The International Finn Class has shown exceptional growth over the past few years in Australia and particularly here at RQYS in Brisbane. We have the largest Off The Beach (OTB) class at the club and a long association at RQYS going back to 1958 when Ron Jenyns won 12 successive Queensland Championships, 10 Australian Championships and represented Australia in 2 Olympic Games. POL, POR, AUS, NED, AUT, GBR, HUN were represented in person and BEL, CAN, DEN, FRA, FIN, GER, NZL, SVK, SWE, ESP AND SUI were represented by proxy. Five members of the Executive Committee were also present. Prior to the meeting, the International Finn Association of Australia Inc. (IFAA Inc.) and RQYS submitted an application and declaration, formal presentation and video to conduct the 2026 Finn Gold Cup (World Championship) at the Squadron here in Brisbane. The submission was tabled at the meeting, voted on and overwhelmingly approved. Likewise at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Finn World Masters (FWM) Committee held at Nea Iraklita, Kavala, Greece on Wednesday 31 May this year, our submission was tabled and Australian President Phil Chadwick delivered a detailed overview of the proposal and answered questions from the floor. The video presentation prepared by Spikey-Mike Middelton was also screened. The proposal was voted on and, again, overwhelmingly approved. Both the IFA and FWM agreed to hold these events at the same venue and at the same club. This is the first time this has occurred. The proposed dates are late January to early February 2026. Ironically, it will be 50 years since the last Gold Cup was held at RQYS. Although the Gold Cup has been held in Australia on several occasions, in more recent years the Finn World Masters have only once been held outside Europe since 1970. Planning is still in early stages, however the Association proposes to hold, in conjunction with the FGC and FWM, the Australian Championships and Finn Silver Cup (World Championship for U23). A busy time ahead indeed. Our Queensland State Championships are held each year at RQYS in July and this year we attracted 41 entries, including four from New Zealand, five from NSW, eight from Victoria, two from South Australia and one from Perth. A record fleet and indicative of the interest and growth of the class. The Australian Championships will be held at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria 11–15 January 2024 and we expect 40-45 boats — possibly another record for entries. David Bull Secretary, IFAA Inc. n INTERNATIONAL FINN CLASS ~ Championship of Australia ~ PRESENTED BY A.S.P. SANGSTER ESQ. Angus & Coote Jewellers & Silversmiths, Sydney 1957/58 CS Ryrie Query II 1958/59 Ron Jenyns Hi Finn 1959/60 1960/61 1961/62 1962/63 1963/64 1964/65 CS Ryrie Query V 1965/66 Ron Jenyns Hi Finn 1966/67 1967/68 1968/69 AH James Aussie I 1969/70 Ron Jenyns Hi Finn 1970/71 P Burford Serendipity 1971/72 J Bertram Eik Gretai 1972/73 S Kiely Golliwog 1973/74 A James Bushranger 1974/75 1975/76 J Bertrand Pop II 1976/77 C Proctor Pop III 1977/78 1978/79 G Davidson Berry Street Ogre 1979/80 Hot to Trot 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 C Pratt Daily Planet 1983/84 L Kleist Porpoise 1984/85 C Pratt Matchbox 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 S Gorman Goose 1989/90 1990/91 Glen Bourke Nurmi 1991/92 1992/93 Mark Bulka Bulk Carrier 1993/94 Simon Gorman Goose 1994/95 Dean Barker NZL 1st Australian Paul McKenzie 1995/96 Paul McKenzie Rome wasn’t Built in a Day 1996/97 Carl Schmidt 1997/98 Ian Ainslie RSA 1st Australian Paul McKenzie 1998/99 M Kusznierewicz POL 1st Australian Paul McKenzie 1999/00 Xavier Rohart FRA 1st Australian Anthony Nossiter 2000/01 Anthony Nossiter 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Jake Gunther 2005/06 Josh Beaver 2006/07 Brendan Casey 2007/08 Ben Ainslie GBR 1st Australian Anthony Nossiter 2008/09 Anthony Nossiter 2009/10 2010/11 Ed Wright GBR 1st Australian Anthony Nossiter 2011/12 James Patterson 2012/13 Brendan Casey 2013/14 Jake Lilley 2014/15 Joseph McMillan 2015/16 John Condie 2016/17 Oliver Tweddell 2017/18 Jake Lilley 2018/19 2019/20 John Condie 2020/21 COVID 2021/22 Ian McKillop 2022/23 Rob McMillan Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2023 55 International Finns round-up
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