ISAF : Finian MAYNARD (IVB)

Finian MAYNARD (IVB)

Finian MAYNARD became sailing’s fastest man on water when he broke the 500 metre course record in November 2004 sailing on The Canal or the 'French Trench' near Saintes Maries de la Mer in France with an official speed of 46.82 knots. Breaking the record, which had been set by the innovative asymmetric trimaran Yellow Pages in 1993, and bringing it back to windsurfing was not enough for Finian and he continued to chase his dream.

In April, the conditions on The Canal were perfect and he broke his own record by nearly two knots recording a speed of 48.70 knots, tantalizingly close to that elusive 50 knot barrier. It took almost two years of preparation from when Finian and the Masters of Speed team began the rebuild of The Canal to make it the perfect venue for speed sailing record attempts and there is little doubt that Finian will be back on the 'French Trench' and the 50 knot barrier will tumble.

Finian’s talents are not restricted to speed sailing and he is a regular competitor on the Formula and Slalom circuits and, proving his skill, he took the European championship title in July with a race to spare.

Achivements of Finian Maynard

WR - 48.70 knots - WSSRC 500m course record, outright and 10sqM, April 2005
WR - 46.82 knots - WSSRC 500m course record, outright and 10sqM, November 2004
1st - IFCA Slalom European Championship, June 2005
3rd - IFCA Slalom World Championship, July 2005
3rd - ISA Speedsurfing Grand Prix, July 2005

Name:	Finian MAYNARD (IVB)
Place of Birth:	Dublin, Ireland
Date of Birth:	27355
Profession:	Pro Windsurfer
ISAF Sailor ID:	1
Website:	www.mastersofspeed.com
What inspired you to take up sailing?	Living with my parents on a boat for several years as a kid and the constant Caribbean trade winds.
What was the first boat you sailed?	A Morgan 51 as phantom captain at age 7 followed by a windsurfer tied to the back of that boat at age 8
How did you buy your first boat and what was it?	I collected garbage in my 6 dinghy for $2 a bag from the charter boats in my home bay after school and I saved enough money to buy a Tiga Funcup and 5.4m2 complete race rig. I was over the moon.
Name your first sailing club:	Trellis Bay Yacht Club, it was not official but it was for my friends and I. The official location was called the BVI Yacht Club
What was the first event you competed in?	Johnnie Walker HIHO in 1986
What was the first event you won?	Stroh's Beer Caribbean Championships men's division in 1989
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	Two-time WSSRC Outright World Speed Sailing record holder (46.82 knots in November 2004 and 48.70 knots in April 2005)
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	Three time WSSRC 10sqM Class Speed Sailing record holder
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	Four time Windsurfing Speed Sailing World Champion (1998-2001)
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	Caribbean Men's Racing Champion at age 14
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	3rd Windsfurfing Slalom World Championships in Fuerteventura, Spain (July 2005)
What are you future sailing goals?	I would like to try and break 50 knots but hopefully without too many days in hospital! I am also very active on the world cup racing and speed circuits and I would like to try and win a few world titles.
What does sailing mean to you?	It means independence, a time to harness the power of nature. Without being on the water I don't know how I could stand being on land so often.
Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career and why?	Robby NAISH (USA), because he pulled me out of the BVI in 2003 and helped get me back on my feet when I was down after years of bad luck trying to put a world record attempt together.
Who is your sailing hero?	Well, there are many. I follow all aspects of sailing with keen interest but one person who impressed me was Bruno PEYRON (FRA) when we met in France last summer. What he does is as crazy as what I do and we both had a mutual respect even though we entertain significantly different challenges.
What other sports do you enjoy?	Weightlifting, basketball, hiking, track and field, rugby, American football, football, Hobie Cat sailing and cricket.
What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2005 mean to you?	Honestly, I am overwhelmed. To be nominated with such an array of talented and successful sailors is an honour and simply fantastic. Thank you ISAF and Rolex for recognizing my achievements.
If you were voted as the winner, what would this mean to you?	Everything.

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