Fintan Hartnett
father, husband & sailor
 

Sailing in and around Africa and other equally challenged parts of the globe, Fintan (Fin) Hartnett is keenly aware of the effects of drought, income inequality and war.  He has seen first-hand the toll housing affordability and availability can have on a country.  He doesn’t take the privilege of being a Canadian lightly and feels Canadians have a duty to lead the charge in making the world a better a place.  For Fin it starts at home, navigating Canada to a better understanding of the climate crisis and choosing to sail Green.

Fin grew up in Caledon, Ontario in a farming community.  He began working at 15 as a dishwasher in a local restaurant; he's worked in landscaping, construction, the junk business and property management.  He's lived and worked in Colorado, Calgary, Ireland, the UK and in Europe.  In his early thirties he decided he wasn't cut out for an office job and took off to South Africa, where he studied to become a Yachtmaster.  He hasn't looked back and feels fortunate to have been able to pursue his passion for a living. His professional sailing career has taken him around the world.  As a result he met his wife, Pinky, in Cape Town, South Africa and they now have three boys.

In 2015, Fin brought his young family to Canada, wanting to give them the same opportunities and experiences he had growing up in the best country in the world.  They chose to settle in Kingston, where Fin is proud to own and operate a maritime training center at the Kingston Yacht Club.  Topmast has been a labour of love, but like anyone who owns a small business in Canada, he is keenly aware of the struggles entrepreneurs face. The devoted father of three boys, Fin is a professional sailor who sails small boats on big oceans and, as a result, has a deep respect for the natural world.

Few understand the dangers of climate uncertainty like ocean-going mariners.  Sailors depend on reliable meteorological data to stay alive.  Weather is an occupational hazard for blue-ocean sailors, and Fin’s experiences and research have left him with no doubt that mankind is responsible for the current climate crisis, and mankind needs to make things right before it is too late for his kids to enjoy all the beauty this planet has to offer.

Accredited as an MCA Master of Yachts (200gt) and as a Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Instructor, Fin also holds a BA from the University of Toronto and an MA from University College Dublin.  When he's not sailing in far-flung places he can be found in his workshop building furniture or on the sidelines watching his sons play sports.