Max Salminen secures Opel Finn Gold Cup after intense Balaton Medal Race

Max Salminen, from Sweden, has secured his first Finn world title as the Opel Finn Gold Cup 2017 closes at Balatonfldvr with an extremely close and intense medal race.

Nicholas Heiner, from The Netherlands, took bronze after leading the race from start to finish, while Jonathan Lobert, from France, took the silver.

With a reasonable wind forecast, it was with some disappointment that the sailors arrived at a windless lake.

The top 10 were sent out for the medal race because of the easterly wind. It was the conditions the sailors had trained for.

Heiner took the lead on the first upwind and never relinquished it. It was obvious that he was especially keen to sail in light winds.

He had done all he could to get a medal. Now it was up to what happened behind him. He crossed in sixth place after pulling back on his legs.