject: Where are all the Finns?
Date Posted: 20 May 19 at 3:46pm
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Have been going along to these large handicap events over the last few years - 100+ boats show up but I think I have only seen one Finn and that was at the recent POSH. Do they have a terrible handicap due to all the super stars that sail in them and hence its not worth it or do they just focus on the Finn opens which seem to be relatively infrequent in the UK looking at the Finn class webpage?? ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Replies:
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 20 May 19 at 4:02pm
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PY is unlikely, all the hot shots will rarely, if ever, sail the boat on PY. They are in the 50+ club for their nationals though so they are out there. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: PeterV
Date Posted: 20 May 19 at 6:20pm
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I sail a Finn and bought my first in 1976. Then and now the Finn is much harder to sail to handicap than most other classes but the PY goes through phases of being very hard and then a bit easier. Currently it's a bit better than it has been recently. There are many open meetings with very good turnouts so most serious sailors make the effort to go to the opens they fancy. The support in the class is very good too so one learns a lot more going to a class event than racing in handicap events. The really serious guys don't often sail in domestic events at all so it's rare to be sailing against them and they certainly wouldn't be affecting the handicap. ------------- PeterV Finn K197, Finn GBR564, GK29 Warsash |
Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 3:41am
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It is true that the Finns are rarely seen at these big handicap events
However, there is no particular reason for this other than the fact that historically the sailors chose to sail against other Finns (either at the circuit events or at the clubs where there is a good fleet. Like most boats, the Finn can have its day in handicap racing. On mostly upwind/downwind courses it can be a real weapon. Having large sail area and being quick upwind, it is usually good off the start line in a mixed fleet. It seems to do best in the very light or very breezy (when it remains controllable relative to some other boats. Long reaches are not its strength though. More of us should try to get out and do some of these handicap events |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 7:46am
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I must admit that I have always fancied a Finn and am sure I will have one at some point, at the moment there are none at my club so I just do not get to see them sailing as most weekends I am at the club, or at one of those large handicap events or at a H2 open. Which clubs have decent local fleets if you don't mind listing some out? ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: Gordon 1430
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 8:04am
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I think you have fleets based at a few clubs. Mengham Rythe Hayling Island so good turnouts for Fed week Christchurch normally do the Highcliffe winter series Hurst Castle or Keyhaven not sure which. ------------- Gordon Phantom 1430 |
Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 10:19am
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I used to take mine to Southwest events and really enjoyed sailing them. In fact did more than the Finn nationals I did. There a few Finn's at chew valley H2 so not too far away, they usually are there at the visitors day in October which is a really good event. Can't say I troubled the leaders at that one last year but had a great race against Fred van Arkle whos not bad at sailing them. Would have kept mine if I hadn't needed the money. Great to sail.
You probably don't see many because there aren't that many and lots sail at the club's Gordon mentioned so why travel? ------------- Everything I say is my opinion, honest |
Posted By: Fatboi
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 10:44am
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The open meetings are well supported, as is club racing at some venues (Christchurch, Mengham, West Kirby, Beaver). With weekends at a premium, why would you travel to do a handicap event over class racing! Much better to save up your brownie points and go and do a class open.
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Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 12:03pm
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Thanks gents! Mengham Rythe looks like a good option and I never even knew it was there. Been to HISC, Itchenor, Bosham, Chichester etc so many times and just never knew so thanks for opening my eyes! ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 12:33pm
| Just don't miss the tide at Mengham Rythe... unless the mud has gone away since my youth. |
Posted By: Fatboi
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 1:04pm
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Great beer prices at Mengham and a very friendly bunch there. The mud has not gone... Racing there is generally done on the top of the tide, so start times vary but you always get a good playground
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Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 1:47pm
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Got second the recommendation for mengeham, fantastic facilities apart from water at certain times of the day. Amazing clubhouse too.
As for not going to class events, well for me I struggle to find time to do two day events and all the Finn ones seemed to be so I couldn't go. ------------- Everything I say is my opinion, honest |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 2:09pm
When did you get Finnitus? I thought the Phantom stand had been a bit quiet at the dinghy show recently, even managed to pass the stand without getting sprayed with pie gravy or threatened with being put into one.. Do you need help? Doctor? Counsellor? Had many hernias or do you not need to raise the plate? Can't believe it, always thought you had a little sanity... Even when you were tossing the dwarf.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: rodney
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 2:38pm
The Bosham fleet is up to about 10 and Mengeham Rythe must be over 20 now with both fleets growing. I am a member of Mengeham and Bosham and race at both clubs. We can get up to 15 Finns to the start line just for club racing at Mengeham but Jim's right about tidal restrictions with, generally, sailing possible 3 hours each side of high water. ------------- Rodney Cobb Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |
Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 3:04pm
Don't worry my finances meant it only lasted for two years, back in a phantom again but it looks like I've completely forgotten how to sail one.i would like a Finn again one day but it won't be fit a long time I don't expect, the therapy takes a while ------------- Everything I say is my opinion, honest |
Posted By: rodney
Date Posted: 21 May 19 at 4:05pm
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[/QUOTE]
When did you get Finnitus? Do you need help? Doctor? Counsellor? Had many hernias or do you not need to raise the plate? Can't believe it, always thought you had a little sanity... Even when you were tossing the dwarf..[/QUOTE] I thought that I should also respond to this so answers below:- I got Finnitus in 1973 and have sailed Finns ever since although have raced dozens of other classes along the way  However I still love the Finn for the pure pleasure of sailing them.Of course I am insane but it seems to me that's par for the course when it comes to sailing? I am sorry but I missed the dwarf tossing due to sanity and getting to bed before the insanity came into play  As for counselling I have an idea - you should come and try sailing a Finn, I promise to put you in the boat to make launching easy and remove you after but you should give it a try before you carry on about how crap the Finn is! Just to make it easier for you I am now, officially, a dwarf but still loving the Finn after 46 years  Give me a call and we can arrange for you to come down to Chichester Harbour and race a Finn with us for a day ------------- Rodney Cobb Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |