Dan Slater Wins United States National Finn Championships

by Zoe Hawkins

Kiwi Dan Slater has become US National Champion in the Finn class, after winning three races out of a possible eight in the championship event held from 17-19 October in San Francisco.

Slater, who placed twelfth in the Finn class at Qindao, and was second in the World Championships in Melbourne last January, was racing a borrowed boat and finished ahead of the Olympic Silver medallist from Qingdao, Zach Railey.

33 boats were entered. Dan finished on 14 points, one point ahead of second place getter, Canadian Richard Clarke, and six points ahead of Railey.

“For me this was a great chance to do some Finn racing again, and Zach Railey and Richard Clark made the competition really tough,” says Dan.

“Over the three days we had 8-18 knots. Racing was really close and although the three of us dominated the racing, it was mixed up in a few races as well.”

Racing was held from 17-19 October by the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco and Dan has now returned to New Zealand to compete in his trimaran, Line 7 Marine, in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic yacht race.