FINN HAWKINS: BRONZE, BRILLIANCE, AND A BREAKTHROUGH at the iQFOiL European Championships 2025.

British Sailing Team windsurfer Finn Hawkins delivered one of the standout performances of the 2025 iQFOiL European Championships, claiming a superb bronze medal — a result as hard-earned as it was richly deserved.

In this week's blog Finn spoke to The Official Test Centre and described how this event marked another big step forward in his development.

By Emma Maguire.

Finn Hawkins looking determined at The iQFoil Euro Champs.

Across a week of intense, physical, and tactically demanding racing, Hawkins showed the blend of athleticism, composure, and big-moment grit that has become his trademark. But it was the final race — the medal showdown — that truly captured the heart of his campaign.

Going into the start, Finn missed just a fraction of what he needed. It was the kind of moment that knocks many sailors out of the fight.

Not Finn.

In classic Hawkins fashion, he put his head down, powered into every gust, and pumped relentlessly around the entire course. The gap began to close — dramatically. Spectators watched the metres melt away as he clawed himself back into medal contention with a display of raw determination.

For a moment, it looked like the comeback might even carry him through into something more than bronze. But crossing the line as the new European Championship bronze medallist felt every bit as massive.

MASSIVE.

Finn is focused on a bright future!

Finn said:

“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved this week. It’s been a challenging but hugely rewarding event, and I feel like I’ve taken another big step forward in my development.

"In the medal race it’s about making the best split-second decisions you can whilst giving it your all physically. I was focused on pumping as much as I could to try and catch up after a bad start. For a moment I was close to maybe winning the event with a different decision, but I left it all out there and I’m very happy with the result and how I’ve been improving.”

This medal marks another significant milestone in the young Brit’s rise through the foiling ranks. With every event, he’s proving not just that he belongs among the world’s best — but that he’s pushing to become one of them.

Finn is pushing to the front of the pack!

If you want to start your windsurfing adventure with us, you could be rubbing shoulders with Team GB windsurfers, as they train at the same spot where our centre is located, call the centre on 07817 717904 and you could be having your windsurfing taster or 1:1 tuition and watching The British Sailing Team athletes as they take to the waters in Portland Harbour, the location for our centre The Official Test Centre.