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Finn Gold Cup

1997 Finn Gold Cup - Gdansk, Poland

 

 

 

 

 

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

Total

1

SWE 7

Fredrik Lööf

2

5

9

2

23

2

1

21

2

ITA 1

Luca Devoti

6

3

4

11

4

1

6

24

3

FRA 778

Xavier Rohart

8

2

3

3

16

5

11

32

4

CAN 11

Richard Clarke

13

4

19

10

11

3

4

45

5

BEL 7

Sebastien Godefroid

3

12

11

21

1

7

15

49

6

AUT 1

Hans Spitzauer

9

1

6

12

20

11

13

52

7

UKR 21

Juri Tokovoi

16

6

16

8

5

21

2

53

8

POL 17

Mateusz Kusznierewicz

1

22

18

4

36

4

5

54

9

GRE 6

Emilios Papathanassiou

4

8

1

5

DNF

31

16

65

10

GER 79

Michael Fellmann

10

14

5

13

38

10

17

69

11

CRO 11

Karlo Kuret

27

7

21

6

3

6

28

70

12

RSA 1

Ian Ainslie

14

9

10

9

14

14

19

70

13

GBR 550

Richard Stenhouse

22

17

2

14

OCS

8

9

72

14

ESP 100

Rafael Trujillo Villar

7

11

7

1

34

17

32

75

15

RUS 21

Oleg Khoperski

5

16

8

17

15

16

22

77

16

GER 6

Andreas Buchert

11

20

15

24

10

20

3

79

17

CZE 304

Michael Maier

17

13

12

16

2

22

20

80

18

GBR 540

Iain Percy

18

10

17

7

45

13

21

86

19

NZL 242

Ian Baker

19

27

13

19

9

9

18

87

20

POL 4

Dominik Zycki

12

24

24

37

26

15

10

111

21

SUI 456

Peter Theurer

26

19

26

22

8

19

29

120

22

BEL 2

Philippe Rogge

24

33

20

20

7

26

34

130

23

AUS 208

Paul McKenzie

20

29

33

30

6

18

OCS

136

24

POL 40

Dariusz Migacz

50

52

14

15

18

12

39

148

25

USA 1144

Darrell Peck

23

32

27

18

30

24

36

154

26

IRL 1

John Driscoll

15

21

DNF

27

49

38

7

157

27

ITA 55

Walter Riosa

30

18

22

25

52

32

35

162

28

UKR 1

Igor Tkachuk

33

28

23

33

DNF

25

33

175

29

CRO 14

Nenad Viali

44

31

30

29

47

23

26

183

30

RUS 14

Michael Apoukhtin

36

36

25

26

41

33

27

183

31

CZE 479

Michal Hruby

38

30

28

40

31

35

23

185

32

BRA 1

Bruno Prada

35

34

45

31

12

29

OCS

186

33

EST 8

Imre Taveter

37

23

34

42

21

36

OCS

193

34

GBR 548

Tim Carver

32

44

29

39

13

40

DNF

197

35

NZL 248

Clifton Webb

25

42

36

51

35

37

24

199

36

UKR 11

Denis Knachtchina

40

40

39

43

29

51

12

203

37

IRL 10

Colin Chapman

42

39

32

44

22

27

45

206

38

ESP 105

Javier Aguado

46

15

31

DNF

53

28

38

211

39

POR 81

Henrique Anjos

28

45

DNF

23

48

39

30

213

40

NED 701

Martiyn van Muyden

49

41

35

32

58

34

25

216

41

SVK 1

Marek Valasek

29

46

42

50

33

30

42

222

42

USA 1121

Brian Huntsman

21

50

37

47

24

49

DNF

228

43

IRL 8

David Burrows

31

37

48

28

40

44

50

228

44

USA 1078

Andrew Kern

54

49

41

41

19

41

41

232

45

USA 1146

Michael Deyet

47

35

56

35

46

42

37

242

46

GBR 549

Rowan Chaplin

43

56

40

38

32

61

40

249

47

BLR 1

Vladimir Zuev

53

48

54

55

43

55

8

261

48

SUI 440

Danial Brun

DNF

47

47

45

17

54

51

261

49

CZE 19

Jiri Hyza

48

54

43

36

42

53

43

265

50

USA 1139

John Callahan

52

55

38

59

28

48

47

268

51

NED 707

Marc Blees

59

60

46

54

51

47

14

271

52

GER 81

Jan-Dietmar Dellas

55

26

44

53

62

63

31

271

53

USA 9

Chic Parsons

39

53

51

34

63

43

OCS

283

54

ITA 15

Michele Marchesini

45

25

49

48

DSQ

45

DNF

294

55

CAN 1

Jeremy Millar

57

43

50

46

57

52

46

294

56

TUR 44

Akif Muslubas

63

62

53

52

39

46

49

301

57

NED 702

Jan Willem Kok

34

65

58

57

37

56

61

303

58

HUN 1

Balazs Hajdu

41

38

DNF

49

DNF

50

52

312

59

POL 12

Waclaw Szukiel

61

59

55

61

25

64

56

317

60

POL 7

Rafal Szukiel

60

57

59

62

27

57

57

317

61

BRA 10

Fabio Bodra

56

51

52

56

59

59

48

322

62

POL 41

Andrzej Czapski

51

61

61

60

44

58

54

328

63

USA 1138

Scott Griffith

DNC

58

57

58

50

62

44

329

64

GBR 544

Charley Cumbley

64

63

62

66

54

60

DSQ

369

65

NED 706

Ewout Meijer

65

72

60

63

55

70

62

375

66

TUR 11

Sinan Sumer

62

64

64

70

65

69

53

377

67

POL 75

Jaroslaw Gorski

68

66

65

67

60

68

55

381

68

USA 1128

Mo Hart

DNC

67

63

64

70

65

59

388

69

POL 73

Tomasz Karczewski

69

76

66

65

61

71

65

397

70

USA 975

Gus Miller

72

74

69

73

56

73

58

401

71

GBR 545

Tony Lacey

66

68

72

68

DSQ

67

60

401

72

POL 10

Przemyslaw Nawrocki

77

73

71

72

64

74

63

417

73

SWE 699

Petter Ivarsson

71

77

70

69

68

75

64

417

74

EST 13

Dag Trink

70

71

DNF

DNF

66

66

67

422

75

POL 1

Marcin Wojtoniak

67

70

67

71

DNF

72

DSQ

429

76

ITA 851

Roberto Upazzoli

73

75

68

74

73

76

69

432

77

GBR 331

Richard Hart

74

79

74

75

67

78

68

436

78

ESP 128

Jose Vives Sivera

75

78

73

DNF

69

77

66

438

79

NED 695

Wierd Snieder

58

69

DNF

DNF

DNF

DNF

DNF

455

80

POL 16

Robert Andrzejak

78

80

75

76

72

80

DNF

461

81

POL 11

Machal Szymankiewicz

76

DNF

76

DNF

71

79

DNF

466

 

1997 FGC report

 

On Sunday 6 July the 1997 Finn Gold Cup officially began. During the day  the practice race was held, which consisted of one triangle for most people. The fleet just went to have a look, find out what the starting vessel looked like, and sailed two reaching legs. Then it was time to get back to working on the boat and get scrubbed up for the Opening Ceremony, a very formal affair, which took place in the Town Hall of the beautiful old town of Gdansk.

 

Race 1 - First Race to Olympic Champion

In a 15-18 knot breeze and huge waves, fast sailing wasn't easy. The size of the waves even got the better of some sailors' stomachs. After a general recall the upwind speed of Rafael Trujillo got him to the first mark in first place, followed by Fredrik Lööf, Sebbe Godefroid, Luca Devoti and Mateusz Kusznierewicz. They then had trouble finding the gybe mark, which seemed to be drifting. Freddy adjusted best and was leading when they found it, with Emilios Papathanassiou in second place, and Dominik Zycki in third. Dominik was passed on the 2nd reach by Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

 

On the second beat there was more wind on the right, and it was Sebbe and Mateusz who gained the most, rounding the top mark in first and second place. Mateusz then overtook Sebbe on the run. "It was fun to sail downwind, and I'm fast on the run, but I nearly capsized as well" said Mateusz. On the final beat he managed to retain control to win the first race. Freddy Lööf came second, followed by Sebbe and Emilios. European Champion Luca Devoti finished in 6th place. He was happy, but said he had been really sick for the last 10 days and had no energy.

 

Race 2 - Hans Spitzauer shows great form

He may not have been the fastest man out there, but "Hansi" Spitzauer certainly showed the fleet that his winning Kiel Week a week before was not coincidence.

 

After yesterday's lesson of "GO RIGHT, GO RIGHT", a large part of the fleet put their heads down and went right. In the difficult conditions however (10-16 knots and smaller waves), there were light patches, and there appeared to be more wind on the left. Behind Spitzauer, Xavier Rohart finished second and Luca Devoti third. Another happy camper was Rafael Trujillo from Spain, who is relatively new to the class and is being coached by Jose Maria van der Ploeg.

 

After two races, Fredrik Lööf was leading the table with 7 points, followed by Luca Devoti with 9, and Xavier Rohart and Hans Spitzauer with 10 points each. Mateusz Kusznierewicz seemed to be under a lot of pressure being the local hero (so far he had appeared on TV Gdansk every night) and did not get beyond 22nd place.

 

Race 3 - Emilios wins his first Gold Cup Race

In 20 knot winds the fleet produced 2 general recalls, after which Race Officer Andy Reyman did not want to waste any more time and hoisted the Black Flag. Emilios Papathanassiou reached the top mark first after a 26-minute beat, followed by Luca and Michael Fellmann. The other favourites were not far behind.

 

The reach looked like a bunch of fun. The jury was very visible but understood that the huge waves allowed heaps of freedom and the whole fleet was able to work hard and enjoy the ride. And the rule remains simple: "The harder you work, the faster you go!" Particularly impressive were Luca Devoti, Richard Stenhouse, Ian Ainslie and Xavier Rohart. Emilios retained his lead by staying to the left of Luca, which gave him a LOUD inside overlap at the gybe mark. By the time they reached the leeward mark Luca allowed Hans Spitzauer an inside overlap, while Richard Stenhouse moved up to 4th. Emilios was still happily leading on the run, but all sorts of things were happening behind him. Luca lost his vang and lost 3 places in the last 200m to the leeward  mark.

 

The last beat was a hard hike for most people. Emilios closely covered Richard. "He almost let me escape once", said Richard, "or maybe he was getting tired. I know I was!" Emilios won, followed by Richard, Xavier and Luca.

 

Race 4 - Rafael wins his first race too!

Race 4 went to Spanish Rafael Trujillo Villar, the big man from Spain who spent most of the race in 2nd place, and then trucked past race leader Freddy Lööf on the last beat.

 

It was windier still, up to 22 knots, and the waves didn't look any smaller either. Luca Devoti, Gus Miller, and Chic Parsons more or less port-tacked the fleet and Gus was very happy to end the first leg in the middle of the fleet, but Luca had more in mind, and rounded the top mark in first place. Moaning as usual before the start ("it's when Luca DOESN'T shake his head that something is REALLY wrong", said one of the coaches), he showed excellent boatspeed. He was still leading at the bottom mark, when he slipped, fell into his boat and nearly capsized. It cost him 7 places, he hurt his back, and eventually dropped to 11th. On the second beat Freddy - while in 2nd place - went hard left, while the top group chose to stay just left of the middle. It looked like a dangerous thing to do but he reached the top mark with a small lead over Rafael and Xavier Rohart.

 

The run was a wild one once again, requiring some gybing half way through. On the final beat, it looked as if it was all over, as Freddy had considerably extended his lead on the run. He went left again, but didn't cover as closely as he should have. And big Rafael is superfast in the heavy stuff, so that break was all he needed. With one quarter of the beat left to go he had Freddy where he wanted him and that was that. Xavier Rohart finished an excellent 3rd, which made him the series leader overnight.

 

Race 5 - Sebastien wins shifty race

The day began with less wind (6-10 kts) and less sunshine, but still pretty big waves from the day before. The race started with a couple of recalls. Then three quarters of the way up the beat there was a huge windshift to the right. After the first boats were well around the top mark and reaching, the Race Committee decided to abandon the race and start again. Darrell Peck, who was leading at the time: "I couldn't believe it. Here I was... leading the boat race, and suddenly I see them pick up the gybe mark and take it away. Aaagghh!"

 

So they started again. This time the shift came right after the start, and those who had started at the committee boat end began to look very good. Sebastien Godefroid, who ended up winning the race, said: "Maybe I sailed 85% of the first beat on starboard tack and only 15% on port." Luca Devoti did good business, finishing 4th. With his back still painful, he had a conservative start on the right: "I sailed conservatively throughout the race, and I'm very pleased with my 4th. Now I'm in 2nd position, so there isn't as much pressure as when you're leading."

 

Ahead of Luca after 5 races was Xavier Rohart, who finished 16th. Said Xavier, “ You don't have to win any race to win the Gold Cup, as long as you are always up there. It would be nice to win, though! I've been second too often!" With two races to go and all to play for, there was only 2 points in it between the top five boats.

 

Race 6 - Luca wins by a whisker, and takes lead

The wind was 8-13 kts from the north with a confused wave pattern. The wind was very shifty before the start and after 2 general recalls, the black flag was hoisted, but then the wind shifted hard right again and Race Officer Andy Reyman made an excellent call by postponing the start in the last minute. A new starting sequence was begun and the fleet got underway after the third start (again under a black flag). Luca Devoti started right at the committee boat end, tacked onto port and didn't look back in the first 8 minutes. If you're fast, you have time to be smart, and so Luca executed the strategy he had planned: to sail conservatively. He tacked back until he was just to the right of the core of the fleet, and started playing the shifts. He never looked as if anyone could touch him. Polish Dariusz Migacz sailed an excellent first beat and rounded Mark 1 in 2nd place, followed by Chic Parsons, with Richard Stenhouse, Karlo Kuret, Michael Fellmann, Richard Clarke and Fredrik Lööf in hot pursuit.

 

By the time they reached the leeward mark Freddy had moved up to 3rd. The second beat was fought out more to the left of the course. It saw Freddy move up to 2nd but Luca was defending his lead well. Richard Clarke was now in 3rd place after slowly working his way forward boat for boat. Xavier was now in 6th. On the run, Mad Luca seemed to be running out of steam. With his back still painful he wasn't working anywhere near as hard as Fredrik Lööf and Richard Clarke and had to let them round the leeward mark ahead of him. But it wasn't over yet!

 

With Richard on the right, Freddy in the middle and Luca to the left, Freddy seemed to have the upper hand. Or did he? With only 300 m to go what Luca needed was for the wind to go a little left... And sure enough it did, giving Luca, who couldn't quite make the pin end of the line, the chance to tack on to port and straight back onto starboard right in front of Freddy's bow. What a finish!  Xavier gained one more place and finished 5th.

 

Going into the final race, Luca had 18, Freddy 20 and Xavier 21. Luca is the European Champion, but as he says, he's never won a boat race outside Italy or Croatia! Freddy has won a Gold Cup (1994), but has also lost two on the last day (1991 and 1993).... and Xavier? Well, Xavier is just tired of being second!

 

Race 7 - Freddy takes race and Gold Cup

After a couple of nervous starts with a black flag eliminating 6 boats including Paul McKenzie (AUS), the fleet got underway at 11.45. The Finn sailing instructions allow black-flagged competitors to keep racing if they protest, so Paul flicked his little flag up and went on to win the race, but did not convince the jury that his OCS was an error of the race committee.

 

The wind was shifty but the left seemed favoured. That is when Luca and Xavier made their mistake. Freddy had started to the right of them and after a couple of tacks he decided to go left. He was some 30 metres behind both Luca and Xavier, who never saw him take their transom. Luca: "I wanted to go left! If I had seen him, I would have gone left too, but I thought that he was to my right."

 

At the first mark Fredrik was in 7th, Luca in 13th and Xavier in 23rd place. The three most excited guys in the fleet were Vladimir Zuev (Belarus), Denis Khashina (UKR) and Marc Blees (NED), who rounded the top mark in 3rd, 4th and 5th. Marc was supposed to catch a 6 o'clock flight and before the race he said he was going to retire if it looked as if he might miss his plane, but retire when you are in 5th place in a Gold Cup race? NO WAY!!

 

Fredrik kept edging his way forward while Luca and Xavier were frantically trying to catch up. In order to win the Gold Cup, Xavier needed to finish ahead of Freddy, while Luca could only finish two boats behind Freddy. Freddy wasn't going to let it happen. On the last beat he kept a loose cover on his rivals and even sailed past Juri Tokovoi. And with Paul out of the race, it was in fact Freddy who ended up collecting the days prize, and winning the regatta by 3 points. Juri finished the race in 2nd with Andreas Buchert in 3rd.

 

Great Racing and Great Prizes!

And so another Gold Cup came to an end. With seven terrific races in wonderful weather and good race committee work thanks to Andy Reyman and his team, it was also a very successful one. Thanks, Andy, for a job well done. A nice closing ceremony finished off the event. To his surprise Freddy ended up winning a Polish car, Luca received a beautiful mountain bike (Luca: "Freddy is fit, so he can sit in a car; I'm fat and not fit, so I really NEED a bike!"), and Xavier was given a colour TV. Not bad for a week's racing!

 

In his winner's speech Freddy thanked the organisers and the sponsors ("especially the car sponsor!!"), and then went on to thank Pat Healy, who is leaving the class as VP Development after 7 years, and your reporter who is retiring as Executive Director after 6 years. She was given a gorgeous bracelet by all the sailors - what a way to say goodbye.

 

History of the Finn Gold Cup 1990 to 1996

35. Gold Cup 1990

Porto Carras, Greece, July 5-15105 entries from 25 countries
The Canadians almost cleaned up in 1990 with only Lasse Hjortnäs and Eric Mergenthaler stopping a 1,2,3 for Canada. After losing the Gold Cup in the last race of the 1989 event, Mexican Eric Mergenthaler was out to win. He moved into the lead after five races and going into the last race was 19 points clear of Hank Lammens and 34 points clear of Larry Lemieux. However he also had a DSQ in race 2 for pumping, so could not afford a bad result in the final race. As it turned out he was 48th at the gybe mark, pulled back to 31st after the second beat and eventually finished 34th. But it wasn’t enough. Lammens finished 13th and Lemieux 3rd, which dropped Mergenthaler to 3rd overall. It was the first time that a Canadian had won a Finn Gold Cup and they had three boats in the top five as well. Anders Lundmark, who had lead at the first mark four times during the week finally won the last race and ended up 7th overall.

Final Results Gold Cup 1990

1.
Hank Lammens
KC 19
75.7
2.
Lawrence Lemieux
KC 201
77.4
3.
Eric Mergenthaler
MX 33
77.7
4.
Lasse Hjortnäs
D 143
87.7
5.
Mike Milner
KC 4
97.7
6.
Kiko Villalonga
E 106
99.7
7.
Anders Lundmark
S 700
107.7
8.
Alex Cutler
US 1044
107.7
9.
Philipp Malte
DDR 25
113.0
10.
Dirk Löwe
DDR 16
140.4
11.
Simon Gorman
KA 175
146.0
12.
Fredrik Lööf
S 684
149.0
13.
Enrico Passoni
I 722
161.0
14.
Joaquin Blanco
E 179
169.0
15.
Jeremy Fanstone
K 498
171.0
16.
Stig Westergaard
D 155
171.0
17.
Gordie Anderson
KC 171
175.0
18.
Toni Poncell
E 12
178.5
19.
Yuri Tokovoi
SR 21
180.7
20.
Hans Spitzauer
OE 218
181.0
21.
Brian Ledbetter
US 1080
182.0
22.
Richard Clarke
KC 11
184.0
23.
Alexander Rinne
G 1912
207.0
24.
Oleg Khoperski
SR 14
209.0
25.
Thomas Schmid
G 1903
211.0
26.
Mats Caap
S 718
218.4
27.
Armando Ortolano
GR 211
221.7
28.
Tim Tavinor
K 521
225.0
29.
Peter Aldag
G 1920
226.8
30.
Maciej Skibski
PZ 75
229.0
31.
Otto Strandvig
D 146
237.0
32.
Nick Jako
KC 13
240.0
33.
David Drappeau
F 758
242.0
34.
Lauri Rechardt
L 185
250.0
35.
Attila Szilvàssy
M 211
250.0
36.
Arif Gürdenli
TK 211
251.0
37.
A Papantoniou
GR 205
264.0
38.
Haluk Babacan
TK 52
264.0
39.
Ville Aalto-Setala
L 198
266.0
40.
Gerd Griegel
G 1711
268.8

 

36. Gold Cup 1991

Kingston, Canada, August 22-September 2
96 entries from 21 countries
Defending Champion Hank Lammens opened the series with a win and apart from one bad race was always in the leading bunch and took the title by 10.7 points. The weather conditions were very variable and provided some of the windiest conditions of recent Gold Cups. Lammens led until the sixth race, until a string of good results brought Fredrik Lööf into the top spot going in the last day. Any of four boats could have taken the Gold Cup on the last day. Lööf was leading the score sheet, but Lammens, Brian Ledbetter and Oleg Khoperski could also win, but all had already got a bad result, so they couldn’t afford another one. Lööf started badly and was out of it from the start. Lammens won the race to be sure of his second consecutive Gold Cup. Ledbetter was third to finish runner up and Khoperski was seventh in the race to take third overall.

Final Results Gold Cup 1991

1.
Hank Lammens
KC 19
46.7
2.
Brian Ledbetter
US 1080
57.4
3.
Oleg Khoperski
SR 14
77.7
4.
Fredrik Lööf
S 684
80.7
5.
Stuart Childerley
K 503
96.0
6.
Stig Westergaard
D 165
106.0
7.
Xavier Rohart
F 748
109.0
8.
François le Castrec
F 749
115.0
9.
Lawrence Lemieux
KC 201
118.0
10.
Anders Lundmark
S 700
120.0
11.
Hans Spitzauer
OE 218
120.0
12.
Glenn Bourke
KA 182
123.0
13.
Eric Mergenthaler
MX 33
128.0
14.
Richard Clarke
KC 11
129.0
15.
Dirk Löwe
G 14
129.0
16.
Yuri Tokovoi
SR 21
145.0
17.
Michael Fellmann
G 1916
153.0
18.
Malte Philipp
G 25
161.0
19.
Thomas Schmid
G 93
164.0
20.
Peter Aldag
G 1920
167.0
21.
Mark Herrmann
US 1026
172.0
22.
Kiko Villalonga
E 106
178.0
23.
Craig Monk
KZ 237
181.0
24.
Mats Caap
S 718
182.0
25.
Alec Cutler
US 1044
183.0
26.
Luca Devoti
I 789
186.0
27.
David Himmell
US 1066
186.0
28.
Otto Strandvig
D 146
192.0
29.
Richard Byron
US 1060
197.0
30.
Mike Milner
KC 4
199.0
31.
Richard Lott
K 484
200.0
32.
Philippe Presti
F 762
202.0

       

37. Gold Cup 1992

Cadiz, Spain, May 7-17
94 entries from 32 countries
The 1998 Gold Cup was held in
Cadiz as part of the Mundo Vela ‘92, a series of sailing events involving Olympic classes and offshore racers to commemorate the discovery of America by Columbus. At the opening ceremony, Vice President (Sailing) Björn Westergaard, reminded everyone that long before Columbus ‘discovered’ the Americas, a Dane called Eric the Viking had landed there. After two light weather races, the first being won by Oleg Khoperski and the second being won by 57 year old Gus Miller, the wind arrived. Peter Aldag won the third race in strong winds. A day was then lost because the wind was too strong, and then Craig Monk won the windy 4th race. Two races were sailed on the last day. The first went to Xavier Rohart. Craig Monk was leading after five races, but a protest from the jury about his black bands in race 5 affected him so much he dropped out of the last race and applied for average points. In the race Eric Mergenthaler was now the favourite, but his boom broke halfway up the final beat. This meant that either Glenn Bourke or Hans Spitzauer could win if they did well enough - but they didn’t and Brian Ledbetter won the race. Monk’s protest was disallowed and the jury penalised him with a DND which dropped him to 19th overall. This meant that Eric Mergenthaler had finally won the Finn Gold Cup.

Final Results Gold Cup 1992

1.
Eric Mergenthaler
MX 33
61.7
2.
Glenn Bourke
KA 182
64.7
3.
Hans Spitzauer
OE 218
65.0
4.
Brian Ledbetter
US 1080
74.0
5.
Peter Aldag
G 1920
82.7
6.
Hank Lammens
KC 19
83.7
7.
Xavier Rohart
F 748
92.0
8.
Björn Westergaard
D 165
102.0
9.
Oleg Khoperski
IYRU 14
104.0
10.
Stuart Childerley
K 503
106.0
11.
Christoph Bergmann
BL 87
109.0
12.
Stig Westergaard
D 155
109.7
13.
Armando Ortolano
GR 1
110.0
14.
Lasse Hjortnäs
D 143
114.0
15.
Jali Makila
L 212
114.7
16.
Enrico Passoni
I 722
131.0
17.
Anders Lundmark
S 700
131.7
18.
Fredrik Lööf
S 684
132.0
19.
Craig Monk
KZ 237
135.7
20.
Jeremy Fanstone
K 498
140.0
21.
Michael Fellmann
G 1916
144.0
22.
José van der Ploeg
E 105
144.0
23.
Emanuele Vaccari
I 727
147.7
24.
Alexander Rinne
G 31
148.0
25.
Dirk Löwe
G 14
149.0
26.
Othmar M v Blumencron
Z 418
152.0
27.
Philippe Presti
F 762
152.0
28.
Luca Devoti
I 789
156.7
29.
Bart Zielhuis
H 544
161.7
30.
Jürgen Knuth
G 11
171.0
31.
Arif Gürdenli
TK 211
173.0
32.
Gerd Griegel
G 71
176.0

 

38. Gold Cup 1993

Bangor, Northern Ireland, July 9-19
61 entries from 19 countries
No one managed to win more than one race, the overall results saw a different leader after each race and the overall winner Philippe Presti didn’t win a single race. The racing was very close and for the first time in many years a variety of hulls filled the top positions (4 different hulls in top 5). In addition, carbon masts were starting to be used (Lööf and Westergaard). After six races Roy Heiner was leading but with only 6.25 points separating the top 5 places it was all down to the last race. Heiner went the wrong way and ended up 12th. Spitzauer dropped out with gear failure, so now it was down to three. At the last mark Presti in the new Devoti hull was 3rd, Lööf 4th and Richard Clarke sailing the new boat from Larry Lemieux was 5th. Lööf passed Presti but needed to pass one more boat to take the title. But it wasn’t to be. Lööf finished 3rd, and Presti crossed the line 4th, less than half a meter ahead of Clarke. Philippe Presti had won and again Fredrik Lööf would have to wait another year.

Final Results Gold Cup 1993

1.
Philippe Presti
FRA 762
28.00
2.
Fredrik Lööf
SWE 7
28.75
3.
Richard Clarke
CAN 11
34.00
4.
Roy Heiner
NED 638
34.75
5.
Hans Spitzauer
AUT 1
35.00
6.
Hank Lammens
CAN 19
37.00
7.
Jali Makila
FIN 1
47.75
8.
Othmar M v Blumencron
SUI 1
49.75
9.
Stig Westergaard
DEN 155
58.75
10.
Mark Herrmann
USA 1026
60.00
11.
Will Martin
USA 1132
66.00
12.
Anders Lundmark
SWE 699
70.00
13.
Craig Monk
NZL 237
71.75
14.
Xavier Rohart
FRA 778
101.00
15.
Michael Fellmann
GER 79
102.00
16.
David Shelton
USA 1109
104.00
17.
Mark Lammens
CAN 9
106.00
18.
Luca Devoti
ITA 789
108.75
19.
Mauro Fioretto
ITA 791
116.00
20.
Ville Aalto-Setala
FIN 2
122.00
21.
Darrell Peck
USA 1081
124.00

 

39. Gold Cup 1994

Pärnu, Estonia, August 12-21
69 entries from 23 countries
After being the first Olympic class to sail its World Championships in Northern Ireland in 1993, the Finns again found an unconventional place to sail the Gold Cup. Just over 100km away from the site of the 1980 Olympic regatta in Tallinn, the Finns found beautiful sailing water with good winds and good racing: one of the best Gold Cups ever was the unanimous verdict. The weather started wet and windy and ended with more moderate conditions. No sailor won more than one race and the racing was tight until the end. Fredrik Lööf had twice lost the Gold Cup on the last day. This time he took the lead after day two, won race four and then taking each day as it came maintained his points lead over Hank Lammens. Half way through the last race, Lammens had the lead with Lööf in 10th, enough for Lammens to win his 3rd Gold Cup. But José Maria van de Ploeg went more to one side and took the lead. Lööf fought back to 7th while Lammens slipped to 3rd. It was enough for Fredrik Lööf to win the Gold Cup for the first time.

Final Results Gold Cup 1994

1.
Fredrik Lööf
SWE 7
21.75
2.
Hank Lammens
CAN 19
24.75
3.
José Maria van der Ploeg
ESP 105
28.75
4.
Hans Spitzauer
AUT 1
30.00
5.
Richard Clarke
CAN 11
32.75
6.
Craig Monk
NZL 237
38.75
7.
Dirk Löwe
GER 14
48.00
8.
Philippe Presti
FRA 762
57.75
9.
Othmar M v Blumencron
SUI 1
65.00
10.
Xavier Rohart
FRA 778
77.75
11.
Michael Maier
CZE 304
88.00
12.
Lawrence Lemieux
CAN 201
93.00
13.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz
POL 17
101.00
14.
Dominik Zycki
POL 4
102.00
15.
Sebastien Godefroid
BEL 7
107.00
16.
Darrell Peck
USA 1081
120.00
17.
David Shelton
USA 1137
131.00
18.
Michael Fellmann
GER 79
133.00
19.
Jali Makila
FIN 1
134.00
20.
Philippe Rogge
BEL 2
134.00
21.
Mauro Fioretto
ITA 781
136.00
22.
John Driscoll
IRL 1
137.00
23.
Robert Eric Oetgen
USA 1087
142.00
24.
Will Martin
USA 1182
143.00
25.
Kalle Akerson
SWE 700
145.00
26.
Mark Lammens
CAN 9
154.00
27.
Igor Tkachuk
UKR 119
159.00
28.
Paul McKenzie
AUS 165
160.00
29.
James Lyne
GBR 534
164.00
30.
Andre Budzien
GER 70
164.00

 

40. Gold Cup 1995

Melbourne, Australia, January 9-15
65 entries from 23 countries
The 40th Finn Gold Cup was hosted by Black Rock Yacht Club, an off-the-beach dinghy club on Port Phillip. With the exception of Denmark and the Netherlands every Finn country with medal potential had sent its top sailors. Competition was therefore fierce. After conditions ranged from no wind to 25 knots during the first six races, the championship reached its climax with Hans Spitzauer leading defending champion Fredrik Lööf and Philippe Presti just 2 points further back. With no race possible after 3 pm and no wind at 2:45, everyone was convinced that there would be no race. But the wind kicked in and the start gun was fired at 2:59. With the biased line, the boats at the pin were over and a general recall was fired. So, Hans Spitzauer won the Gold Cup as they couldn’t make another start. Spitzauer didn’t win a race but his series score of 7, 2, 2, 2, 8, 4 was consistent enough to win by the smallest of margins. Fleet depth was also shown once more by the fact that the top 14 sailors came from 12 different countries.

Final Results Gold Cup 1995

1.
Hans Spitzauer
AUT 1
17.00
2.
Fredrik Lööf
SWE 7
17.75
3.
Philippe Presti
FRA 762
19.75
4.
Richard Clarke
CAN 11
28.75
5.
Xavier Rohart
FRA 778
31.75
6.
Hank Lammens
CAN 19
36.00
7.
Michael Fellmann
GER 79
42.00
8.
Luca Devoti
ITA 789
44.00
9.
José Maria van der Ploeg
ESP 105
62.75
10.
Michael Maier
CZE 304
64.00
11.
Jali Makila
FIN 215
68.00
12.
Dean Barker
NZL 247
71.00
13.
Peter Theurer
SUI 2
72.00
14.
Karlo Kuret
CRO 110
74.00
15.
Leith Armit
NZL 241
85.00
16.
Othmar M v Blumencron
SUI 1
86.00
17.
Oleg Khoperski
RUS 21
88.0
18.
Paul McKenzie
AUS 208
99.0
19.
Andreas Buchert
GER 6
100.0
20.
Richard Stenhouse
GBR 540
101.0
21.
Larry Lemieux
CAN 201
103.0
22.
Dirk Löwe
GER 14
105.0
23.
Andre Budzien
GER 70
105.75
24.
Emanuele Vaccari
ITA 727
106.0
25.
Philippe Rogge
BEL 2
108.0

 

41. Gold Cup 1996

La Rochelle, France, May 1-10
71 entries from 27 countries
For the first time ever the Finn Gold Cup was combined with the Finn World Masters to bring together nearly 200 Finns from all over the world. The winds were generally strong and as usual the Gold Cup was decided on the last beat of the last race. Initially it looked as if defending champion Hans Spitzauer was going to have it easy collecting a 2nd and two wins. Philippe Presti then scored a 1st and a 2nd, closing the gap. Day 6 saw two windy races both won by Luca Devoti, an achievement not equalled by any other Finn sailor for many years. Going into the last race Spitzauer was 0.25 points clear of Presti with Jali Makila, Karlo Kuret and Fredrik Lööf not far behind. Initially it looks as if the Gold Cup was going to Makila, but a big shift on the second beat brought Lööf and Presti back to the front. Lööf finally won the race with Presti in 5th and Spitzauer in 6th. Philippe Presti had done enough to win his second Finn Gold Cup.

Final Results Gold Cup 1996

1.
Philippe Presti
FRA 762
 
2.
Hans Spitzauer
AUT 1
 
3.
Fredrik Lööf
SWE 7
 
4.
Karlo Kuret
CRO 11
 
5.
Jali Makila
FIN 215
 
6.
Sebastien Godefroid
BEL 7
 
7.
Roy Heiner
NED
 
8.
Yuri Tokovoi
UKR 21
 
9.
Michael Maier
CZE 304
 
10.
Hank Lammens
CAN 19
 
11.
Oleg Khoperski
RUS 21
 
12.
Xavier Rohart
FRA 778
 
13.
John Driscoll
IRL 1
 
14.
Luca Devoti
ITA 789
 
15.
Richard Stenhouse
GBR 540
 
16.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz
POL 17
 
17.
Michael Fellmann
GER 79
 
18.
Thomas Schmid
GER
 
19.
Richard Clarke
CAN 11
 
20.
Peter Theurer
SUI 440
 
21.
Paul McKenzie
AUS 208
 
22.
Walter Riosa
ITA 55
 
23.
Ian Ainslie
RSA 1
 
24.
Dominik Zycki
POL 4
 

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

15.

Luc Choley

F 100

113.0

16.

James Hahn

US 1034

115.0

17.

Michael Nissen

G 1828

117.7

18.

Karsten Kaufmann

G 1706

119.0

19.

Andy Pimental

US 1052

120.0

20.

Mats Ehrnrooth

L 201

121.0

21.

Miroslav Rychcik

PZ 75

125.0

22.

Lutz Patrunky

G 1806

128.0

23.

Chris Frijdal

H 586

129.0

24.

Juan Mägli

GU 1

130.0

25.

Kimo Worthington

US 1066

131.0

26.

Martin Palsson

S 684

131.7

27.

Don Nordquist

S 690

133.0

28.

Jacek Sobkowiak

PZ 7

137.7

29.

Mark Lammens

KC 19

138.0

30.

Tim Law

K 488

138.0

31.

Jorgen Lindhardtsen

D 142

142.0

32.

Esko Rechardt

L 203 .

142.7

33.

Patrik Spängs

S 685

143.0

34.

Tony Nyren

S 686

148.0

35.

Stefan Myralf

D 148

150.0

36.

Nigel Walbank

K 481

157.0

37.

Sjaak Haakman

H 577

162.7

38.

Jörgen Rosengren

S 699

165.0

39.

Han Beverijk

H 558

173.0

40.

Kurt Schimitzek

OE 2

174.0

41.

Thomas Schmid

G 1793

175.0

42.

Josef Oberbauer

G 678

176.0

 

28. Gold Cup 1983

Milwaukee, USA, August 11-20

94 entries from 25 countries

After all the heck-meck with the station 8/6 in the previous years the Americans decided to teach the Finn world a lesson and staged the 1983 Gold Cup in a pond in the back yard of the Harken brothers in front of the Milwaukee breweries. John Christianson was called back on duty to build the most perfect jig and there was no dispute about what is a Finn or not. Consequently the IFA decided to make the Christianson jig the standard for all future Finn measurement. In the first race the international jury disqualified four potential winners for infringement of rule 60 (Means of Propulsion) setting another standard of highest moral. Most of the races were sailed in light and shifty winds, veering with the sun. Only two races enjoyed fresh air. Without winning a single race Paul van Cleve, from the U.S. Navy, won the Cup in front of Wolfgang Gerz, who had two 1sts but a 25th to count. Terry Neilson also with two victories collected a 33rd in the last race after a DSQ in the first, by going up the wrong side and lost. Mark Neeleman was another potential winner with a 14th as his discard.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1983

1.

Paul Van Cleve

US 1023

54.7

2.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1573

62.0

3.

Mark Neeleman

H 555

67.4

4.

Mike McIntyre

K 491

88.7

5.

Henryk Blaszka

PZ 6

96.7

6.

Terry Neilson

KC 69

99.0

7.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

105.0

8.

Reynolds

US 996

119.1

9.

John Greenwood

K 495

142.0

10.

Larry Lemieux

KC 201

145.0

11.

Nigel Walbank

K 481

151.7

12.

Larry Kleist

KA 181

154.0

13.

Russell Coutts

KZ 226

158.0

14.

Miroslav Rychcik

PZ 75

159.7

15.

Jorge Zarif

BL 99

160.8

16.

Sjaak Haakman

H 577

161.7

17.

Paolo Semeraro

I 6

172.0

18.

Martin Van Leeuwen

H 565

172.0

18.

Kimo Worthington

US 1066

172.0

20.

Andy Pimental

US 1052

177.0

21.

Peter Quigley

US 1040

190.0

22.

Patrick Spängs

S 585

199.0

23.

Tom Dodson

KZ 229

204.0

24.

Juan Mägli

GU 1

207.0

25.

Roddy Bridge

K 493

208.0

26.

Lutz Patrunky

C 1806

209.0

27.

Lou Nady

US 1009

210.0

28.

Tim Law

K 488

212.0

29.

Jorgen Lindhardtsen

D 142

213.7

30.

Lammens

KC 19

217.0

31.

Alex Smigelski

PZ 1002

218.0

32.

Derek Mess

KC 115

222.0

 

29. Gold Cup 1984

Anzio, Rome, Italy, May 17-27

103 entries from 29 countries

Strong winds up to gale force characterised this world championship. Nice breezes during the measurement days were followed by days of storms, not allowing any race to be sailed. Five days of strong wind allowed 6 races, but on the last day the wind and waves were again too much. Terry Neilson, who was just behind Lasse, would have liked to sail again but Hjortnäs found it to be too dangerous. The old man of the sea Jörgen Lindhardtsen aged 39 was leading overall up to race 4 but later collected 22nd and 20th and was finally third. For his mental son Lasse Hjortnäs, 2/4/11/3/3 was good enough to win the Cup for the second time after 1982, just 0.3 points ahead of Terry Neilson. Larry Lemieux had some water in his double bottom in the beginning, but won two races after he took it out. Buzz Reynolds, who at the time of the Gold Cup thought he was to be the US representative for the Olympics damaged his best mast on the first day in the gale.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1984

1.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

39.4

2.

Terry Neilson

KC 69

39.7

3.

Jörgen Lindhardtsen

D 142

55.0

4.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

62.0

5.

Thomas Schmid

G 1793

70.0

6.

Thomas Oljelund

S 700

71.7

7.

Russell Coutts

KZ 1

77.4

8.

Mark Neeleman

H 555

79.7

9.

Patrick Spängs

S 685

83.7

10.

Buzz Reynolds

US 1073

89.0

11.

Ingvar Bengtsson

S 698

99.0

12.

Martin Palsson

S 684

102.7

13.

Peter Vilby

D 146

104.0

14.

Paolo Semeraro

I 6

121.0

15.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1573

122.7

16.

Antonio Ferrer

E 170

134.0

17.

Larry Kleist

KA 181

135.0

18.

Mark Page

KZ 2

138.0

19.

Bert Zielhuis

H 544

139.0

20.

Roberto Benamati

I 658

143.0

21.

Juan E. Mägli

GU 1

143.7

22.

Luc Choley

F 100

151.0

23.

Henryk Blaszka

PZ 6

155.0

24.

Jacek Sobkowiak

PZ 7

158.0

25.

Miroslav Rychcik

PZ 75

160.0

26.

Lutz Patrunky

G 1806

163.0

27.

Derek Mess

KC 115

164.0

28.

Johan Hedberg

S 697

164.0

29.

Benedetto Allotta

I 9

168.0

30.

Vilhelm Roberts

L 201

182.0

31.

Peter Holmberg

VI 1

184.0

32.

Jorge Zarif

BL 99

184.0

33.

Roy Heiner

OE 229

187.0

34.

Ron van Manen

H 616

189.0

 

30. Gold Cup 1985

Marstrand, Sweden, June 26 - July 6

101 entries from 25 countries

In contrast to all predictions the wind in Marstrand never increased above force 3 during this Gold Cup. The current was fairly strong. However nobody was able to read it, let alone predict it. Those who neglected it and did not worry about it had the best results. Everyday a different sailor was leading overall. Biased start lines required the severe sudden death five minute rule to be frequently applied and a number of favourites were disqualified. The jury was busy to grant a few additional DSQs. There was only one man, who finished six times among the top 6 boats, Khoperski, however one line honour was scored as PMS. The jury also gave a severe warning because of team sailing. At the beginning of the last race, four people still could have won the cup. Sobkowiak eliminated himself with a bold PMS under the five minute, rule. Peter Vilby played it safe for the competition by sailing closer to 100 than to 1st. The Gold Cup 1985 was open between Oleg Khoperski, who gradually fell back from fourth position, and Lasse Hjortnäs, who improved slowly after a poor start. Finally Lasse was only one place behind Oleg, enough to take the Gold Cup for the third time after 1982 and 1984. There was only 0.1 points between him and Khoperski, the closest win ever between Gold and Silver in the history of the Finn World Championship.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1985

1.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

74.0

2.

Oleg Khoperski

SR 21

74.1

3.

Ingvar Bengtsson

S 698

83.7

4.

Steve MacLoud

US 1070

83.7

5.

Jacek Sobkowiak

PZ 7

89.7

6.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

92.7

7.

Stig Westergaard

D 155

100.4

8.

Brian Ledbetter

US 1080

111.0

9.

John Cutler

KZ 234

112.0

10.

Joaquin Blanco

E 179

118.0

11.

Thomas Oljelund

S 700

129.7

12.

Frank Butzmann

DDR 16

121.0

13.

Henryk Blaszka

PZ 6

131.7

14.

Heike Birke

DDR 19

139.0

15.

Russ Silvestri

US 1074

140.7

16.

Peter Vilby

D 156

146.0

17.

Arnoud Hummel

H 577

153.0

18.

Peter Peet

H 630

161.0

19.

Jörgen Lindhardtsen

D 142

161.0

20.

K. Gordeiko

SR 32

161.0

21.

Mark Lammens

KC 19

162.0

22.

Jaroslav Maciuk

PZ 52

178.0

23.

John Greenwood

K 495

179.0

24.

Derek Mess

KC 115

180.0

25.

Terry Neilson

KC 69

181.7

26.

Marco Passoni

I 8

203.0

27.

V. Roberts

L 210

204.0

28.

Johan Hedberg

S 697

207.0

29.

Lauri Rechardt

L 185

209.0

30.

Miroslav Rychcik

PZ 75

213.0

31.

Tony Nyren

S 509

228.0

32.

Thomas Schmid

G 1793

235.0

33.

Kristian Sjöberg

L 201

236.0

 

31. Gold Cup 1986

Palma de Mallorca, Spain, July 5-13

82 entries from 21 countries

The event was clouded by problems. To start with there were measurement problems after a Vanguard with an illegal centreboard was disqualified from the first race. Many sailors were then seen with their boats on their sides working on their centreboards. Then there was the weather conditions which proved very tricky with corridors of stronger wind over the course which favoured those who knew where they were. Then there were protests of team racing in the final deciding race when any of four boats could have won the Gold Cup. Of the five sailors who could have won going into the last race Paolo Semeraro blew his chances by being PMS. Peter Vilby, Frank Butzmann and José Doreste (winner of two races) had a bad race, as did the overall winner Stig Westergaard, who didn’t win a single race but was ahead on points after the final count.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1986

1.

Stig Westergaard

D 155

90.0

2.

Brian Ledbetter

US 1080

97.0

3.

José Luis Doreste

E 109

101.0

4.

Dirk Löwe

DDR 14

107.0

5.

Johan Hedberg

S 700

111.0

6.

Jali Makila

L 207

112.7

7.

Peter Vilby

D 156

116.0

8.

Paolo Semeraro

I 6

120.0

9.

Frank Butzmann

DDR 16

123.1

10.

Christoph Bergmann

BL 96

129.7

11.

Jacek Sobkowiak

PZ 7

135.0

12.

Heiko Birke

DDR 19

138.0

13.

Joaquin Blanco

E 179

143.0

14.

Stuart Childerley

K 503

146.0

15.

Lauri Rechardt

L 185

148.0

16.

Ralf Kadenbach

G 6

149.7

17.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

151.7

18.

Peter Truslow

US 47

173.0

19.

Gordie Anderson

KC 171

173.0

20.

Thomas Schmid

G 1793

175.0

21.

John Cutler

KZ 234

175.7

22.

Roddy Bridge

K 493

177.0

23.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

184.7

24.

Bart Zielhuis

H 544

185.0

25.

John Hofland

H 622

193.7

26.

Mark Lammens

KC 19

194.0

27.

Miguel Noguer

E 162

194.7

28.

S. Fleckenstein

KC 8

197.0

29.

Derek Mess

KC 115

199.0

30.

Timothy Tavinor

K 504

205.0

31.

Henryk Blaszka

PZ 6

212.0

32.

Kristian Sjöberg

L 201

221.0

33.

Henrik Hammelso

D 158

223.0

34.

Enrico Passoni

I 722

223.7

35.

Anders Lundmark

S 708

225.7

36.

Peter Peet

H 630

229.0

37.

Ch. van Voorhis

US 1052

231.0

38.

Arnoud Hummel

H 577

236.0

39.

Welf Lixenfeld

G 1706

238.0

40.

Hans Spitzauer

OE 218

243.0

 

32. Gold Cup 1987

Kiel, West Germany, June 26 - July 7

57 entries from 17 countries

Straight after Kiel Week were held the ‘Kiel Worlds ‘87’, a joint World Championship for several classes. The Finns shared a course with the 470’s, a two hour sail from the beach. Measurement problems again overshadowed the racing, with several boats being found illegal, even after several years of competition, and protests were numerous. In the fifth race, Doreste was already the sure winner of the Gold Cup, finishing second. In the sixth race, Doreste did not have to sail and Lasse Hjortnäs managed a 4th, thus finishing as runner up to Brian Ledbetter.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1987

1.

José Luis Doreste

E 109

19.7

2.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

61.0

3.

Brian Ledbetter

US 1080

83.0

4.

Ralf Kadenbach

G 6

95.0

5.

Roy Heiner

H 638

102.0

6.

O M von Blumencron

G 1892

103.0

7.

Mark Neeleman

H 555

115.7

8.

Welf-Bodo Lixenfeld

G 1706

127.7

9.

Hans Spitzauer

OE 218

129.7

10.

Armando Ortolano

GR 211

139.0

11.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

148.0

12.

Emmanuele Vaccari

I 727

154.4

13.

Stuart Childerley

K 503

154.7

14.

Henryk Blaszka

PZ 8

161.7

15.

John Cutler

KZ 234

164.0

16.

John Irvine

KZ 235

167.0

17.

Louis Verloop

US 1066

169.0

18.

Mike Milner

KC 4

172.0

19.

Peter Vilby

D 156

181.0

20.

Lawrence Crispin

K 498

182.0

21.

Gordon Anderson

KC 171

183.7

22.

Mark Littlejohn

K 481

185.0

23.

Lauri Rechardt

L 185

191.0

24.

Kristian Sjoeberg

L 201

192.0

25.

Thomas Schmid

G 1793

197.0

26.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1573

197.0

27.

Bart Zielhuis

H 544

200.0

28.

Michael Fischer

OE 223

203.0

29.

Nicolai Suchorokov

SR 1

205.0

30.

Rubën Serra

E 106

210.0

 

33. Gold Cup 1988

Ilha Bela, Brazil, January 31-February 11

48 entries from 11 countries

Almost all the sailors arrived a week early, but unfortunately the boats arrived late because of a queue of ships in Santos harbour. However all boats arrived on time for the Championship. As soon as the Championship began, with measurement and registration, the sun didn’t come out any more and it rained every day. The racing was hard and the sailors were faced with all kinds of different situations and wind strengths. The winner, Thomas Schmid, was the best on the water, leading from race 3 onwards and winning race 4. No sailor won more than one race and going into the last race only Roy Heiner could beat Schmid. But Schmid finished 27th to Heiner’s 28th and after the prizegiving paid for 300 beers for everyone.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1988

1.

Thomas Schmid

G 1903

48.8

2.

Roy Heiner

H 638

58.4

3.

Goran Anderson

KC 171

78.7

4.

Welf-Bodo Lixenfeld

G 1706

81.0

5.

Lasse Hjortnäs

D 143

85.0

6.

Stuart Childerley

K 503

92.0

7.

Lauri Rechardt

L 185

105.0

8.

Peter Tanscheit

BL 68

106.7

9.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

107.0

10.

Brian Ledbetter

US 1080

110.0

11.

Othmar M v Blumencron

G 1892

110.7

12.

Fred Kennedy

KC 221

116.0

13.

Emanuele Vaccari

I 727

117.0

14.

John Hofland

H 622

121.0

15.

Arnoud Hummel

H 577

122.7

16.

Lawrence Crispin

K 498

126.7

17.

Paolo Semeraro

I 716

128.0

18.

Peter Vilby

D 156

130.0

19.

Peter Shope

US 1000

130.0

20.

Kristian Sjöberg

L 201

134.0

 

34. Gold Cup 1989

Alassio, Italy, April 6-16

72 entries from 20 countries

Held in the beautiful Alassio Bay, the wind was the only problem: too much or too little. Among the favourites were Thomas Schmid, Stig Westergaard and Oleg Khoperski. After race 5, Mexican Eric Mergenthaler was leading overall, winning races 1 and 5. Veteran Danish sailor Jörgen Lindhardtsen won race 2, Khoperski won race 3 and Armando Ortolano won race 4. In race 5 Khoperski broke his mast and had to count a 38th in his final score. Still wide open going into the last day, 2 races were sailed in strong winds. Defending Champion Schmid scored a 1st and 2nd to move to 7th overall. Mergenthaler recorded two mid-teen results to drop to second overall and with Stig Westergaard winning the final race, the Gold Cup was his again, after first winning it in 1986.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1989

1.

Stig Westergaard

D 155

54.4

2.

Eric Mergenthaler

MX 33

63.0

3.

Oleg Khoperski

SR 14

63.4

4.

Hans Spitzauer

OE 218

65.7

5.

Dirk Löwe

DDR 16

74.7

6.

Yuri Tokovoi

SR 21

81.4

7.

Thomas Schmid

G 1903

87.0

8.

Armando Ortolano

GR 211

88.7

9.

Enrico Passoni

I 722

89.7

10.

Lauri Rechardt

L 185

103.4

11.

Heiko Birke

DDR 19

107.0

12.

Marco Passoni

I 710

107.0

13.

Mats Caap

S 718

111.0

14.

Lars Bergenzaun

S 698

115.7

15.

Jörgen Lindhardtsen

D 142

121.7

16.

Anders Lundmark

S 700

129.0

17.

Othmar M v Blumencron

Z 418

131.0

18.

Jali Makila

L 212

139.0

19.

Bart Zielhuis

H 544

148.0

20.

Emmanuele Vaccari

I 727

152.0

21.

Per Erik Wall

S 713

153.0

22.

John Hofland

H 6

154.0

23.

Welf-Bodo Lixenfeld

G 1706

165.0

24.

Alexander Rinne

G 1912

175.0

25.

Peter Aldag

G 1893

176.0

26.

Bo Steffan Andersson

S 714

176.0

27.

Roger Schulz

G 1984

179.0

28.

Marco Fioretto

I 701

180.0

29.

Francisco Villalonga

E 106

188.0

30.

Michael Maier

CZ 304

202.0

 


 

History of the Finn Gold Cup 1970 to 1979

15. Gold Cup 1970

Cascais, Portugal August 14-22

160 entries from 34 countries

The biggest fleet in any Finn Gold Cup most likely forever gathered in 1970 It was won and dominated by American sailors with Jörg Bruder winning for his first time, Sprague second and Andre third. After twice finishing as runner up, Bruder - already 37 - feared that this might be his last Gold Cup because of leg injuries. In the last race Bruder had to finish fifth or better in order to win the Cup, no matter what Sprague did. At the start Sprague used every match-race tactic he could in the huge fleet. Trying to hold Bruder back, Sprague luffed the Brazilian into the spectator fleet. But an the last beat Bruder was again leading. Sprague went up what he thought was the wrong side, but it turned out to be the right one. Now Sprague started a tacking duel until Bruder went head to wind because his rudder pintle broke. But Bruder lifted his centreboard in order to take off the pressure from his rudder and twisted the tiller with his bare but mighty hands. Sprague finished fourth and only could watch as the crippled Bruder crossing the line seconds before Andre and Nelis, who had both overstood the line, crossed planing an a screaming reach. It was the most dramatic win of any Gold Cup.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1970

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

23.7

2.

Henry Sprague

US 868

24.0

3.

Robert Andre

US 830

44.0

4.

Thomas Lundquist

S 530

53.7

5.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

55.0

6.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 9

57.7

7.

Per Werenskiold

N 83

58.7

8.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 4

58.7

9.

Pieter Keyzer

H 404

62.7

10.

Magnus Olin

S 509

65.7

11.

Uwe Mares

G 6

69.4

12.

Iain Macdonald-Smith

K 341

73.0

13.

Peter Conrad

US 530

75.0

14.

Willy Kuhweide

G 711

83.7

15.

Jacques Rogge

B 87

86.0

16.

S. Golser

I 418

86.0

17.

Serge Maury

F 96

89.0

18.

Fabio Albarelli

I 3

98.0

19.

Kees Douze

H 7

99.0

20.

Fritz Beck

H 449

11.0

21.

Andy Zawieja

PZ 321

115.0

22.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 121

120.0

23.

B. Frimansson

S 328

122.0

24.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 3

128.0

25.

P. Akerson

S 32

128.0

26.

Patrick Pym

K 274

134.0

27.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

13.40

28.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1146

142.0

29.

Michael Hupin

B 90

150.0

30.

Uwe Heinzmann

G 1122

156.0

31.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 122

157.0

32.

Lennart Gustavsson

S 558

161.0

33.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1133

161.0

34.

Paul Phelan

KC 61

163.0

35.

Phillipe Soria

F 6

172.0

36.

E. Shaw

SA 182

172.0

37.

A. Leenstra

SA 410

179.0

38.

Victor Potapov

SR 15

181.0

39.

D. Kollock

US 780

183.0

40.

J. Eggers

US 814

184.0

41.

Jamiz Knasiecki

PZ 335

185.0

42.

J. Leistikow

G 1050

186.0

43.

Börge Sall

S 392

192.0

44.

G. Ehlers

G 1102

195.0

45.

Chris Law

K 321

196.0

46.

Achim Türklitz

G 556

200.0

47.

Vernon Stratton

K 334

202.0

48.

Nitall Dirdira

SR 4

203.0

49.

Björn Ribbhagen

S 540

205.0

50.

Ian Brown

K 350

207.0

51.

J. P. Boumans

B 76

218.0

52.

B. Bergsten

S 557

218.0

53.

John Clarke

KC 78

223.0

 

16.   Gold Cup 1971

Toronto, Canada, October 1-9

87 entries from 21 countries

Because of new entry regulations and the poor reachability only 87 entries from 21 countries had arrived. Rickard Sarby was watching the races. After winning the North Americans just before the Gold Cup some misfortune in the first race (capsizing) made Jörg Bruder mad as a bull and he won by several hundred meters in the 20 knot wind. The next day Bruder was leading in a 20 knots wind again, when he tried to gybe with his boom vang still tight and capsized again. But he regained the lead and won again. A fierce duel between Carl van Duyne and Jörg in the next race ended with a narrow victory of Bruder after the lead changed 10 times. In the last race Bruder played it safe in the middle of the fleet, while Carl van Duyne gambled on a shift and won the race but not the Cup. On the last reach Carl tried all sort of tricks to slow down Bruder - overstanding the lay line and luffing like mad, but still had to finish ahead of Jörg. But finally Carl finished first and Bruder second, thus winning the Gold Cup for the second time.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1971

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

33.0

2.

Carl Van Dyne

US 245

34.0

3.

Serge Maury

F 7

51.7

4.

Ed Bennet

US 534

69.7

5.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

74.0

6.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1146

77.0

7.

Göran Andersson

S 516

79.7

8.

Bret De Thier

KZ 133

89.7

9.

John Bertrand

KA 111

92.7

10.

G. Dahlstrom

S 156

99.7

11.

Arne Akerson

S 321

115.0

12.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

112.0

13.

Magnus Olin

S 509

116.7

14.

Henry Sprague

US 896

115.4

15.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

129.0

16.

Robbie Doyle

US 411

137.0

17.

Gordy Bowers

US 902

139.0

18.

P. Akerson

S 32

139.7

19.

Robert Andre

US 830

142.0

20.

John Clarke

KC 111

146.0

21.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 131

149.0

22.

V. Neudoeffer

KC 93

155.0

23.

Richard Storer

KC 300

156.0

24.

Patrick Pym

K 274

163.0

25.

Hans Fogh

D 104

164.0

26.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1160

164.0

27.

Chris Law

K 321

164.4

28.

Walter Mai

G 1171

196.4

29.

Andy Zawieja

PZ 321

171.0

 

17. Gold Cup 1972

Anzio, Italy, June 25-July 1

103 entries from 25 countries

For the first and perhaps last time in its 30 years of existence the Finn Gold Cup was won in three consecutive years by one man. Jörg Bruder from Brazil took the world championship again. This time Jörg used a new aluminium mast which he had developed similar to his successful wooden spars. He borrowed the Canadian ‘71 Raudaschl sail which had used to win the 1971 Gold Cup. Bruder’s speed was normal however he pointed higher with the new mast which was more flexible sideways at the top than the Needlespar masts. Bruder’s final score line of 2/3/2/1/4/6 is most impressive.

 

The 1972 Gold Cup was held in Anzio - 25 miles south of Rome - in typical Mediterranean weather. The winds were generally light at the beginning of the week but the last two races were sailed in a moderate westerly wind which produced a very big swell. These last two races were won in a most masterly manner by the Australian Olympic Finn helmsman John Bertrand, who was in front for the whole of the two races. He gradually moved further ahead, winning by over two minutes each race. Bertrand used the Olympic rig of a Needlespar mast and North sail on an Australian glassfibre hull. Certainly at the end of the week he was unbeatable in speed and tactics. But the lighter winds at the beginning showed a different winner each day and it was during this period that Bruder worked out an unassailable points lead, with consistent placings in the first three.

 

The first race of the regatta was led home by the former world champion and winner of Kiel Week 1972 Thomas Lundquist of Sweden who desperately held off Bruder’s last leg challenge. Fabio Albarelli of Italy, the bronze medalist at Acapulco, won the second race and the Swede, Lennart Gustafsson, the third. Finally in the light wind fourth race Bruder took the winner’s gun and increased his overall lead to an unassailable position. After his fifth race fourth place his only danger lay from Gustafsson, who could take the championship if he won and Bruder finished worse than fourth. In any event the last race was simple for Bruder as Gustafsson had a bad start and could never climb out of the pack. There had been little change on the fittings and gear side with one big exception; the universal acceptance of aluminium spars. A year previously the whole of the Finn class was against the introduction of aluminium; this year one third of the fleet sported metal masts and, to cap it all, aluminium masts finished first and second.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1972

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

19.7

2.

John Bertrand

KA 113

32.0

3.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

33.7

4.

Fabio Albarelli

I 465

50.4

5.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

65.7

6.

Kim Weber

L 161

70.4

7.

Magnus Olin

S 509

75.0

8.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 164

84.7

9.

John Clarke

KC 111

93.7

10.

Bill Holmstrom

L 146

105.0

11.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

114.0

12.

Tom Sandberg

S 594

115.7

13.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 460

117.0

14.

Kent Carlsson

S 584

122.0

15.

A. Papaioannou

GR 165

125.0

16.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 454

128.0

17.

Heilmut Duckeroff

G 1269

129.0

18.

Minski Fabris

Y 30

134.0

19.

Luciano Lievi

I 417

135.0

20.

Iain MacDonald-Smith

K 267

139.0

21.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

141.0

22.

Torbjorn Ahlback

L 145

141.7

23.

Giorgio Gorla

I 435

146.0

24.

Fritz Gels

G 1100

147.0

25.

Guy Liljegren

S 4

152.0

26.

Rolf Beck

G 1268

167.0

27.

Kazuoki Matsyuama

J 15

168.0

28.

Bo Rogberg

S 398

172.0

29.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 10

174.0

30.

Christian Cuccurullo

F 651

176.0

31.

Magnus Lidholm

S 583

177.0

32.

Kevin MacLaverty

IR 21

182.0

33.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

183.0

 

18. Gold Cup 1973

Brest, France, July 14-23

103 entries from 20 countries

Brest turned out to be unsuitable for a major international regatta and was certainly not within the rules laid down for the Gold Cup. The IFA had approved of Brest on the understanding that the course would be set on the open sea outside. But instead, sailing was organised inside the harbour. One side of the course was far too close to the maximum tidal stream through the harbour entrance. Naval shipping and ferry traffic was heavy in the race area. Tidal streams in Brest are circular and vary considerably in strength. Vernon Stratton brought along a new double-bottom boat which received approval of the Measurement and Technical Committee. For the first time extensive Lamboley tests were used. The Lanaverres and Teels had the lowest permissible results, the Raudaschls performed mediocre. Almost all the front runners were using metal spars, Maury a Bruder-Alu mast, most others Needlespars. In the strongest winds wooden spars still proved to be superior. But the event was overshadowed by the death of Jörg Bruder who was killed in an air crash approaching Paris in order to defend the title. Nobody dominated as was the case in previous years and six different sailors look line honours. Before the last race Liljegren was leading in front of Olin and Maury. But Maury won the Cup by finishing second in front of Olin who was 4th and Liljegren who was 8th.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1973

1.

Serge Maury

F 1

42.7

2.

Magnus Olin

S 584

44.7

3.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

46.7

4.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

64.0

5.

Lou Nady

US 150

73.0

6.

Alex Welter

BL 5

73.4

7.

Bernt Johnsson

S 521

91.7

8.

Jacques Busquet

F 196

98.7

9.

David Schmidt

KZ 111

99.0

10.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

104.0

11.

G. Ehlers

G 1277

110.0

12.

J.P. Boumans

B 1

114.0

13.

P. Mondéteguy

F 6

133.0

14.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 10

137.0

15.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

139.7

16.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 460

150.0

17.

Bernhard Reist

Z 224

156.0

18.

Richard Hart

K 331

157.0

19.

Prenat

F 435

159.0

20.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1335

161.0

21.

Robert Holbrook

K 351

162.0

22.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

165.0

23.

David Howlett

K 341

166.0

24.

Werner Sülberg

G 1169

170.0

25.

Jean Grandchamp

F 700

175.0

26.

Patrice Charee

F 8

182.0

27.

Kees Douze

H 7

182.0

28.

Achim Türklitz

G 1270

184.0

29.

Craig Thomas

US 934

185.0

30.

Tiemen de Vries

H 500

188.7

31.

J.G. Pasturaud

F 675

192.7

32.

Chedeville

F 60

204.0

33.

Magnus Lidholm

S 583

207.0

34.

Raphalen

F 11

208.7

 

19. Gold Cup 1974

Long Beach, USA, August 10-17

96 entries from 19 countries

The first Gold Cup in the USA was also won for the first time by a US sailor. After a number of failed attempts Henry Sprague III finally managed to put together a remarkable series. After he finished first with a port start at the pin end in the first race but was disqualified for a PMS, he won three more races twice scored a second and once had a tenth. Although he could not afford another throwout, Henry twice risked again a port start over the entire fleet approaching the pin end at full speed on a screaming port reach and got away with it. But the tension remained up until the last race Since Henry had to count a 10th Ed Bennett too still could have won the Gold Cup. When everybody expected a fascinating duel between the two US sailors, the mob was disappointed. Ed Bennett went inshore in the first beat and ended up 46th, while Henry went out and was 6th. Finally Sprague improved to 2nd to take the trophy with a remarkable 21 points lead, while Ed Bennett improved only to 17th and was finally 4th.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1974

1.

Henry Sprague

US 533

22.0

2.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

43.0

3.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

47.7

4.

Ed Bennett

US 403

49.4

5.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

67.7

6.

Craig Thomas

US 945

68.4

7.

Dave Howlett

K 341

83.0

8.

Magnus Olin

S 616

85.7

9.

Serge Maury

F 1

87.0

10.

James Hahn

US 692

103.7

11.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

105.0

12.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 176

110.7

13.

Ron Dougherty

US 919

121.7

14.

Jaques Busquet

F 496

122.7

15.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 69

133.0

16.

Jim Santroch

US 111

141.4

17.

Richard Hart

K 331

166.0

18.

David Schmidt

KZ 111

169.0

19.

Randy MacLaren

US 151

172.0

20.

Lou Nady

US 150

173.0

21.

Tom Jungblut

G 1

173.0

22.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

187.0

23.

Hans van Elst

H 424

188.0

24.

Danny Thompson

US 534

189.0

25.

Lars Ek

S 534

194.0

26.

Brian Todd

KC 1 23

197.0

27.

Tony James

KA 117

199.0

28.

Andreas Von Eicken

G 12

204.0

29.

Jean J. Grandchamp

F 710

213.0

30.

Ulf Arvidsson

S 598

217.0

31.

Peter Conrad

US 951

219.7

32.

Roy Christianson

US 841

220.0

 

20. Gold Cup 1975

Malmö, Sweden, June 10-19

141 entries from 27 countries

After three sunny days of measurement this Gold Cup started with a surprise-drum-roll-symphony. The first race on Friday 13th started with a force 6 from from the west, a current of 2 knots to the southwest, the water only 5-8 metres deep and cold, rainy weather. 52 boats retired. There must have been about 400 capsizes that day. After the second race the winner John Bertrand from Australia was disqualified for having 22 kg of wet clothing. The next day a strong current against a light wind caused 8 General Recalls, every time the entire fleet drifting over the line without doing anything. Two races on June 16 were abandoned because of too light a wind. Magnus Olin won the next race and was thus leading overall, but collected a DSQ for an early start the next race. By contrast David Howlett enjoyed some water skiing behind the team boat to pass the time while waiting for the wind and could not find his boat when the race finally started. With a throwout Magnus Olin, Jonty Farmer, Baudouin Binkhorst and John Bertrand could still win the Cup after one more race Without another race Serge Maury would have won. Finally a drifter was started. Binkhorst was leading at the last leeward mark, but failed to cover the fleet and lost the Cup. Olin recovered to 21st which was just enough but Maury couldn’t come further than 14th which was not.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1975

1.

Magnus Olin

S 616

46.0

2.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 6

49.0

3.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

54.7

4.

Serge Maury

F 711

55.4

5.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

61.0

6.

Chris Law

K 321

71.0

7.

Per Sundelin

S 271

80.7

8.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

86.0

9.

Göran Andersson

S 516

94.0

10.

P. Mondéteguy

F 713

100.0

11.

Bernt Johnsson

S 521

101.0

12.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

109.0

13.

Kees Douze

H 7

109.0

14.

Jürgen Wolff

DDR 29

116.0

15.

David Howlett

K 341

118.4

16.

Jacques Rogge

B 2

120.7

17.

Robert Butler

KC 89

133.0

18.

Andrzej Zawieja

PZ 321

133.0

19.

Tom Sandberg

S 637

136.0

20.

D. Breitenstein

L 183

144.7

21.

J.-P. Boumans

B 1

150.0

22.

Walter Mai

G 1341

152.0

23.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 69

156.2

24.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1

157.0

25.

Robert A.H. Holbrook

K 351

161.0

26.

Minski Fabris

Y 50

162.0

27.

Jörgen Lindhardtsen

D 126

167.0

28.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

170.0

29.

Ed Bennett

US 403

173.0

30.

Luciano Lievi

I 517

181.0

31.

A. Fravezzi

I 526

183.0

32.

Gerd Hübner

G 1298

183.0

33.

Jacques Busquet

F 496

183.0

34.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1519

184.0

35.

Romuald Knasiecki

PZ 49

186.0

36.

Werner Sülberg

G 1511

188.0

37.

B.Gros

H 412

189.0

38.

Svante Björkman

S 550

192.0

39.

Egbert Vincke

G 1300

193.0

40.

Gus Miller

US 275

196.0

41.

M. Lidholm

S 583

198.0

42.

Harro Jäger

G 1428

200.0

43.

John Bertrand

KA 151

201.0

44.

Sandy Riley

KC 143

205.0

45.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

205.0

46.

Richard Grönblom

L 171

206.0

47.

Graeme Woodroffe

KZ 9

209.0

 

21. Gold Cup 1976

Brisbane, Australia, January 2-10

82 entries from 14 countries

Despite the travelling difficulties but because of the hospitality of the organiser 76 boats from 13 nations finally gathered for the first start. Most of the races were in very strong wind and a short bumpy sea. Chris Law who had been preparing himself for months to beat his Olympic rival David Howlett, showed exceptionally skilful boat handling in these exceptionally rough conditions and went into an early lead overall. In the sixth race the wind shifted and the race committee signalled a change of course for the last beat. In accordance with the sailing instructions this required a rounding of the mark the opposite way. Only Ed Bennett and Jacques Busquet did so. When Ed finished fourth and got the gun, Farmer, Riley, Law and the rest of the fleet recognised their mistake, rushed back to the leeward mark to unwind and reround the mark, careful not to inform those still labouring upwind, that they had rounded incorrectly. After a heated protest hearing the International Jury overruled the Race Committee and threw the race out. In the last race only Farmer could have taken the Cup from Law. But Chris managed a second behind superb John Bertrand in hair-raising survival conditions with Farmer 4th. Law in 1st, Farmer in 2nd and Howlett in 4th sailed the new double-bottom fibreglass hulls by Peter Taylor, which were extremely fast downwind.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1976

1.

Chris Law

K 321

11.7

2.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

22.0

3.

John Bertrand

KA 151

26.7

4.

David Howlett

K 341

40.0

5.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

47.8

6.

J. S. Douglas

KZ 169

63.0

7.

Robert Butler

KC 89

70.4

8.

Sandford Riley

KC 143

73.7

9.

Bret de Thier

KZ 163

78.0

10.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1399

84.7

11.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

86.0

11.

Craig Thomas

US 963

86.0

13.

James Hahn

US 973

87.0

14.

John Ferguson

KA 133

97.0

15.

Nick Oundjian

KC 145

100.0

16.

Bryan Treleaven

KZ 176

107.0

17.

Peter Vollebregt

H 4

110.7

18.

H. G. EhIers

G 1277

113.0

19.

Barry Thom

KZ 174

120.7

20.

Magnus Olin

S 600

127.0

21.

Gus Miller

US 975

137.0

22.

Tommy Sandberg

S 591

145.0

23.

Ed Bennett

US 403

150.0

24.

David Schmidt

KZ 179

155.0

25.

Richard Grombloom

L 171

157.0

26.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

160.0

27.

Ron Jenyns

KA 132

169.0

28.

Tom Anderson

KA 142

173.0

 

22. Finn World Week 1977

Palamos, Spain, October 6-17

129 entries from 26 countries

Because the Spanish Government refused to accept the participation of one competitor from South Africa, the IFA withdrew the Gold Cup from competition in 1977 and renamed the event as Finn World Week. The week was distinguished by feeble breezes and only five of the total of seven planned races could be sailed. 21 year old Joaquin Blanco won two races, was always among the top 10 and finished with 23.3 points ahead of another Spaniard José Doreste. They both used older Roga boats. The leading sails in these, days were Musto and North. A few Boyce Spars were still among the predominant Needlespars.

 

Final Results World Week 1977

1.

Joaquin Blanco

E 1

19.7

2.

José Luis Doreste

E 109

.43.0

3.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 89

43.0

4.

Andrei Balashov

SR 2

47.0

5.

Lennart Heselius

S 589

52.4

6.

Kent Carlsson

S 677

69.0

7.

Magnus Olin

S 644

61.0

8.

Tomasz Rumszewicz

PZ 379

62.0

9.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 509

69.0

10.

David Howlett

K 341

69.0

11.

Guy Liljegren

S 665

69.7

12.

David Buemi

US 965

71.7

13.

Paul Higgins

KC 156

80.0

14.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1559

80.0

15.

Chris Boumans

B 1

81.0

16.

Christopher Law

K 321

86.0

17.

Paul Rudling

KZ 186

95.0

18.

August Miller

US 975

105.0

19.

Werner Sülberg

G 1511

110.0

20.

Peter Vollebregt

H 535

112.0

21.

Graham Deegan

KZ 185

112.7

22.

Jean Grandchamp

F 730

117.7

23.

Zakhorow

SR 3

119.0

24.

Kiepa

SR 8

127.0

25.

Anthony Hermann

US 989

127.7

26.

Douglas

KZ 35

133.0

27.

Minski Fabris

Y 53

134.7

28.

Ryszard Skarbinski

PZ 28

134.7

29.

Derek Breitenstein

L 96

146.0

30.

A. Lochbrunner

G 1478

148.0

31.

Marteau

F 702

149.0

32.

A. Hellbrügge

G 1513

150.0

33.

Theodis

GR 69

155.0

34.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 180

164.0

35.

Hanbrook

B 11

167.0

36.

Gerd Hübner

G 1562

167.0

37.

Martensson

S 655

167.0

38.

Delfs

S 633

171.0

 

23. Gold Cup 1978

Manzanillo, Mexico, November 16-26

69 entries from 14 countries

There were light to medium winds in the most beautiful setting for a Gold Cup up to now. Most of the sailors had problems coping with the heat in November. Generally the wind was shifty and there was no pattern to follow, so nobody knew what to do. There were also strong currents appearing and disappearing. Consequently, many sailors had erratic results. A few old faces met a large number of young new ones. John Bertrand, up to then an unknown US newcomer from the Laser class, was not granted the chance to beat the well known John Bertrand from Australia but only the rest of the top skippers. In the fourth race there were 5 General Recalls. Therefore the race committee invoked a one-minute rule with a DSQ, but did not notify the boats which were thrown out. 24 boats were disqualified, including Blanco and Law, who in subsequent starts pushed other boats over the line. After the race Law protested the entire race, which would have given him the Cup. The appeal went to the IYRU but was finally refused. For the first time 9 of the top 10 boats were Vanguards.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1978

1.

John Bertrand

US 1007

46.7

2.

Joaquin Blanco

E 1

59.7

3.

Carl Buchan

US 1015

61.0

4.

Loui Nady

US 150

64.7

5.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

75.0

6.

Buzz Reynolds

KC 996

80.7

7.

August Miller

US 975

84.0

8.

Ed Bennett

US 3

84.0

9.

Minski Fabris

Y 53

89.0

10.

Cam Lewis

US 971

90.0

11.

Chris Law

K 321

91.0

12.

Rick Hewitt

KC 179

92.0

13.

Peter Higgins

KC 156

96.7

14.

Jere White

US 999

98.0

15.

Jesus Turro

E 77

107.7

16.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

112.0

17.

Jim Santroch

US 111

117.0

18.

Kent Carlsson

S 677

122.4

19.

Ed Baird

US 419

125.0

20.

Brian Todd

KC 164

126.7

21.

Craig Healy

US 422

127.0

22.

Tony Herrmann

US 989

141.0

23.

Randy McLaren

US 1013

141.0

 

24. Gold Cup 1979

Weymouth, England, September 5-15

135 entries from 27 nations

After the disaster of Whitstable in 1964 the British had finally recovered from their shock and asked to organise the Gold Cup again. In contrast to the reputation of Weymouth the wind was light and shifty the entire week. The current was frequently the strongest factor for sailing. In the first race it separated three boats at the leeward mark who had just managed to round, when the entire fleet started to drift back to the windward mark. In the second race the current going against the wind collected about 100 boats at the gybe mark packed together like logs. Whoever tried to sail outside, around the pack, had no wind behind the pack and drifted without hope, right into the other boats.

 

This Gold Cup was dominated by a gang of new US ex Laser sailors. John Bertrand, the 1978 winner, lost the Cup in the third race, when he did not make it passed Lester on port tack. John Bertrand, who had dominated the North American and European races of that year previously, was leading overall up to the last beat of the last race, but finally had to relinquish the Gold Cup to his team mate 21 year old Cameron Lewis.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1979

1.

Cameron Lewis

US 1027

38.0

2.

John Bertrand

US 1037

41.0

3.

Mark Neeleman

H 555

51.0

4.

Andrew Menkart

US 1028

57.0

5.

Stewart Neff

US 1004

66.0

6.

Carl Buchan

US 1015

78.0

7.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1573

82.0

8.

Joaquin Blanco

E 1

85.0

9.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1

88.0

10.

Alex Smigelski

US 1002

92.0

11.

Michael Nissen

G 1706

95.0

12.

Serge Khoretski

SR 23

110.0

13.

Minski Fabris

Y 53

122.0

14.

Juan Mägli

GU 1

127.0

15.

Miroslav Rychcik

PZ 75

127.0

16.

Kent Carlsson

S 679

133.0

17.

Jörg Vetter

DDR 12

140.0

18.

Magnus Liljedahl

S 569

140.0

19.

Larry Lemieux

KC 201

150.0

20.

Jorgen Lindhardtsen

D 141

150.0

21.

Paul Rudling

K 452

164.0

22.

Mike McIntyre

K 423

173.0

23.

Erik Braathen

H 111

174.0

24.

Jacques Rogge

B 2

176.0

25.

Geoffrey Davidson

KA 165

182.0

26.

Guy Liljegren

S 675

183.0

27.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 88

183.0

28.

Patrick Spängs

S 666

189.0

29.

Buzz Reynolds

US 936

195.0

30.

Otto Pohlmann

G 1650

201.0

31.

Lue Van Keirsblick

B 24

201.0

32.

Chris Law

K 321

202.0

33.

Willy Hambrouck

B 11

207.0

34.

Rob Woodbury

KC 190

203.0

35.

Frank Butzmann

DDR 19

203.0

 

[...next...]

History of the Finn Gold Cup 1960 to 1969

 
5. Gold Cup 1960

Torquay, England, June 4-10

38 entries from 7 countries

In accordance with the sponsor’s wishes the event had to be staged in Great Britain in 1960. The date was in conflict with Kiel Week and the preparation of many nations for the Olympics. Vernon Stratton took advantage of the circumstances and won the Cup against 19 foreigners from 6 nations and 18 British competitors. Elvström did not defend his title but concentrated upon his preparations for the Olympics.

       

Final Results Gold Cup 1960

1.

Vernon Stratton

K

7979

2.

Andre Nelis

B

7132

3.

Desmond Stratton

K

6060

4.

Harald Bredo Eriksen

N

5935

5.

R. Creagh-Osborne

K

5591

6.

Hans Sleeswijk

H

5046

7.

Keith Musto

K

4834

8.

Richard Murray

K

4673

9.

Per Jordbakke

N

 

10.

Peter Danby

K

 

 

6. Gold Cup 1961

Travemünde, Federal Republic at Germany, August 14-19

109 entries from 17 countries

Wind conditions in the Bay of Lübeck were excellent but the political climate frosty. The organiser did not allow the participants from the German Democratic Republic to fly their flag and therefore they remained ashore. The Russians took advantage of that misery and borrowed the unused boats, because their own crafts had gone astray somewhere between east and west. With Paul Elvström absent, the victory of Andre Nelis was certain by the end of the 4th race. Hans Fogh, silver medalist in the FD in Naples, established himself by winning the practice race. He convinced the fleet, that he had no intention to leave without the cup. Fred Miller, the first editor of FINNFARE, was the first participant in any Gold Cup from the US and finished third. He had the best equipment and speed of the entire fleet but poor tactics. Andre Nelis used a very simple plastic boat, the first plastic boat to win the Gold Cup. The fact, that the first three boats were made from GRP shocked the Class.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1961

1.

Andre Nelis

B 24

10088

2.

Hans Fogh

D 11

8093

3.

Fred Miller

US 90

7444

4.

Vernon Stratton

K 44

7261

5.

Bjorn Rosen

S 250

6682

6.

Goran Andersson

S 144

6583

7.

Willy Kuhweide

G 303

6261

8.

Herbert Reich

G 142

6138

9.

B. Straubinger

G 16

5988

10.

Bernt Andersson

S 225

5900

11.

H.B. Reist

Z 99

5357

12.

Bruce McCurrach

SA 50

5314

13.

Per Jordbakke

N 19

5219

14.

Lennart Wallin

S 276

5046

15.

Peter Stulcken

G 235

5041

16.

Wim Maarse

H 115

4800

17.

Hans Sleeswijk

H 125

4652

18.

Jacqui Rogge

B 13

4648

19.

Per Werenskiold

N 25

4648

20.

Gerald Leverland

H 80

4574

21.

U. Jornmark

N

4318

22.

P. Josephsen

D

4274

23.

Kurt Ladendorf

G

4122

24.

Rudolf Ugelstad

N

3980

25.

D. Wayboer

H

3970

26.

Jouki Valli

L

3859

27.

H. Schuldt

G

3852

28.

H. Andersson

S

3696

29.

Dirdira

SR

3642

30.

P. Gorelikov

SR

3474

31.

Nicolino Fago

I

3386

32.

Peter Canham

K

3297

33.

O.M. Johannussen

N

3285

34.

I. R.W. van Noordt

H

3238

35.

Arne Akerson

S

3229

 

7. Gold Cup 1962

Tonsberg, Norway, August 6-11

133 entries from 16 countries

In 1962 the Finns gathered once again in Sweden for a Gold Cup. 133 actual starters from 16 countries lined up, the biggest fleet up to that time in any yachting event. The Swedish dominated the fleet, winning four of the five races. Arne Akerson had bought the plastic Newport which Fred Miller had brought from the US and sailed to 3rd place in Travemünde in 1961. Arne even used Fred’s sail, mast and boom. Measuring that boat the committee had found several kilos of lead built into the bottom and forced Arne to take it out and place it under the deck. For the rest the top positions were dominated by Elvström boats. The Finn fleet was shocked by the outstanding performance of the GRP hulls. As a result the newly elected president of the IFA Harald Bredo Eriksen of Norway initiated a Technical Committee, which was supposed to work out a new set of rules, controlling wooden boats as well as plastic GRP hulls. The winds at the Gold Cup were strong, the waves tremendous, the committee boat not anchored, the starts a battlefield, but the racing great. The winner was not decided until the last beat of the last race.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1962

1.

Arne Akerson

S

7415

2.

Boris Jacobsson

S

6570

3.

Andre Nelis

B

6555

4.

Henning Wind

D

6142

5.

Hans Fogh

D

5774

6.

Bernt Andersson

S

5581

7.

Jouki Valli

L

5482

8.

Richard Creagh-Osborne

K

5348

9.

Roar Larsen

N

5211

10.

Harald Bredo Eriksen

N

4968

11.

A. Chuchelov

SR

4 731

12.

Rudolf Uglestad

N

4 730

13.

J.C. Jammes

F

4721

14.

Bernhard Reist

Z

4535

15.

Ulrich Libor

G

4306

16.

Bjorn Rosen

S

4215

17.

Gunnar Dahlgaard

D

4044

18.

Adelchi Pelaschier

I

4044

19.

Vernon Stratton

K

4039

20.

H. Willems

H

4024

21.

Hakan Kellner

S

3866

22.

Glen Foster

US

3853

23.

Lennart Lindahl

S

3802

24.

Ole G. Petersen

D

3738

25.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE

3669

26.

Brian Saffery-Cooper

K

3604

27.

Igor Moshkvin

SR

3588

28.

Per Werenskiold

N

3548

29.

Ulrich Hagan

G

3434

30.

Chr. Hansen

D

3395

31.

Mats Larsson

S

3372

32.

Hans G. Flint

G

3359

33.

Gunnar Andersson

S

3336

34.

Lennart Wallin

S

3312

35.

Bruno Trani

I

3257

36.

Dieter Mayr

G

3207

37.

Werner Werenskiold

N

3187

38.

Uwe Mares

G

3 121

39.

Desmond Stratton

K

3074

40.

Gerhard Huska

OE

3062

41.

Robin Webb

K

3024

42.

Hans Asklund

S

2968

43.

Gerald Leverland

H

2888

44.

J.B. de Jong

H

2880

45.

Arnold van Grünewaldt

S

2836

 

8. Gold Cup 1963

Medemblik, Holland, August 12-19

162 entries from 22 countries

The Gold Cup in 1963 brought another record with 162 boats from 22 nations. The weather was wet and the wind was always very shifty. All the five races suffered from a constant change of speed and direction of the wind. Success was mainly a question of a good start in front of the crowd and an instinct for the next windshift.

Many of the old favourites ended up low down in the final results and some new faces appeared in top positions. Hardly anybody managed to sail consistently. The measurement was poor and the newly created Technical Committee was not yet in control of the situation. Twenty year old Willy Kuhweide became the young winner of the Gold Cup. He had acquired a brand new Elvström boat just before the event. But generally results were so topsy-turvy, that no general pattern emerged. All sorts of boats, masts, sails and people turned out to he successful.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1963

1.

Willy Kuhweide

G

6387

2.

Boris Jacobson

S

6211

3.

Hans Willems

H

5974

4.

Bernhard Straubinger

G

5699

5.

Valentin Mankin

SR

5651

6.

Ralph Roberts

KZ

5434

7.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE

5297

8.

G. Devillard

F

5282

9.

Per Werenskiold

N

5223

10.

Uwe. Mares

G

5186

11.

Arnold von Grünewaldt

S

5178

12.

Per Jordbakke

N

5076

13.

Hans Fogh

D

5069

14.

Andre Nelis

B

4899

15.

G. Andersson

S

4869

16.

Peter Canham

K

4431

17.

Richard Creagh-Osborne

K

4410

18.

Hakan Kellner

S

4361

19.

M. Kojima

J

4349

20.

G. Andersson

S

4335

21.

A. Remien

G

4191

22.

M. Skalisz

PZ

4156

23.

Richard Hart

K

4071

24.

Alexander Chuchelov

SR

4023

25.

Bernt Andersson

S

4019

26.

Lennart Lindahl

S

3972

27.

D. Newell

KZ

3908

28.

M. Fletcher

KA

3684

29.

Lennart Wallin

S

3630

30.

J. Fauroux

F

3530

 

9.Gold Cup 1964

Torquay, England, July 18-26

65 entries from 20 countries

In 1964 the Cup had to be organised again in Great Britain. Because of the transport problems and a new entry system - in response to the problems at the starting line the previous year - only 65 participants entered. For the entire series there was hardly enough wind for gunwhale sitting, let alone leaning out. Every race suffered from big wind shifts, Sometimes these were so sudden and at such a magnitude that they turned the race into a game of chance. But whenever there was some rhyme and reason to them, there was Austria’s 21 year old skipper Hubert Raudaschl in his homemade 1961 wooden boat with his homemade sail to take cool advantage of them. He even had the Cup in his bag before the last race and came out on the last day as a spectator. He had won the first and sixth race, placed sixth, fifth and fourth and finished only once with a two digit result. The measurement under chief measurer Vernon Forster was very strict. A newcomer from Brazil named Jörg Bruder ended up fifth.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1964

1.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE

8275

2.

Hakan Kellner

S

7296

3.

Richard Creagh-Osborne

K

6838

4.

Peter Canham

K

6746

5.

Jörg Bruder

BL

6574

6.

Henning Wind

D

5787

7.

Alexander Chuchelov

SR

5609

8.

Mike Astley

K

5236

9.

Arne Akerson

S

5129

10.

Valentin Mankin

SR

5065

11.

Jack Knights

K

4989

12.

Gilbert Lamboley

F

4950

13.

Van Gelder

H

 

14.

M. Kojima

J

 

15.

Brain Saffery-Cooper

K

 

16.

Wim Maarse

H

 

17.

Per Jordbakke

N

 

18.

Adelchi Pelaschier

I

 

19.

F. Pampaloni

I

 

20.

S. Golser

I

 

21.

Ricardo Boneo

A

 

22.

T. Yamada

J

 

 

10. Gold Cup 1965

Gdynia, Poland, July 22-29

93 entries from 21 countries

For the first time in its history the Gold Cup was held in an East European country The racing was held in DanzigBay. World measurer Vernon Forster took care of the strict measurement of 93 Finns. In the practice race a gate start proved to be unsatisfactory and the real racing was conducted with conventional starts. The wind was generally very strong causing many capsizes and much gear failure. The event was won by Jürgen Mier from the German Democratic Republic by consistent sailing in the difficult conditions. His countryman Bernd Dehmel won two races and finished second. Richard Hart from the UK won two other races. But the moral winner was Miroslav Vejvoda from the CSSR who had won one race, abandoned one whilst leading because of a minor collision and capsized twice in the windy last race after twice regaining the lead.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1965

1.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 232

7587

2.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 98

7152

3.

Richard Hart

K 131

6860

4.

Valentin Mankin

SR 636

6231

5.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

6205

6.

Hans Fogh

D 84

6131

7.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 31

5802

8.

Arne Akerson

S 321

5644

9.

G. Schwarz

DDR 27

5632

10.

Brian Saffery-Cooper

K 214

5432

11.

H. Hermann

DDR 113

5271

12.

György Finaczy

M 40

5090

13.

Arnold von Grünewaldt

S 366

4837

14.

P. Letcher

KZ 54

4724

15.

N. Everett

KZ 58

4635

16.

Phillipe Soria

F 374

4432

17.

F. Cordshagen

DDR 32

4428

18.

Bruce McCurrach

SA 272

4339

19.

Per Werenskiold

N 57

4296

20.

Miklos Tuss

M 50

4126

21.

Börge Sall

S 392

4061

22.

Boris Jacobsson

S 318

4002

23.

M. Skalisz

PZ 377

3869

24.

G. Dahlgard

D 80

3705

25.

P. Luttgart

G 584

3665

26.

B. O. Frimansson

S 328

3653

27.

H. Raben

DDR 72

3612

28.

Thomas Lundquist

S 438

3555

29.

Göran Andersson

S 365

3497

30.

Fabio Albarelli

I 306

3424

 

11. Gold Cup 1966

La Baule, France, August 21-29

150 entries from 26 countries

150 participants from a record 26 countries had to face a strict measurement in accordance under the new set of rules. This Gold Cup brought about a renaissance of wooden boats made by Raudaschl. Willy Kuhweide was a lucky winner followed by Jörg Bruder, both with boats, masts and sails from Hubert. There was general agreement that the Newport Finn of Ed Bennett from the USA was the finest plastic boat by far, but it was very close to tolerance at the sheer - extremely narrow. Willy Kuhweide did not win any races but always had fairly good results. In very difficult shifty wind conditions he proved to have an outstanding knowledge of meteorology. He was always looking around at the other boats, the sky and the weather and water conditions to gather information on which way to go. At the same time he sailed very fast while not giving boat speed his absolute attention. Germany with 1/3/4/5 dominated the fleet, but Jörg Bruder 2nd and Henry Sprague going top speed into the wrong direction indicated the awakening of a young continent for Finn sailing.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1966

1.

Willy Kuhweide

G 711

48.7

2.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

62.0

3.

Bernhard Straubinger

G 416

81.7

4.

Burghardt

G 341

82.0

5.

Uwe Mares

G 635

91.0

6.

V. Kozlov

SR 381

95.0

7.

G. Devillard

F 471

99.0

8.

Henry Sprague

US 707

101.0

9.

Valentin Mankin

SR 636

103.0

10.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 9

108.7

11.

Bruce McCurrach

SA 272

132.0

12.

S. Golser

I 371

132.0

13.

Göran Andersson

S 516

134.7

14.

Arnold von Grünewaldt

S 366

135.4

15.

Richard Hart

K 231

141.0

16.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

145.0

17.

Twist

US 532

148.7

18.

Pierre Poullain

F 430

163.0

19.

A. Bally

Z 145

166.7

20.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 81

171.7

21.

Schwan

S 330

176.0

22.

Arne Akerson

S 321

183.0

23.

M. Skalisz

PZ 377

189.0

24.

B.O. Frimansson

S 328

194.0

25.

Peter Malm

D 51

196.7

26.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 299

207.0

27.

Ed Bennett

US 534

209.0

28.

Lemanissier

F 424

211.0

29.

R. Bergsten

S 473

212.0

30.

Dick Tillman

US 419

214.0

33.

Hans Willems

H 75

217.0

34.

Jörgen Mier

DDR 3

218.7

35.

P. Lippert

DDR 6

222.0

36.

Lucian Christl

OE 70

223.0

37.

Burrows

IR 8

225.0

38.

Fabio Albarelli

I 306

226.0

39.

Gerhard Huska

OE 20

228.0

40.

Cole

K 245

232.0

41.

Ghiglia

F 436

236.0

42.

Miller

US 606

240.0

43.

F. Jammes

F 473

254.0

44.

Alain Maury

F 461

261.0

45.

Mike Astley

K 177

268.0

46.

H. Raben

DDR 7

269.0

47.

Wim Maarse

H 331

270.0

48.

B.E. Treleaven

KZ 62

270.0

49.

Appel

G 570

271.0

50.

Nilsson

S 384

275.0

 

12. Gold Cup 1967

Hanko, Finland, August 6-12

130 entries from 22 countries

A force 9 gale on the first scheduled day of racing gave Vernon Forster one more day of telling 130 sailors what rules are made for. Hardly any boat had a rudder narrow enough to fit into the then 20 mm slot of Vernon’s template. Most of the booms had hard wood extending further than 560 mm from the leading edge of the mast. The biggest deal however was the planing ceremony of the famous Raudaschl Finns (including those of Kuhweide, Mares and Bruder) at station 1 to get them straight and not concave. The event was dominated by wooden Raudaschl hulls, wooden Bruder masts and Raudaschl sails. The plastic GRP hulls had lost their glory which they had gained at the beginning of the sixties. The Germans Dehmel, Kuhweide, Mares and Mier lead 4 out of the 6 races from start to finish. The surprise was the Japanese sailor, Matsyuama, who won one race but was disqualified for a PMS and almost won another. After two races with light shifty wind the 3rd race was blessed with a steady force 5. Before the last race Mankin was leading by two points over Kuhweide. But Willy won because of his incredible speed and his steel nerves and Mankin ended up sixth.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1967

1.

Willy Kuhweide

G 711

24.7

2.

Valentin Mankin

SR 636

34.4

3.

Uwe Mares

G 800

63.0

4.

Peter Tallberg

L 145

75.7

S.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

80.7

6.

Robert Andre

US 618

89.0

7.

Börge Sall

S 392

95.7

8.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

110.0

9.

Patrick Pym

K 174

110.0

10.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 81

113.0

11.

V. Dordora

SR 1415

116.0

12.

G. Devillard

F 503

123.0

13.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 3

128.0

14.

Boris Jacobsson

S 318

132.0

15.

Per Werenskiold

N 57

134.0

16.

Arne Akerson

S 321

140.0

17.

S. Stork

S 543

141.0

18.

Fabio Albarelli

I 406

141.0

19.

Henning Wind

D 93

146.7

20.

G. Aasblom

S 521

168.0

21.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 9

173.7

22.

A. Bally

Z 145

177.0

23.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 635

177.0

24.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 9

177.4

25.

Arnold von Grünewaldt

S 366

179.0

26.

John Maynard

K 154

179.0

27.

Lucian Christl

OE 70

181.0

28.

V. Kozlov

SR 381

183.0

29.

H. Tallberg

L 122

189.0

30.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

194.0

31.

Hans van Elst

H 13

198.0

32.

Bernhard Straubinger

G 416

204.0

33.

F. Poullain

F 430

211.0

34.

S. Golser

I 371

212.0

35.

Walter Mai

G 614

213.0

36.

Clive Roberts

KZ 60

217.0

37.

Jan Winquist

L 119

218.0

38.

Carl van Duyne

US 245

227.0

39.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 357

227.0

40.

H. Andersson

S 462

229.0

41.

Bernhard Reist

Z 224

230.0

42.

J. Brecht

G 603

232.0

43.

Kai Krüger

G 703

234.0

44.

D.C. Hardy

K 153

240.0

45.

A.A. Hofland

H 348

247.0

 

13. Gold Cup 1968

Whitstable Kent, England July 8-13

138 entries from 38 countries

The commodore of Whitstable Yacht Club summed up the event in his speech at the prize giving by starting: “Companions in disaster, at least nobody was drowned”. The regatta just didn’t work out. By deed of gift the Gold Cup had to be organised every Olympic year in Great Britain. Many British Finn sailors themselves debated the wisdom of going to Whitstable. The small size of the Yacht Club, the crowded dinghy park, the lack of hotels, restaurants and mainly pubs, and the high tide were deplorable. Finally the actual racing was so unsatisfactory. At times some skippers had to sail with unshipped rudders. Others - less scrupulous - went overboard and dragged their boats towards the next mark. At the end of one race the crew of a rescue boat reported to have been able to walk across the finishing line without getting his knees wet. And the competitors had to pull back their boats over miles of mud because of the outgoing tide. At the end of the week only four races still stood and two of them had to survive protests to be abandoned. The best thing about this unhappy troubled week was that Henning Wind, the Danish Tokyo Bronze Medalist, was the best sailor and the winner. He won the first race, came fifth in the second and afterwards lost neither his hair nor his points average, though all about him were losing theirs. Raudaschl hulls, Bruder masts and Raudaschl sails dominated the fleet. But during the week it was found that Raudaschl’s 1968 sails contravened the rules, inserting 4 oz cloth in the prevalent 3 oz sail.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1968

1.

Henning Wind

D 93

35.0

2.

Uwe Mares

G 800

60.0

3.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

64.7

4.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 9

80.0

5.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 369

88.0

6.

Börge Sall

S 392

108.0

7.

A. Hofland

H 382

119.4

8.

Patrick Pym

K 274

122.0

9.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 635

124.0

10.

Arne Akerson

S 321

127.7

11.

P.O. Gustavsson

S 546

137.0

12.

Walter Mai

G 875

137.7

13.

J. Stutterheim

G 904

139.0

14.

Willy Kuhweide

G 888

140.0

15.

B. Frimansson

S 328

143.0

16.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

145.0

17.

Richard Hart

K 131

146.0

18.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 388

148.0

19.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

148.0

20.

R. Bergsten

S 473

151.7

21.

Andreas van Eicken

G 567

153.0

22.

John Maynard

K 284

156.0

23.

G. Dahlstrom

S 156

163.0

24.

Valentin Mankin

SR 636

168.0

25.

Hans Joachim Fritze

G 711

168.0

26.

Serge Maury

F 496

171.0

27.

S. Golser

I 418

177.0

28.

Henry Sprague

US 707

181.0

29.

J. Liandier

F 552

182.0

30.

E. Quass

I 387

186.0

31.

Nigel Sharples

K 286

190.0

32.

V. Kozlov

SR 381

191.0

33.

L. Coccoloni

I 403

193.0

34.

Lucian Christl

OE 70

194.7

35.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 3

211.0

36.

Göran Andersson

S 516

217.0

37.

D. Hardy

K 153

229.0

38.

R. Ketelaar

H 199

234.0

39.

Desmond Stratton

K 200

236.0

40.

Tiemen Vries

H 367

239.0

 

14. Gold Cup 1969

Hamilton Bermuda October 2-10

132 entries from 27 countries

For the first time the Finn Gold Cup was organised outside Europe. A very generous invitation for food and lodging and vast support for transportation of the boats attracted a large number of entries. Even Paul Elvström decided to return to the Finn at age 41. All competitors agreed, that this was one at the best organised world championships ever. The only disruptions were Hurricanes Inga and Kara, pushing wind velocity as high as 30 to 40 knots. Because of Inga racing was postponed from October 3 to 7. Andy Zawieja was delivered by a crane from a Polish freighter, which did not enter Bermuda’s territorial wafers, and paddled with all his gear ashore, to be picked up again by the same freighter two weeks later in the middle of the ocean after he had cleared through customs. Lundquist, a 22 year old Student at Gothenburg University, won the Gold Cup. Jörg Bruder became runner up for the second time. Peter Barrett could have still won the trophy while leading in the last race, but capsized and ended up third. To any sane man the last race should not have been sailed with gusts up to 30 knots and above. But there is something mad about Finn sailors anyway. That last race Henry Sprague III was leading all the way but had a PMS. Finally Walter Mai got line honours, with Bruder second. Bruder masts with Raudaschl sails still dominated the fleet. Jack Knights introduced the first aluminium mast into the Gold Cup scenery.

 

Final Results Gold Cup 1969

1.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

15.0

2.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

21.4

3.

Peter Barrett

US 888

25.7

4.

Walter Mai

G 991

39.7

5.

Peter Conrad

US 530

51.7

6.

Uwe Mares

G 1041

53.7

7.

Bret de Thier

KZ 133

60.0

8.

Andy Zawieja

PZ 321

60.7

9.

Valentin Mankin

SR 36

64.0

10.

Willy Kuhweide

G 1044

69.0

11.

Fritz. Beck

H 381

69.0

12.

Paul Elvström

D 106

70.0

13.

G. Aasblom

S 521

77.7

14.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

80.0

15.

Phillipe Soria

F 374

82.0

16.

Börge Sall

S 392

87.0

17.

Iain Macdonald-Smith

K 321

99.0

18.

Fabio Albarelli

I 433

101.0

19.

Andreas von Eicken

G 969

104.0

20.

Gordy Bowers

US 83

104.0

21.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 3

106.0

22.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 110

107.0

23.

Arnold von Grünewaldt

S 366

114.0

24.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 4

119.0

25.

E. Shaw

SA 182

120.0

26.

Hans Joachim Fritze

G 711

122.0

27.

Vernon Stratton

K 334

126.0

28.

Bjoern Ribbhagen

S 540

129.0

29.

Kim Weber

L 151

133.0

30.

Anthony Herrmann

US 225

140.0

31.

F. Huber

G 1014

144.0

32.

A. John Clarke

KC 78

150.0

33.

B.O. Frimansson

S 328

150.0

34.

Oleg Shilov

SR 4

154.0

35.

Bernhard Straubinger

G 916

155.0

36.

D. R. Kollock

US 780

157.0

37.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 137

161.0

38.

Kai Krüger

G 1003

165.0

39.

P. Kouligas

GR 122

166.0

40.

Peter Tallberg

L 145

175.0

41.

S. Golser

I 418

176.0

42.

Bernt Andersson

S 550

182.0

43.

Christian Schroeder

DDR 8

187.0

44.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

191.0

 

 

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