Finn World Masters
Brendan Casey, from Australia, has become the first Australian ever to win the Finn World Masters. Two more races were sailed Friday at the Porsche Centre Brisbane 2026 Finn World Masters at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia. In a very tight finish, Spain’s Rafa Trujillo nearly caught Casey, with New Zealand’s Karl Purdie in third.
The event attracted 107 Finns from 16 countries and followed on from the Australian Nationals and the Finn Gold Cup for three weeks of Finn sailing on Moreton Bay.
Two races were scheduled to catch up the lost races on Thursday, with a forecast on the wind limit. The day was won by Australia’s Rob McMillan who nearly won both races. In Race 6, sailed in 15-16 knots he led all the way, to win from Italy’s Marko Kolic and Casey. Trujillo crossed in sixth to keep the challenge alive.
Going into the final race and Trujillo did all he could to take Casey down the fleet as he had the worse discard. While the race started in 16 knots, it soon turned into survival with a 27 knots squall passing over.
McMillan had the early lead from Australia Anthony Nossiter and Britain’s Nick Craig, but misjudged the changing tide on the final round to let Nossiter through for the win, with Craig second.
Trujillo was in control of Casey at the top mark, with both boats in the late 30s, enough for the Spaniard to win. Trujillo took him into the spectator fleet at the top, but Casey dived low, took the inside at the spreader mark and had some breathing space to build a gap by the gate.
Trujillo reeled in Casey on the final downwind, to finish one place behind, but Casey had moved up to 11th, just enough to win the title by one point. It was a very close finish to a very exciting and challenging series.
Trujillo said, “I tried with all my power to bring down Brendan Casey. In the first race my plan was, because we don’t know if we are going to have a second race because of the weather, just try to ensure that I will start the second race leading. I managed to bring him to the left line. Over near Green Island, we touched the bottom. My centerboard is damaged when I hit a couple of rocks.
“And we ended and come back to the top mark reaching, hoisting the high heel in the boat for being able to go up the sand rocks to go back to the top mark. Brendan managed to escape from me in the downwind twice. And he just made enough points in the first race to extend the lead.
“In the second race the plan was to beat him a little bit harder in the start and push him back. I managed to do that. The plan worked and I think we rounded 38th, but he escaped in the beginning of the downwind of me again and in the bottom mark he was already world champion.
“I’m not sure what else I could to do to be world champion, but I’m pretty, proud of this second and congratulations to Brendan Casey because it was untouchable from the middle day of the Finn Gold Cup. He was the best sailor in this water, and an amazing performance.”
Casey said, “It’s been an amazing month of sailing, but this week we had the Masters, and I’ve had a great battle for this title with Rafa, who sailed exceptionally well in conditions that probably aren’t his. And then today we had a real ding-dong battle match race to decide the title.
“When I crossed the line I actually thought Rafa was the victor and I was actually happy that he would have won because he’s put in the effort, we’ve put in the effort and we’ve really risen the bar here at RQ for everyone.
“Everyone’s improved, everyone’s gotten healthier and everyone’s friendships have been magic to be a part of.”
It has been a long three weeks in Brisbane and there are many broken bodies heading home. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron had been the perfect host, with its vast team of volunteers and staff, as well as the local Finn sailors making a huge effort to make the three events come together and work so successfully and seamlessly.
More photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720332267159
Final results after 7 races
1 AUS 11 Brendan Casey 19
2 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo 20
3 NZL 111 Karl Purdie 28
4 GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin 35
5 POR 21 Filipe Silva 39
6 AUS 221 Anthony Nossiter 44
7 GBR 790 Nick Craig 53
8 ITA 40 Marko Kolic 54
9 AUS 98 Lucas Prescott 58
10 NED 148 Peter Peet 60
Super Legend
1 AUS 8 Dirk Seret
2 USA 975 August Miller
Legend
1 USA 2 R. Phillip Ramming
2 NZL 9 Rob Coutts
3 NZL 19 Denis Mowbray
Great Grand Master
1 NZL 111 Karl Purdie
2 GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin
3 NED 148 Peter Peet
Grand Master
1 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo
2 AUS 221 Anthony Nossiter
3 GBR 790 Nick Craig
Masters
1 AUS 11 Brendan Casey
2 POR 21 Filipe Silva
3 ITA 40 Marko Kolic
Crutch (11th) GER 501 Fabian Lemmel
Club Trophy: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Nations Cup: Australia
Classic Boat: AUD 45 Kerry Spencer
Godet Trophy: Stuart Watson
Full results: https://results.rqys.com.au/RQRegatta/Finn_Worlds/?page=results
