The Equipment - A high-performance, one-man centerboard dinghy, the Finn ranks as one of the world's great boats. Because each rig is tailored to each individual's style, sailing ability is key and superior sailing ability wins!  The Finn requires tremendous physical exertion and mental concentration. This combination of excellent craft with sophisticated competitor makes Finn racing unique.

Finn sailors are strong, fit and tolerant of long periods of concentration and physical exertion. Averaging more than 6' in height, they weigh in at 175+ lbs. and are unusually tough.  Finn sailors train hard for competition and are known as well-rounded athletes with proven general sailing skills.

Sailing the Finn is perhaps the purest athletic experience in world class sailing today, equaled perhaps only by the windsurfer. Because the 115-square-foot sail is fully adjustable, and its shape bears directly on performance and boat speed, the Finn is extremely responsive. Mastery of the craft is never quite fully achieved. Finn sailors may have sailed the craft for years, yet find some small nuance of tactics, weight or other adjustment yielding a greater result and luring them to a lifelong love of the boat.

Designed by Swedish sailor Richard Sarby in 1949, the boat was the winner of a design competition to provide the best possible singlehanded boat for the 1952 Olympics in Finland. The new Finn challenged the sailor to the maximum, which immediately attracted many competitors. The Finn remains the oldest continuous class in Olympic sailing.

The Entrants - There will be a total of 26 entries for the Men’s Singlehanded Dinghy event (Finn).  Qualified to date are the following countries:  AUS, BEL, BRA, CAN, CRO, CZE, DEN, ESP, FRA, GBR, GER, GRE, IRL, NED, NZL, POL, SLO, SUI, SWE, TUR, USA.  The remaining five countries will be determined at the final qualifying event:  Finn European Championship, scheduled for May 7-15, 2004 in France.

The Competition - Notable foreign competition will include the top-three ranked Finn sailors in the world (as of April 2004):  2000 Laser Olympic Gold Medallist and 2002 Finn World Champion Ben Ainslie (GBR), 1996 Finn Olympic Gold Medallist Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL), 2000 Laser Olympic Bronze Medallist Michael Blackburn (AUS), and 1996 Finn Olympic Silver Medallist Sebastien Godefroid (BEL).

The Schedule -