Finn Class launches ranking system

As the Finn Class transitions into its post-Olympic life since Tokyo 2020, a new World Ranking platform has been launched with the ranking list including more than one thousand sailors from 37 nations.

Laurent Hay from France becomes the first Finn World #1 using the new platform, holding
a very small points margin over Filipe Silva from Portugal with The Netherlands’ Bas de Waal in third. Eleven nations are represented in the top 20.

This first list includes results from 58 events in 21 countries worldwide in the 12 months up to and including September 2022. A total of 1,054 sailors from 37 nations took part in at least one of these events, with 500 sailors taking part in three or more regattas. There were a total of over 2,000 individual race positions included on this first release.

The new Finn World Ranking list is part of the class’s longer term global event strategy that will be designed around inclusivity, cross border cooperation with calendars, and with a focus on supporting national associations across the world. It also provides the class with a unified platform to promote events, sponsors, and sailors.

The foremost objective of creating the new Finn World Ranking was that it should be accessible by the majority of Finn sailors worldwide. It had to be inclusive. The platform will also act as the first step towards regional and even Masters rankings in the coming year.

The intention for this first list was always to add as many names as possible to highlight the number of people sailing Finns at regattas worldwide. Over time the list will evolve and grow further, with each National association able to nominate events to include.

“In the coming months we will be searching for suitable partners to help us build the Finn World Ranking list to become a major part of the class’s marketing and media strategy,” said Rob McMillan (AUS), International Finn Association President. “The Finn offers both sailors and sponsors a unique opportunity within the sport of sailing.”

It is intended to release updates four times each year, roughly March, June, September, and December.

The Finn World Ranking list is based on each sailor’s best five events over a two year rolling system and aims to include results from as many events around the world as possible along with the major class championships. For a full explanation of the platform, click here.

To see Finn World Ranking 001 – October 2022 (top 20 from 1,054 sailors), click here.

Editor’s note: As the ranking system rewards accomplishments in bigger fleets and more prominent events, traveling to Europe may be needed for North American sailors to climb up the list. For the first release, the top ranked North American is Peter Frissell (USA) in #112th.