Olympic Sailing 2008 - Finn Class

In 1949, the Finnish Yachting Association started a design competition for the Helsinki (1952) Olympics. Rickard Sarby answered the call, designed, and then actually built the FINN - which was then rejected by the committee. Though the Association snubbed it, the design became instantly popular with sailors. More boats were built, and on the water the FINN was beating the other designs almost every time. So, appearing in Helsinki in 1952, the FINN earned its first Olympics just like the sailors themselves, by proving to be the best.

Today, the Finn is still a popular one-design, and the Finn class is the singlehanded Heavyweight (Men's) Dinghy in the 2008 Olympics at Beijing (Qingdao). While the boat has seen some changes over the years, class control is such that any Finn sailor from 1952 would instantly know today's boats on sight. It is said that the Finn is absolutely unforgiving on the race course, with the slightest misjudgement costing boat lengths almost instantly, which is exactly why FINN sailors love these boats.

Contending with the unusual sailing conditions at Qingdao is going to be interesting work for the fleet, and the singlehanded may have to contend with some especially unusual factors at this Olympic venue, making it that much more fun and unpredictable. Watch for Jonas Hoegh-Christensen of Denmark, Trujillo Villar of Spain, Gaspic Kljakovic sailing for Croatia, and of course, Ben Ainslie for Britain.

Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn

25 Olympic athletes competing at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Australia - Anthony NOSSITER
Brazil - Eduardo COUTO
Canada - Chris COOK
Croatia - Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC
Cyprus - Haris PAPADOPOULOS
Czech Republic - Michael MAIER
Denmark - Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN
Finland - Tapio NIRKKO
France - Guillaume FLORENT
Great Britain - Ben AINSLIE
Greece - Emilios PAPATHANASIOU
India - Nachhatar Singh JOHAL
Ireland - Timothy GOODBODY
Italy - Giorgio POGGI
Netherlands - Pieter-Jan POSTMA
New Zealand - Dan SLATER
Norway - Peer MOBERG
Poland - Rafal SZUKIEL
PR China - Zhang PENG
Russia - Eduard SKORNIAKOV
Slovenia - Gasper VINCENC
Spain - Rafael TRUJILLO
Sweden - Daniel BIRGMARK
Turkey - Ali Kemal TUFEKCI
USA - Zachary RAILEY

Finn (Open Single Handed Dinghy) Sailing Schedule at the Olympics

Saturday, August 9 2008
Sunday, August 10 2008
Monday, August 11 2008
Wednesday, August 13 2008
Thursday, August 14 2008
Saturday, August 16th 2008 Finn Open Singlehanded Dinghy Medal Race!

- Olympic Sailing 2008 Finn Class by YC for YachtPals.com

READ MORE ABOUT THE FINN CLASS SAILBOAT, OR SAILING AT THE Olympics:

• Olympics (all news, photos, boat information, and blogs about sailing at the Olympics)
• Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics - Sailing
• Olympic Goo - Algae Invades Qingdao Sailing Venue
• From the Olympic Sailing Center in China
• Spy Drones, Algae, and Dirty Air - Sailing at the Olympics
• Goo Gone - Sailing Center Cleared of Algae for the Olympics
• Interview with Sarah Mergenthaller of the US Olympic Sailing Team
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - Laser and Laser Radial Sailboats
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - Tornado Class Catamarans
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - Yngling Class Sailboats
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - The Star Class Sailboats
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - The FINN Class Sailboats
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - The 470 Class Sailboats
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - The 49er Class Sailboats
• Sailors in the Spotlight - 2008 Olympic Sailing Teams

-- Sailing at the 2008 Olympics - Quick Look at Olympic Sailing Classes --

Multihull Sailboat = Tornado
Skiff Doublehanded Open Sailboat = 49er
Women's Windsurfer = RS:X
Women's One Person Sailing Dinghy = Laser Radial
Women's Two Person Sailing Dinghy = 470
Women's Keelboat = Yngling
Men's Windsurfer = RS:X
Men's One Person Sailing Dinghy = Laser
Men's One Person Sailing Dinghy = FINN
Men's Two Person Sailing Dinghy = 470
Men's Keelboat = Star

Sailing Video: Ben Ainslie Sailing the Finn class sailboat on the Olympic Sailing Team representing Great Britain.