World Number 3 - Finn Lynch

The Irish Sailing Team doesn’t normally pay much attention to world rankings, preferring to focus on peak events where athletes have funding or qualification opportunities. However, we definitely thought that Finn Lynch’s ranking of second in the world was worth a shout out !

Finn’s superb results in the past twelve months were reflected in the newly published World Sailing rankings where he placed second in the world this summer (now third). This is the highest ever ranking for a male Irish Laser sailor. The rankings are due to his silver medal at the ILCA7 World Championships in Barcelona last November 2021, his 4th place at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma in April this year, and his 6th place at the 2022 ILCA 7 Men's World Championship in Mexico in May.

His coach Vasilij Zbogar said

“Of course we are happy. He is one of the most consistent sailors in the fleet so that’s why he’s up there. It’s not easy to be up there in the Laser, so we’re happy. [It’s] definitely good for the morale of the team and for Finn’s morale. We have important events in front of us – this year the Europeans, and next year the Qualifiers (for Paris 2024), so this world ranking just gives us a confirmation that we’re doing well and we’re on a good road”.

Finn Lynch added “we don’t look at the world rankings much but because it was such a strange season last year I knew I was sailing well. After the world rankings came out it was a confirmation and that was a big confidence boost”.