Finn Gold Cup 1980 to 1989

History of the Finn Gold Cup 1980 to 1989

25. Gold Cup 1980

Takapuna, New Zealand, February 18-27

66 entries from 14 countries

Picking up where they left off in England in 1979, United States sailors again set the pace and dominated the 1980 Finn Gold Cup, down under in New Zealand. Cameron Lewis continued his private duel with John Bertrand. Going into the last race only 0.9 points separated Lewis and Bertrand. It boiled down to a match race between them. On the last beat in 30 knots wind Bertrand tacked 32 times and Lewis covered 32 times and thus won the Cup. Up to race five, Larry Lemieux was leading overall but finally capsized twice, hit a couple of marks, and was third at the end. Lewis, Bertrand, Lemieux and Menkart had shipped their boats together in one container, and that ‘Container’ as the gang was referred to, won 5 of the 7 races and ended up 1/2/3/5 overall. Most of the Europeans came shortly before the event from a cold climate and lacked time in their boats. The ‘Container’ had practised for weeks before and had adjusted to the climate.

Final Results Gold Cup 1980

1.	Cameron Lewis	US 1027	29.7
2.	John Bertrand	US 1037	34.7
3.	Larry Lemieux	KC 201	58.0
4.	Kent Carlsson	S 655	70 4
5.	Andy Menkart	US 1028	74.0
6.	Chris Law	K 321	74.7
7.	Graham Deegan	KZ 211	82.1
8.	Tom Dodson	KZ 214	85.0
9.	Jorgen Lindhardtsen	D 142	88.7
10.	John Douglas	KZ 3	108.7
11.	Bruce Deegan	KZ 204	108.7
12.	Richard Dodson	KZ 220	108.7
13.	Leith Armit	KZ 177	118.7
14.	L. Breitenstein	L 1	119.7
15.	Michael Nissen	G 1706	123.0
16.	Esko Rechardt	L 185	133.0
17.	John Ferguson	KA 161	139.0
18.	Dave Schmidt	KZ 222	145.0
19.	Mike McIntyre	K 423	151.0
20.	Graeme Woodroffe	KZ 180	152.0
21.	Rob Woodbury	KZ 190	155.0
22.	Geoffrey Davidson	KA 175	158.0

26. Gold Cup 1981

Grömitz, Federal Rep. Germany, July 5-19

110 entries from 22 countries

After three years of US dominance Europe struck back. As much as John Bertrand had dominated the Finn scene in the previous years and Lewis had won the Gold Cup twice, now a new star had risen. Ex Laser sailor Lasse Hjortnäs from Denmark had won 22 out of 24 important individual races in the previous international top events. Everybody expected Lasse to win the Gold Cup as well. However in Grömitz Hjortnäs had gear problems with Carl Buchan’s old Vanguard and dropped back. Instead, Wolfgang Gerz with his fairly old Lanaverre, had tremendous speed and could afford to play it safe. He always started very conservatively but finally had two wins and three 2nds with a 4th as his discard to win the Gold Cup with 9 points, the lowest score since the new Olympic scoring system was used. Wolfgang also was the oldest Gold Cup winner up to now. After the racing Wolfgang consoled Lasse, half as old as himself, that there will be many more Gold Cups to be won, a word Hjortnäs remembered well in 1982, 84 and 85.

Final Results Gold Cup 1981

1.	Wolfgang Gerz	G 1573	9.0
2.	Lasse Hjortnäs	D 143	29.7
3.	Miroslav Rychcik	PZ 75	49.4
4.	Otto Pohlmann	G 1787	53.0
5.	Jorgen Lindhardtsen	D 142	72.7
6.	Martin Palsson	S 684	76.0
7.	Henry Blaszka	PZ 6	90.7
8.	Tim Law	K 467	94.7
9.	Larry Lemieux	KC 204	95.7
10.	Fillip Willems	B 15	100.0
11.	Patrick Spängs	S 685	115.0
12.	Russ Silvestri	US 1059	115.0
13.	Ivor Ganahl	Z 383	127.0
14.	Michael Nissen	G 1796	130.7
15.	Don Norquist	S 690	131.7
16.	Juan Mägli	GU 1	132.0
17.	Martin Van Leeuwen	H 565	139.0
18.	Monty Spindler	US 1059	142.0
19.	Thomas Schmid	G 1749	142.0
20.	Thomas Rudolphi	G 1689	148.0
21.	Alfis Georgiadis	GR 69	150.0
22.	Wolfgang Mayrhofer	OE 199	151.0
23.	Robert Anoll	US 1058	153.0
24.	Andy Pimental	US 1056	153.0
25.	Mike McIntyre	K 423	162.0
26.	Rob. Woodbury	KC 19	162.0
27.	P. Semeraro	I 666	171.7
28.	Werner Suelberg	G 1511	179.0
29.	Joaquin Blanco	E 179	161.7
30.	Franciso De Angeles	I 655	189.0
31.	Francois le Castrec	F 741	190.0
32.	T. Schmidt-Grael	BL 9	196.0
33.	Jacek Sobkowiak	PZ 7	203.0
34.	Walter Mai	G 1726	206.0
35.	Craig Healy	US 1041	207.0
36.	Lennart Persson	S 680	207.0

27. Gold Cup 1982

Medemblik, Holland, September 9-19

126 entries from 22 countries

After 1963, Medemblik was the site of the Gold Cup once again in 1982. The Ijsselmeer generally enjoys good wind conditions, but obviously does not like to be used for the Gold Cup and had poor weather conditions as 19 years before. Only five races were sailed in light winds and sometimes heavy fog. There was a full station measurement for all boats. After Lasse Hjortnäs was nosed out the previous year by Wolfgang Gerz in Grömitz, he won the Cup in this shortened series. In the second race, Lasse was disqualified in a severe five minute rule incident together with 12 other boats. So he only could hope for a minimum of 5 races and therefore one discard. Generally Lasse showed an outstanding ability to pick the correct side on the beats. Henryk Blaszka was the most consistent and ended up second by conservative sailing and good speed.

Final Results Gold Cup 1982

1.	Lasse Hjortnäs	D 143	28.0
2.	Henryk Blaszka	PZ 6	42.4
3.	Buzz Reynolds	US 996	51.0
4.	Wolfgang Gerz	G 1573	61.0
5.	Terry Neilson	KC 69	72.7
6.	Joaquin Blanco	E 179	90.0
7.	Martin Van Leeuwen	H 565	91.0
8.	Mark Neeleman	H 555	95.0
9.	Francois le Castrec	F 888	98.0
10.	Per Nilsen	N 120	99.7
11.	Tom Jungell	L 200	101.7
12.	Ivor Ganahl	Z 383	105.0
13.	Peter Eriksson	S 679	111.0
14.	Peter Vollebregt	H 535	111.0