Bas de Waal, from the Netherlands, and Jesus Pintos, from Spain, may have won the races on the second day of the 2021 Finn World Masters on the Mar Menor, in Spain, but it was France’s Valerian Lebrun who extended his lead after a 3,4 on a day when most of the front of the fleet put in at least one high score in the light and very difficult breeze.

Finn racing doesn’t get much better than the opening day of the 2021 Finn World Masters on Mar Menor, in Murcia, Spain. With 12-18 knots of wind and in 25 degrees, two races were sailed in near perfect conditions. France’s Valerian Lebrun took both race wins to take the early lead from Filipe Silva, from Portugal, and Anthony Nossiter, from Australia. 108 Finn Masters from 20 countries are taking part in the 50th Finn World Masters.

Reading the wind today was the key with frequent shifts and lots of pressure changes. Mels Jongeneel, from The Netherlands led at the top in Race 1, but by the gate Paul McKenzie, from Australia, had taken the lead. He maintained that lead at the second top mark but both Silva and Lebrun were close behind. Lebrun has just come from two years of training for Olympic selection and was clearly the best downwind, moving ahead of McKenzie on the final leg.

Highlights from Day 1

https://youtu.be/HDMG4JRvUOo

Extending to the finish, he took the win, with McKenzie just holding off Silva to take second. After just two hours sleep following an overnight drive from the Sail GP in Cadiz, Nossiter crossed in fourth place.

Enthusiastic starting in the second race left quite a few boats with a black flag disqualification, including a few of the top boats, elevating many of the top 20 higher than they expected.

Bettering his first race performance, Lebrun put on a master class to lead all the way for a large win. Behind him places were changing but in a slightly reduced breeze though still with a tricky chop, Silva came through for second with Nossiter in third.

Extending away for a big win, Lebrun stamped his authority on the fleet in the biggest breeze expected this week. It remains to be seen whether he can maintain this level during the rest of the week when lighter winds are forecast.

Exhausted sailors reached the shore, just 15 minutes from the race area, to be greeted by a wonderful paella served in the boat park, with, you guessed it, more free beer. The Finn Masters are being well and truly spoiled by the locals and their fantastic hospilality.

Racing continues until Friday with six more races scheduled. Two more races are scheduled for Tuesday.

Results after 2 races
1 FRA 111 Valerian Lebrun 2
2 POR 21 Filipe Silva 5
3 AUS 221 Anthony Nossiter 7
4 NED 41 Karel Van Hellemond 10
5 ESP 7 David Terol 11
6 NED 148 Peter Peet 15
7 SUI 7 Christoph Burger 19
8 GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin 24
9 NZL 15 Greg Wilcox 26
10 NED 29 Bas De Waal 29

Full results here: http://fvrm.sailti.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall/text/2021-finn-world-masters-en

Full photo galleries can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos

There are also several interviews with the sailors on the Finn World Masters Facebook page as well as some live coverage of the racing.

Not everyone went out for Sunday’s practice race at the 2021 Finn World Masters on the Mar Menor, in Spain, but those who did were treated to divine conditions ahead of what looks set to be a highly memorable championship. After the practice race the opening ceremony was held.

Over the last three days 108 Finn Masters have completed registration and measurement and indulged in a little sailing in fantastic conditions. While northern Europe is mainly bleak, wet and cold, southern Spain is still in the high 20s and the Finn Masters love it.

https://youtu.be/KqFwpSCCVfU
Highlights from the Practice Race

Los Alcázares stepped in to be the venue this year, after the original venue of Medemblik, The Netherlands had to pull out in May due to COVID restrictions.

On the western wide of the Mar Menor, Los Alcázares is an idyllic paradise of hospitality and sailing. The sailing centre is an exciting alcove of Finn activity and conversation, with full facilities complemented by extensive free beer after racing and a packed social programme every day.

Sunday’s practice race attracted most of the fleet to the warm, blue waters of the Mar Menor. The race team did a great job, laying on three starts, letting the third one go. In 8-10 knots of shifty breeze, Kristian Sjoberg, from Finland led around the top mark and down to the gate before sailing home. 35 boats actually finished the race, which was won by Germany’s Andreas Gillwald from Spain’s Juan Grau Cases and Sweden’s Stefan Sandahl.

Even though the free beer ended just before the opening ceremony, a further drinks reception was held at the nearly Hotel Costa Narejos, where many of the sailors are staying. The opening ceremony opened with the club honouring two locals who have made a great contribution to sailing in the region: Ana Sanchez, who is on the jury this week, and Diego Fructuso, who coached Joan Cardona to Olympic bronze earlier this year in Tokyo.

Racing begins Monday with eight races scheduled over the next five days. In opening the event, which by tradition is when the Masters President hands over the Finn Class flag to the organisers, Andy Denison summed up the feelings of the competitors by declaring that the event had the potential to become one of the best Finn World Masters ever. The amazing hospitality and helpfulness of everyone here has moved all the sailors, so they are looking forward to a great week on and off the water.

Six days from now there will be a new Finn Masters World Champion.

Full photo galleries can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos

VENUE
The 2021 Finn World Masters is taking place in Murcia, Spain from 8-15 October. The Organising Authority is the Murcia Sailing Federation in conjunction with the Spanish Finn Class Association and in association with the International Finn Masters Committee (IFMC) and the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV)

EVENT WEBSITE
finnworldmaster.com
Results and Online Notice Board: http://fvrm.sailti.com/en/default/races/race/text/2021-finn-world-masters-en

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

SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFinnClass
https://www.instagram.com/finnclass/
https://twitter.com/Finn_Class

VIDEOS
https://www.finnclass.org/finn-tv/2021-videos
 
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