Some 145 sailors from 30 nations have completed registration and are ready for the 2023 Finn World Masters to begin, at Nea Iraklitsa, near Kavala, in Greece.

Unfortunately, the opening ceremony was postponed on Sunday evening after a huge storm swept through the area bringing heavy rain, strong winds and lightning.

Also, unfortunately, the practice race on Sunday was cancelled after the wind failed to show up. It was a very hot and sunny day after an early shower, but the area has been suffering from a lot of storm activity in recent days and the sea breeze cycle has not yet reset. 

Racing is scheduled to begin at 12.00 on Monday with the opening ceremony postponed until Monday evening. Everything is in place for a fantastic week in Greece. The only ingredient now needed is wind.

Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720308625580

Around 130 Finns have passed equipment inspection for the 2023 Finn World Masters,  at Nea Iraklitsa, Kavala in Greece. Once again, it was a beautiful day by the beach with more and more Finns out sailing on the gulf, though the wind stayed light all day. 

However, it is getting warmer each day, and the boat park is full of Finns from end to end, with Finn chat filling the air and Finn stories being retold to anyone who will listen. Those not out sailing fill the waterside bars and restaurants and relax on the gorgeous beach.

A practice race is scheduled for Sunday followed by the opening ceremony in the evening. Racing starts Monday.

Here’s a little recap of what’s happening in Nea Iraklitsa.

Highlights: https://youtu.be/4qPUoIAFHOI

Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720308610084

It has been eight years since the monumental 2015 Finn World Masters took place in Kavala, Greece, but next week the event makes a very welcome return to the same club, albeit in a new location.
 
Around 150 Finns from 30 nations are descending on the small town of Nea Iraklitsa, just west of Kavala for what promises to be a fascinating and beautiful week of racing. It is a perfect venue for the Finn Masters with the boat park along the waterfront overlooking the azure ocean, an idyllic sandy beach just a few steps away and a mesmerising range of bars and restaurants to choose from each night. It is nothing short of a Finn Masters paradise. Those who have arrived early have been spellbound by the beauty of the place and have enjoyed some good days of training in warm sea breezes.
 
The World No. 1, Laurent Hay, from France, is definitely on form, having picked up the silver medal at the European Championship in Csopak, Hungary, just last week after a near flaweless week of sailing. While he has won his age category in the Masters several times, he has yet to win the overall title. This year could be his best chance yet.
 
However, the competition will be fierce with eight of out the top 10 of the world ranking list taking part as well as many others. These include last year’s third placed, Peter Peet and the World no. 3, Bas de Waal, from the Netherlands, European Masters Champion, Giacomo Giovanelli, from Italy, David Terol from Spain, Karl Purdie from New Zealand, Filipe Silva from Portugal, Christoph Burger from Switzerland and Pedro Lodovici from Brazil. In addition, there are a number of new faces this year including British Masters Champion, Nick Craig.

 
For many sailors the Finn World Masters remains a bucket list event with a lot of former sailors coming back to relive their youth or just to prove they still have it. One of those this year is Juan Maegli, from Guatemala, who sailed three Olympic Games from 1976 to 1984. Thirty-nine years later he is back and still filled with enthusiasm for the Finn.
 
Interestingly the joint largest entries are from Australia and Great Britain with 13 boats entered. All eyes will be on the Masters Annual Meeting on Wednesday as the Australians try to convince the fleet to take the event there in 2026, for the first time ever.
 
The Masters is different from many events with all the age groups racing together is one mass fleet and 150 boats on the start line is going to be a lot of fun. With many sailors taking part in their first major championship post covid, it is also a chance for renewing old friendships, as well as making new ones. The number of Legends here (those over 70) is also the largest for many years with 21 on the entry list, including two Super Legends (those over 80).
 
Measurement and registration takes place from 26-28 May followed by eight races over five days from 29 May to 2 June.
 
Nea Iraklitsa is all set. The boats, beach and bars are all ready for the 2023 Finn World Masters to begin.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE 2023 FINN WORLD MASTERS
 
VENUE
The 2023 Finn World Masters is taking place in Ne Iraklitsa, Greece from 26 May to 2 June, organised by Kavala Sailing Club in conjunction with the International Finn Association.
 
EVENT WEBSITE
https://finnworldmasters.com/events/kavala-iraklitsa-2023
 
NOTICE BOARD
https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/FWM2023#!/onb?tab=documents&classId=FWM23
 
RESULTS & ENTRY LIST
https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/FWM2023#!/results?classId=FWM23
 
SCHEDULE
Fri 26 May to Sun 28 May - Equipment Inspection and Registration
Sun 28 May - Practice Race
Mon 29 May to Fri 2 June - Series of 8 races

PRESS RELEASES
The Finn Class will release international press releases each day during the event. Sign up to receive these at: http://www.finnclass.org/media-finn/newsletter-a-press-release
 
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Daily highlights will be available on https://finnclass.org/finn-tv/finn-tv-2023
And on https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFinnClass/
 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Finn Class photos by Robert Deaves will be available here:
https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFinnClass/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/
https://robertdeaves.smugmug.com
 
and also on the event website.
Please send any requests to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the event through the Finn Class Social Media Channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFinnClass/
Instagram posts and stories: https://www.instagram.com/finnclass/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Finn_Class
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thefinnchannel
 
Please tag our Facebook/Instagram channels with @finnclass
 
Hashtags for the event are:
#finnsailing #finnworldmasters #fwm #finnmasters #finnclass #finn #sailing #worldsailing