Most dramatic Finn Gold Cup ever

The 2025 Finn Gold Cup (aka World Championship) has attracted a fleet of 88 Finn sailors from 20 nations for the racing on September 2-6 in Cascais, Portugal. The Class returns to this popular resort town after an 18-year absence, but it is the 1970 Finn Gold Cup in Cascais that stands out in the class history

This was not only the largest Finn Gold Cup ever, with 160 entries from 37 nations, but also for the Brazilian legend Jörg Bruder winning the first of his three world titles, a record that remained until Britain’s Ben Ainslie matched his record in 2004, (in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, of all places), and then beat it in Moscow in 2005.

After twice finishing as runner up, the 37-year-old Bruder feared that 1970 might be his last Gold Cup because of leg injuries. In the last race, Bruder had to finish fifth or better in order to win the Cup, no matter what Henry Sprague, from the USA, did.

At the start, Sprague used every match-race tactic he could in the huge fleet, trying to hold Bruder back, and even luffed the Brazilian into the spectator fleet. But on the last beat, Bruder was again leading. Sprague went up what he thought was the wrong side, but it turned out to be the right one.

Then Sprague started a tacking duel until Bruder’s rudder pintle broke. Bruder was famous for his strength and determination, and despite the breakage, he lifted his centerboard to take some pressure off the rudder and held the tiller with his bare hands coming up to the finish line.

Sprague crossed the finish line in fourth and only could watch as the crippled Bruder finished seconds ahead of two boats who had both overstood the line and were on a screaming reach. It was the most dramatic win of any Finn Gold Cup.

Bruder defended his win the following year in Toronto, Canada, and again in 1972 in Anzio, Italy. Tragically, he was killed in 1973 in an air crash on the way to Brest in France to defend his title for the third time, so remained unbeaten forever.

To honor their sailing hero, the Brazilian Olympic Committee presented the Finn Class with the Jörg Bruder Finn Silver Cup, which is today awarded to the best U29 sailor taking part in the Finn Gold Cup.