So why have the Squadron Finns shown such dramatic growth? In essence, the answer is a philosophy developed by Phil Chadwick and David Bull that sailing needs to be 80% social and 20% sailing. The social needs to be inclusive of partners, kids, grandparents — anyone associated with the sailor! — to help create a fun environment of which everyone wants to be a part. Case in point: the Finn tent and table in the shade of a few trees next to the rigging area provide relief from the sun and a great place for a beer after sailing before moving to the Club for dinner! Not to be outdone by the Brisbane Etchells, a ‘Sail-a-Finn Day’ was held on Saturday 24 August, with superb weather on Waterloo Bay making for a picture- perfect introduction to the class for almost a dozen new participants. Our thanks to the Volunteers and skippers who generously gave of their time and boats to support this “Finnitiative”! Sailing needs to be friendly, inclusive and an open-sharing environment where everybody learns from each other and encourages improvement as a group, with the hope one of us will succeed internationally one day. This has worked a treat, with numbers swelling year-on-year and successes starting to build, with Lucas Prescott finishing seventh at the Finn World Masters in Iraklitsa, Greece and third in his age group and Rafa is already doubling-down on fitness preparation for 2026 — he will surely be hard to beat! — and now we just need more female sailors in our Squadron Finn fleet! 75 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2024 Finns’ flood tide
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