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. In 2014 the Finn Class began a resurgence at RQYS with just three boats, owned by Mick Patrick, John Warlow and David Bull, the latter recalls. The Queensland fleet of 30 is now the largest of any Australian state; the maths are inarguable but are the numbers based on a simple percentage, Olympics tidal currents — or a bit of both? With the arrival of Phil Chadwick from Melbourne in 2017 the fleet commenced a growth spurt which most fleets would envy. With his infectious enthusiasm and drive, Phil promoted the Finn to some of the heavier Laser sailors. Tristan Perez and Tony Baisden were early converts. David Bull purchased a new Fantastica in 2016 and sold his old boat to Kerry (‘Spanner’) Spencer. He in turn sold to John Croston when Spanner purchased another boat … so the snowball started rolling. Todd Anderson (R/Cdre), Barry Cuneo (P/Cdre) and James Chilman purchased boats in 2018. A year later, Jason Passey and Lucas Prescott purchased boats and in 2020 Al Cowen, Steve Hemsworth and Trevor Monaghan joined the Finn Class. Many other Squadron Members have also acquired Finns, including Tony Arnold, Mark Dagge, Andy Harcourt, Larry Kleist, Trevor Martin, Patrick Meehan, Evert Meyer, Craig Padman, Leonard Smith, Steve Shale, Danny Vinkl and Stu Watson. We have been most fortunate to have Australian Finn Olympians sail with the Squadron fleet —Brendan Casey (2012), Jake Lilley (2016 and 2020) and, more recently, the current Australian Finn Champion, Rafael (‘Rafa’) Trujillo. Rafa is a four-time Olympian, Silver medalist in Athens (2004), winner of the Finn Gold Cup and Finn World Masters, and he coached ILCA Gold medalist Matt Wearn in Paris (2024). Together with RQYS, the International Finn Association of Australia submitted a bid to hold the 2026 Finn Gold Cup (World Championship) and the Finn World Masters. Our bid was successful, and the events during 7–27 February 2026 will open with the Australian Championships, then the Finn Gold Cup, concluding with the Finn World Masters — all hosted by the Squadron at Manly. Mainsheet 2024 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook 74 Finns’ flood tide
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