Fintan Hartnett

Fin grew up in Caledon, Ontario, in a farming community. He started working at the age of 15 as a dishwasher in a local restaurant, and over the years, he has worked in landscaping, construction, the junk business, and property management. He has lived and worked in Colorado, Calgary, Ireland, the UK, and across Europe. In his early thirties, Fin realized that he wasn’t suited for an office job, so he moved to South Africa, where he studied to become a Yachtmaster. Since then, he has never looked back, feeling fortunate to have been able to pursue his passion as a career. His professional sailing career has taken him around the world, and it was during this time that he met his wife, Pinky, in Cape Town, South Africa. They now have three boys together.

In 2015, Fin moved his young family to Canada, wanting to provide them with the same opportunities and experiences he had growing up in what he believes is 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 labor of love, but like many small business owners in Canada, Fin is keenly aware of the struggles entrepreneurs face. A devoted father of three boys, Fin is a professional sailor who sails small boats on vast oceans, which has instilled in him 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. He believes it is imperative that we make things right before it is too late for his children to enjoy 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.