Amazing amphitheatre, ideal waters and quirky quayside: all eyes on Falmouth for the
Finn Gold Cup
Coastlines around the country dream of lapping up international sailing talent and the vibrant
Cornish town, with its spirit of the sea, is excited to be doing just that. In little over two months’ time
the first Olympic class sailing regatta held in the UK during 2012, The J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Finn Festival, is set to make a splash on Falmouth’s shores. The Festival includes the annual UK Open
Finn National Championships 4 – 7 May followed by the Finn Gold Cup 13 – 18 May, the annual
World Championships for the Finn Class.
The Nationals and Gold Cup are already attracting an impressive list of entries; 106 entry codes have
been requested and issued to 25 nations. Entries have been received from Australia, Cyprus, Finland,
Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine and USA. Highlights
include Beijing Olympic silver medallist Zach Railey (USA), runner up from the World Championships
in Perth last December Pieter Jan Postma (NED) and current European and World Champion Giles
Scott (GBR).
Zach Railey spoke about the competition, “It’s a big fleet racing in the Finn Gold Cup and being the
World Championships you always want to perform and do your best, so I will be looking forward to
sailing against all the best Finn sailors in the World. I will also be using it to evaluate the last
adjustments that need to be made leading into the London Olympics, really looking at what small
changes I need to make and how I am measuring up against the competition I will be facing a few
months after.
The Gold Cup has a lot of history and is an extremely hard regatta both physically and mentally. It is a
true test of yourself against the best in the World and that’s why I race at this level because I love the
competition”
The Gold Cup will be the final Finn Class selection for both sailors and nations seeking to qualify for
the London 2012 Olympics, and a fleet of up to 100 boat entries is expected. At the end of the
regatta, the 25 representatives for the Finn Class for the Olympic Games 2012 will be confirmed.
The majority of entries for the Gold Cup have also entered the UK Open Nationals. The annual UK
Open Finn National Championships are open to all nationalities and will be contested by a fleet of 80
highly skilled competitors with a chance this year to compete against some of the world’s best
sailors, honing their skills ahead of the Gold Cup.
Andy Denison from the British Finn Association elaborated on this year’s events, “The Finn Gold Cup
and UK Open Nationals are commanding a great deal of national and international interest, so much
so, that a capping will be put on the Nationals entries at 120 boats. The last UK based Gold Cup was
Weymouth 2000 and the nationals attracted 85 entries.
The Falmouth team had a vision that they put into action some 4 years ago and this will without
doubt re energise and establish a solid foundation for Finn sailing in the UK. Our sincere thanks go to
JP Morgan Asset Management and Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for their sponsorship and support”
There will also be an Emerging Nations clinic held between the UK Open Nationals and the Gold Cup
as part of an initiative to expand Finn sailing to new countries.
The International Finn Association (IFA) will be running the clinic for six emerging nations to improve
their sailing abilities in order to enter the Gold Cup. The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in conjunction
with the IFA will be providing six free boats and the club members will be providing accommodation
and food free of charge. The hope is to encourage countries that don’t have the resources for
training to be able to compete in the Gold Cup and eventually qualify for the Olympics!
“Traditionally the Finn clinic is organised every year and on an Olympic year we try to provide
equipment for the Olympic qualifier. In 2008 the programme helped a sailor from Venezuela to sail in
the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne and later get a spot at the Olympics.” Corinne McKenzie, IFA.
To secure the Finn Gold Cup in an Olympic year was quite an achievement for Falmouth and a
number of factors contributed to the selection. Primarily, Falmouth has some of the best sailing
waters in Europe with Falmouth Bay acting as a natural amphitheatre, predictable tides and a
prevailing south-westerly wind, which allows for safe and exciting racing. The other factor was The
Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and the other members of Port of Falmouth Sailing Association have a
vast depth of knowledge and experience in running world class sailing events, from dinghies to
sports boats and large ocean going sailing vessels.
Robin Taylor, Event Director explains “This wealth of knowledge allows the Royal Cornwall Yacht
Club to run such esteemed events and utilise the infrastructure in the Falmouth area. We have a
large hospitality presence including top class hotels, restaurants, camping sites and holiday cottages
as well as a deep water port with handling facilities for all types of vessels. Cornwall in itself is a
major attraction and with improved rail, air and road infrastructure we are easily accessible from all
major gateways in the United Kingdom. All these factors combined to make Falmouth an outstanding
choice to run the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival”
With three more sponsors on board, Volvo Car UK, Gul Performance Apparel and St Michaels Hotel
& Spa, the festival goes from strength to strength. Nigel Carpenter, Proprietor of St Michaels Hotel &
Spa, Falmouth, spoke about their ties with the event,
“St Michael’s Hotel & Spa is delighted to be a sponsor of the JP Morgan Asset Management Finn
Festival this year. Falmouth has an exciting calendar of events this year and this sailing festival is
definitely one of the highlights. We have created a number of short breaks for the festival, including a
special Gym Membership offer exclusively for the competitors and spectators. This year with the
Olympics hanging in the balance for the competitors, it is sure to be a great event.”
ENDS
Media Accreditation is now open for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival
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The Finn UK Open National Championships 4th – 7th May
The Finn Gold Cup 13th – 18th May
With the 2012 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival in Falmouth, Cornwall less than three
months away online media accreditation is open for press and photographers.
To register please submit a registration form here (link to website)
Press Boats Space is limited and by reservation. Media with confirmed assignments will be given
priority. Please contact calsey.thorne@intotheblue.biz to confirm your space on a press boat.
Media contacts:
For Finn Gold Cup media enquiries
Dan Wilkinson
Into the Blue
+44 (0) 1983 247 286
+44 (0) 7786 223 444
dan.wilkinson@intotheblue.biz
For The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
Robin Taylor
Event Director, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
+ 44 (0) 7836 359 621
cornubiafarm@aol.com
Or
Neil Andrew
Sailing Secretary, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
+44 (0) 1326 211555
finns2012@rotyalcornwallyachtclub.org
For general Falmouth or Cornwall enquiries
Sian Robbins
VisitCornwall
+44 (0) 1872 322 873
sian.robbins@visitcornwall.com
Editors Notes
J. P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival 2012 includes:
•
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management UK Open Finn National Championships, 4 - 7 May
The annual championships for the British Finn Association, regularly attracting some 40-50 boats. In 2012 they
will be held in Falmouth immediately prior to the Gold Cup. It is expected that many international competitors
for the Gold Cup will also compete in the Finn Nationals in order to familiarise themselves with the sailing
area.
Organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and centred at the Falmouth Watersports Centre, the 2012 Finn
British Open Championship will be sailed in the expanses of Falmouth Bay, with a total of 10 races to be sailed,
comprising a series of normally 2 races per day.
•
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Gold Cup, World Championship, 13 - 18 May
The annual World Championship of the Finn Class, with a fleet of up to 100 boats from as many as 50 nations.
During the regatta sailors will be will be honing their skills to win a place to represent their country at the
Olympic Games.
About the Finn
The Finn dinghy was entered by designer Rickard Sarby in the competition held after the 1948 Olympics to
select the single-handed dinghy for the 1952 Olympics. Since its debut in 1952 the Finn has featured in every
Olympic regatta, making it the most long-serving dinghy class.
The Finn is a single-handed, cat-rigged dinghy with the following principal characteristics:
Length, overall - 4.5m
Beam - 1.5m
Hull weight - 107kg
Mast height - 6.7m
Sail area - 10.2m2
Event Facts and Statistics
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Up to 100 competitors from up to 50 countries
International jury (six members)
International Race officer
150 onshore and offshore volunteers
Fleet of 10 rescue boats
Media Centre for international press
Berthing for up to 120 dinghies and trailers
Launching and recovery of dinghies every day
Feeding up to 120 sailors and support crews every day
About J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is part of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and is a global asset management leader
providing world-class investment solutions to clients. With US$1.3 trillion in assets under management (the
Asset Management client funds of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. as at March 31st 2011) and offices in 41 locations
around the world, J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global coverage with a strong local market presence,
and leadership positions in most asset classes.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is a trading name of J.P. Morgan Asset Management Marketing Limited which
has issued this material in the United Kingdom and which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services
Authority. Registered in England No. 288553. Registered office: 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ.
About VisitCornwall
A service of the Cornwall Development Company, a local authority company controlled by Cornwall Council.
VisitCornwall undertakes the destination marketing function for Cornwall and promotes the area’s distinctive
qualities to the domestic market and key international markets through targeted marketing campaigns.
About the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
Situated in an idyllic waterfront setting of the Greenbank area in Falmouth, the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
(RCYC) was formed in 1871, and is the 15th oldest “Royal” yacht club in England. The first patrons of the Club
were Queen Victoria and the Duke of Cornwall (the future King Edward VII). The current patron of the Club is
HRH Prince Charles who succeeded his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1977.
Falmouth has long been a venue for major regattas, and the club has been instrumental organising major
sailing events since before the Second World War. Large yachts of the J-Class visited in the 1930s, and the Club
is looking forward to welcoming them back in 2012.
Other Partners
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Port of Falmouth Sailing Association
Helford River Sailing Club
Mylor Yacht Club
Restronguet Sailing Club
St Mawes Sailing Club
Flushing Sailing Club
Packet Newspapers (Cornwall) Ltd
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Falmouth Marine College
Falmouth Rugby Club