Finn World Masters in Medemblik - Day 3
by Robert Deaves 18 Jun 2025 22:48 BST
15-20 June 2025
Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, continues to dominate the Finn World Masters in Medemblik, The Netherlands, after a fifth race was sailed on Wednesday in a north-westerly breeze building from 8-12 knots during the afternoon. France's Laurent Hay remains second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel still in third.
The weather in Medemblik continues to be stellar with temperatures in the mid 20s, and rising, and good winds every day. The fleet cannot believe their luck, though wherever the event goes, good luck seems to follow it around.
One race was sailed in the afternoon, in a pleasant breeze that brought cloud clover later on, but cleared through for the evening dinner.
Yellow group was the one to watch with The Netherlands' Roy Heiner leading Postma around the top mark. However, Postma was soon past and went on to a huge win, acknowledged by Heiner at the finish. In the blue group, Ukraine's Taras Havrysh led all the way to win from Briain's Nick Craig. On the other course area the wind went to Laurent Hay and Britain's Allen Burrell.
Roy Heiner said. "I have no other words to describe today than champagne sailing. There's exceptional warm weather in Holland, beautiful northern wind building great waves. The Finn World Masters are always a lot of fun, lots of different countries lots of friends to catch up with and some really close racing at the top. Tomorrow is going to be a different day and I am sure different people will be at the top of the fleet."
After five races, despite Postma's picket fence scoreline, the points remain tight with just three points separating the top three. With the discard coming in another Dutch sailor, Martijn van Muyden moves up to fifth behind Heiner in fourth. There are five Dutch sailors in the top ten and while Postma is dominant on the water, has little points advantage.
At the Annual Masters Meeting in the morning the President of the Masters, Andy Denison, summed up the current success of the Masters and the interest in hosting future events. There was a change in the committee with the retirement of Phil Chadwick, Marc Allain des Beauvais and Henk de Jager. De Jager has served for a long time and was given a presentation to acknowledge his valuable contribution. The meeting also welcomed Jan Zetzema and Franz Bürgi onto the committee, which was very well received from those gathered,
After a collision on the first day and a cracked deck, Nick Craig struggled on the second day with a leaking boat but today, in a borrowed boat he took second in blue fleet. "A lovely day sailing today. Rob McMillan very kindly lent me a boat but I had an issue with mine. It's been leaking after a self-inflicted wound on a port-starboard, so I spent two days dragging the boat around the Ijsselmeer and I have to say it's nice to sail on a much faster and dry boat. Tomorrow is a double race day and I'm looking forward to it."
On Wednesday evening the traditional Masters dinner took a new twist with the Finn Foodtruck Festival - sailors were given tokens to try different cuisines from trucks outside the Regatta Centre Medemblik.
Two races are scheduled for Thursday with some stronger winds forecast before potentially a light wind final day on Friday. Three races remain to complete the series.
Photo gallery of the day.
Results after 5 races
1 NED 842 Pieterjan POSTMA 4
2 FRA 75 Laurent HAŸ 5
3 GER 501 Fabian LEMMEL 7
4 NED 844 Roy HEINER 9
5 NED 68 Martijn van MUYDEN 10
6 AUS 2 Rob McMILLAN 10
7 UKR 8 Taras HAVRYSH 13
8 ESP 7 David TEROL 13
9 NED 148 Peter PEET 15
10 NED 703 Eric BAKKER 18
Full results available here.
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