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My rudder was from DEM Foils in the UK – strong, stiff and reliable.’ Up aloft Ed stuck resolutely to a combination that has served
him well; it’s his no-nonsense attitude to technology that you suspect is a key to his continuing success. He paired an HIT mast built in the Ceilidh Composite Technologies factory in the Netherlands with the ubiquitous North Finn sail. However, it wasn’t the latest new-tech sail that Wright opted for,
preferring a combination he knew well and trusted: ‘I use standard sails off the shelf and have also stuck with an older model where the others opt for the new ones. I have fewer panels, but it still allows me to control the leech how I want without adding unnec- essary seams. I have tried all the new models but didn’t find them better; and I didn’t measure in a windy sail in Miami as I was not expecting extreme sailing, going instead with two all-round designs. ‘I have always been more comfortable and fast with this set-up. I am quite physical in the boat,’ says the 45-year-old world champion,
In Miami Ed Wright had a ball and his enthusiasm for the class
is what shines through in an interview: ‘The Finn remains a fantastic boat. No other boat has the high physical demand around the course. ‘Downwind in the Finn is pure technique with the unlimited
pumping. In other boats it feels on the downwind like you are trying to jump while holding onto your shoelaces, whereas in the Finn you can manipulate the boat and sail hard to catch and ride that wave. When it’s done well it is simply awesome. ‘I loved every minute of the racing in Miami. The challenge of being
back at the top mark and having to chase those younger sailors down and squeak over the finish in front will never lose its thrill for me. It’s pure racing. Skill and technical awareness combined. Very rewarding. Super-close, tight racing. No one gives an inch.’ With two Gold Cups under his belt now, the temptation to go for
a third and etch his name even harder into Finn class folklore remains strong. Britain has done extremely well in the Gold Cup with Ben Ainslie securing it no fewer than six times and Giles Scott four, but to get a third would level Ed Wright with legendary sailors like Joerg Bruder, Willy Kuhweide and Lasse Hjortnaes. ‘As they say “never say never” but at the moment I am undecided
if I will be back in 2024 to defend my title. The Finn will always hold a special place in my heart and be my favourite boat to sail. Two Gold Cups is pretty special, and I am proud of my achievements in this class, but I might choose to end on a high note… I’ll keep you posted, but I am pretty competitive by nature! ‘Miami was challenging for some sailors with the limited boat
availability, so I expect the next Gold Cup in Italy to draw a record- breaking turnout. The Finn Gold Cup will for ever be a fabulous event for the class wherever it is held. A fabulous one to win too…’ Magnus Wheatley
NEW ZEALAND Business (busy) as usual With two AC40s on the water testing and match racing, their 2021 AC75 having modifications before relaunching and the final touches going into the design of their new weapon for the 2024 America’s Cup defence, it is busy times for Emirates Team New Zealand. The AC40s, one in one-design mode and the other in test-platform
British sailor Ed Wright enjoying the light Miami conditions as he dominates the 2023 Finn Gold Cup with wins in four of the eight races. This was Wright’s second Gold Cup victory, his first success was back in 2010 in the heavy airs and fast currents of San Francisco. He has also had five more podium finishes at the Gold Cup… In an alternative universe where Ben Ainslie is the world’s greatest tennis player, Wright would also no doubt have a nice gaggle of Olympic medals tucked away in his sock drawer
‘so I like a bit more power than most sailors to hike against.’ Staying in trim for elite-level Finn sailing is a tall order. Many
ex-Finn sailors suffer from lower back and knee issues, but Ed uses some impressive cross-training to stay match-fit. ‘I do a lot of cycling every week and my training programmes run on an annual basis. ‘My Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is just over 400 watts which
I try to maintain. The plan is to peak a couple of times a year, so I adjust it to line up with the Gold Cup. Thankfully after the Christmas holidays I also had a few weeks to really step up my fitness training.’ An FTP of 400 watts is impressive – not a million miles off the levels achieved by pro-cyclers in the UCI World Tour, so Wright’s physical capabilities enable him to still work the Finn at the max. However, for Miami it was all about learning the nuances of the
TT2 Finn in the run-up to the regatta: ‘Fortunately, I managed to get a good week’s training before the Gold Cup. It wasn’t new tricks but more learning how to maximise the TT2. The boat has its strengths and weaknesses. During this training block I was able to figure out how best to capitalise on its strengths going into the regatta. For example, in the light winds the TT2 intrinsically has better height but downwind I found I had to change my technique a lot to maximise performance.’
28 SEAHORSE
mode, have been engaging in some slick and spirited match race practice, doing repeated start sequences and mixing them up with short upwind sprints and occasional laps. On the day in question skipper Peter Burling and new recruit and former 49er rival Nathan Outteridge shared helming on one boat, while Liv Mackay, tipped as likely to skipper the women’s America’s Cup crew, teamed up with Olympic sailor Josh Junior to helm the other. Honours were reckoned to be about even between the two boats, with the test version showing glimpses of speed advantage at times. It became clear that while this team places huge reliance on its
simulator package, valuable insights and lessons are very much still being learned on the water. In a summer marred by a relentless parade of storms and a
devastating cyclone causing widespread flooding, deaths and destruction – recovery bills are expected to far exceed the Christchurch earthquake of 2011 – conditions have been less than ideal for sailing in New Zealand with many events cancelled. At the time of writing the Evolution Sails two-handed Round North Island Race is, however, under way with an impressive fleet of 35 yachts competing. However, vast amounts of storm debris, including massive logs washed far out to sea in the aftermath of the cyclone, may yet mean the yachts are unable to complete the 1,200nm circumnavigation of the North Island. They will complete the first two legs, up around the northern
capes and down the west coast to the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island. At that point a decision will be made whether it is safe to continue up the east coast, past the worst-affected areas of Hawke’s Bay and East Cape, or whether they will retrace their steps up the west coast back to Auckland. Inside the design rooms and construction bays of ETNZ weather
ROBERT DEAVES
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