After 15 years, the Finn class once again chooses Centro Velico Punta Ala for the Masters World Championships, experiencing an impressive number of preregistrations.
With only 15 days to go, the Centro Velico Punta Ala is preparing to once again host the prestigious Finn World Masters. The Finn Class World Championship for the over-40s will be held June 7-14 in the waters of the Gulf of Follonica. This year, the event will feature many former Olympic champions and sailing legends from around the world.
The Centro Velico Punta Ala, fresh from organizing the Eurilca Europa Cup, is now preparing to handle another demanding logistical challenge. Currently, about 300 Finns from 30 different nations have already confirmed their attendance, an attendance not seen since the record 350 participants in the 2016 edition. This remarkable turnout is surely partly attributable to the great success of the 2011 edition, which has remained in the hearts of all participants. Among this year’s competitors, there will be 5 Super Legends over the age of 80, including British Howard Sellars, born in 1941, who last competed here also 15 years ago.
A number of distinguished names will be in the spotlight, such as Portugal’s defending champion Felipe Silva, veteran Frenchman Laurent Hay, former 2011 competitor and multiple medalist, Sebastien Godefroid, Olympic silver medalist in 1996, Valérian Lebrun, 2021 Masters World Champion, Nick Craig, holder of numerous world titles in different classes, and the talented Peter Mosny from Slovakia, among many others.
Italy tops the list of nations with the most entries, bringing 47 boats to the water, closely followed by Holland with 44, Germany with 40 and England with 22, as well as significant entries from Australia, the USA, Brazil and Argentina.
The program for the event includes the first 2 days dedicated to registration and technical measurement checks, followed by the opening ceremony and trial regatta on June 9, which will officially raise the curtain on the event. The next five days will see exciting challenges on the water: eight races are scheduled from June 10 to 14 with the fleets divided between two race courses to accommodate the impressive number of participants. The event will reach its climax with the crowning of the Finn World Master 2024 Champions.
In addition to the competitive part, the Finn Master World Championship, represents a meeting and reunion time for more experienced sailors, many with Olympic careers behind them, who continue to choose the Finn class because of its leading competitive level.
Logistical base of the event will be PuntAla Camp & Resort, famous for its commitment to outdoor hospitality and the event’s main sponsor. In fact, there will also be several proposals and initiatives dedicated to accompanying persons, such as, for example, the not-to-be-missed excursion to the enchanting beach of Cala Violina, a true jewel of the Maremma coast, or the wine tasting of the Morisfarms winery, partner of the event.
From sailing enthusiasts to the merely curious, you are all invited to Punta Ala June 7-14 to cheer on sailing legends and enjoy a week of sportsmanship and Maremma beauty. It will also be an opportunity to take your first seasonal dip in the crystal-clear waters of PuntAla Camp & Resort’s golden beach, overlooking Elba Island.
We are waiting for you!
