FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Fairhope Yacht Club was host to the 2009 Finn North American Masters Championship, March 4-7.

Competitors from eight U.S. states, Denmark, Canada, Halifax and England competed in the regatta. The Finn, a 15-foot, heavyweight dinghy Olympic class boat, was first sailed in the Olympics in 1952 in Helsinki. In the past five years, the Gulf Coast Finn fleet has grown from just three boats to more than 40.

Local competitors included Lou Nady of Daphne, Fairhope Yacht Club; Michael Mark of Mobile, Buccaneer Yacht Club; Mark Caraher, of Fairhope, BYC; John Marshall of Mobile, BYC; Terry Greenfield of Mobile, BYC; Jim Hunter of Mobile, BYC; and Erik Schmitz of Fairhope, FYC.

Wind conditions for the four-day event were near perfect for this particular class of boat, averaging 13-15 knots each day.

Following eight races in four days, Darrell Peck, of Portland, Ore., with eight 1st-place finishes, repeated his win of last year. Rounding out the top five were Lou Nady, Scott Mason of Corona Del Mar, Calif., Michael Mark and Robert Kinney of Balboa, Calif., 2nd to 5th, respectively. Top competitor in the Vintage Boat category was won by Erik Schmitz.