British Finn sensations

Andy Nicholson meets the sailors who hold all the Finn class world titles

The BFA’s team approach has reaped real dividends, with the class operating an open dialogue between all sailors over the past three or four years. Phil says this is most noticeable when sailors are competing at an international event, there’s plenty of banter in the dinghy part, plenty of help on offer for whoever needs it and a team approach to whose round it is during the evening. “This culture is almost non-existent when you look at Finn sailors from other countries,” explains Phil.

Before Percy’s Olympic campaign, pickings were fairly thin. Vernon Stratton and Chris Law have been previous holders of the Finn Gold Cup, in 1960 and 1975 respectively. Added to this is one Olympic silver medal won by Charles Curry in 1952 combined with a few fourth places at various Games. At the informal presentation at Warsash, one really became aware of the figure who is the main driving force behind British success in the class.

And the name is? David ‘Sid’ Howlett. A big round of applause from all the sailors present, acknowledged the master of understatement. Sid’s involvement in the class, his drive to create a strong team of singlehanded sailors and in particular his technical input, have taken the BFA to the top in world Finn sailing.

So where now for the British Finn class? 2003 sees the Europeans take place in Sweden during June, with the Worlds in Cadiz during September. In August, between these two, is the pre-Olympics in Athens, where there are two GBR places to fill. Undoubtedly Ainslie will fill one of these spots and there is a real buzz over whether he can seriously stamp his mark on the class by repeating his achievements of 2002. The sailors who are currently trying to beat him on a weekly basis are the ones most wanting him to do it.

With a slightly more formal piece of organisation, by the elders, all the trophies, the medals and the BFA sailors that hold them will be at the RYA Sailboat and Windsurfing show at Alexandra Palace in the spring. No doubt, a warm welcome will be waiting for any fifteen-stone-plus singlehanded sailor interested in joining the class.

See the following pages to see these gentlemen in action...

Below: Ben Ainslie with Vernon Stratton, winner of the Finn Gold Cup in 1960