Last updated: 06.07.2025
The premier yachting event in Finland in 2025 is the 8mR World Cup in Turku. The World Cup is a week-long event where 8 meter yachts from all over the world compete for the title(s) on the waters of Airisto, just south of Turku. This post is intended as an introduction and backgrounder on 8 meter yachts and the 2025 World Cup and will be updated with race info as we get closer to the event August 2-9, 2025.
8mR World Cup in Turku 2025, August 2-9, 2025
8mR World Cup Race info
For participants: Airisto wind conditions
I’ll add race info for the World Cup races here. First video is about the wind conditions that you can expect in the beginning of August. The race is help on Airisto, an open water area south of Turku. In Finnish Airisto is called a “selkä” and in Swedish “fjärd”. Neither word has a very good translation into English. They mean a “slightly more open area between islands” so the normally given translation “bay” or “waterfront” really do not mean the same. In any case, the video introduces Airisto and gives an overview of past wind data.
8 meter yacht introduction, background and race preparations
The 8 meter (8mR) yacht
The 8 meter yacht or should I say the 8 meter class is one of the so-called meter classes of yachts. Other well-know classes are for instance the 6 meter (6mR) and 12 meter (12mR) classes. All the meter classes are construction classes, which means that yacht designers are free to design the yachts as long as they follow the class rules.
The 8 meter class is governed by the International Eight Meter Association (IEMA). Therefore it is more than appropriate that the current secretary of the IEMA (read: humble term for the person who does most of the work) Murdoch McKillop and the chair of the IEMA Technical Committee (overseeing the rule) John Lammerts van Bueren introduce you to the 8 meter class and the 8mR World Cup.
History of 8mR yachts in Finland
The 2025 regatta center is the Ruissalo Shipyard, formerly the very famous boat yard Åbo Båtvarf. For instance the first “second rule” 8 meter yacht Naja was built at Åbo Båtvarf. So with this historic setting for the 2025 Would Cup, it feels appropriate to take a look back in time together with nautical historian Lauri Kaira.
Winning the 8mR World Cup
The World Cup is a very prestigious competition and all boats and crews that enter would definitely want to step up on the podium at the end of the regatta. But what does it really take to win? No one in Finland knows more about winning the World Cup than Harri Roschier, skipper and owner of the 8 meter yacht Luna. So let Harri tell you about his recipe for winning the cup!
Yachts and crews preparing for the 8mR World Cup
With Harri’s recommendations in mind, lets take a look at how 8 meter yachts are prepared for the World Cup. it is of course essential that the yacht conforms to the 8 meter rule. At the Finnish boat yard Red Sky Yachts, high tech such as laser scanning and 3d modelling is used to ensure that the yacht indeed follows the rule.
Following the rule is not enough to win, the boat also needs to be in top-notch condition. In Finland it is quite common that the owners and the sailing crew also do a big part of the yacht maintenance. Let’s check out what is on the to-do list for the 8 meter yacht Windy!
The boat (as in hull) is important, but the driving force are the sails. So next stop is at the leading Finnish sailmaker, WB Sails. Here WB Sails founder and CEO Mikko Brummer guides us on how 8 meter yacht sails (and modern sails in general) are designed and made.
Boats and sails do not win races, races are won by competent and motivated crews. So next, let’s meet skipper Ebba Stelander and team captain Bea Stelander of the Finnish 8 meter Ilderim. Ebba and Bea guide what is probably the youngest 8 meter crew in Finland. How do they and their team mates prepare for the World Cup?
Sponsoring the 8mR World Cup
Events such as the 8mR World Cup rely on a lot of voluntary work but they also need sponsors. The Finnish powerboat company Saxdor is a perhaps a bit surprising sponsor of the event. In this video, Saxdor’s CEO Erna Rusi talks about why Saxdor has signed up as a sponsor and gives general hints as to what companies are looking for when sponsoring.