2026 Finn Class Webinars with Piotr Kula
by Robert Deaves 17 Jan 18:13 GMT
26 January & 19 March 2026
Piotr Kula © Robert Deaves
Long time Finn sailor and 2012 Olympian, Piotr Kula, is running two webinars for the Finn Class in January and March. The January one is timed to offer advice ahead of those travelling to Brisbane for the Finn Gold Cup and Finn World Masters in February, while March one lands just before the start of the European season.
Piotr will bring some of his extensive knowledge from Finn sailing and coaching and will provide useful tips and insights for all levels of Finn sailing.
WEBINAR 1 - 'Turning a lead into a win' will be on Monday 26 January at 20.00 CET, while WEBINAR 2 - 'Manoeuvres and techniques', will be on Thursday 19 March at 20.00 CET.
Further details of the webinar content can be found below.
Both webinars are free to attend for all National Finn Association members, while non-members are asked to pay a nominal €5 per webinar.
Following registration a confirmation email for each webinar will be sent with a link to join at the appropriate time. Please check your spam folder if you do not see it.
Piotr says, "Recently, I had the pleasure of coaching several ambitious Finn sailors, both in training and in the regatta. It allowed me to see both what tactical mistakes keep sailors from finishing in the top, and which technical aspects are needed for the most efficient racing in today's fleet.
"I've been fortunate to work with fantastic coaches throughout my time in Finn, which benefited me greatly, and I am happy to share some of these experiences now in upcoming webinars. I've designed them so that experienced sailors will learn new tricks to win more often, and those with fewer miles sailed will get a proper set of racing and technique principles to go by, to move their way up in results and simply get more fun racing confidently, with improved skills."
Registration
After registration, non-members can pay for one or two webinars by Paypal HERE.
Content of the webinars
WEBINAR 1: FINN RACE TACTICS - Turning a lead into a win:
Monday 26 January at 20.00 CET
1. Get the lead consistently:
- How to increase your chances of getting to a lead position:
- How to make a plan for the race that allows you to take the lead - On water race course analysis and how to make decisions before the race
2. Prepare and execute a good start
- Use prestart area and time to your advantage - where to be to set yourself for success and why to be there during the starting procedure
- Where to start in the context of the risk-to-reward ratio- How to place yourself vs. other competitors on the start line
- Final seconds - How to propel and execute the moment of start
3. Upwind tactics - how to be a top boat on a top mark
- Tactical Candy - no spoilers, you will learn what it is in the webinar;-)
- The formation of smaller boat groups and how to position yourself relative to them
- What to avoid in the context of the above-mentioned groups
- Sailing in a clear wind vs. in bad air - Is it ever allowed to sail behind another boat?
- How to decide where to approach the top mark from (last 10% of upwind)
4. Downwind tactics
- Choosing a side of downwind - how to decide and why
- Where your focus should be and why
- How to position yourself relative to your opponents
- Maximising gusts on downwinds
- How to approach the bottom mark, choose the gate side, and win the battle for mark room
5. Principles on how to keep the lead / keep your position
- Second upwind tactics simplified- How to avoid typical and costly mistakes
- Calculating risk in relation to opponents' moves
WEBINAR 2 - Manoeuvres and techniques
Thursday 19 March at 20.00 CET.
- Tacks and gybes: Move by move - comprehensible presentation of technique, including slow motion video analysis
- Mark rounding in different wind conditions
- Setting and trimming of sail: Upwind and downwind in different wind and wave conditions for max speed
- 720° penalty - how to make it fast
- Different body positions in the boat, depending on wind conditions