OK Dinghy World Championship at Black Rock Yacht Club

OK Dinghy World Championship at Black Rock Yacht Club - Overall

by Robert Deaves, OKDIA 4 Jan 2015 12:36 GMT 28 December 2014 - 4 January 2015

Racing on the final day of the OK Worlds © Alex McKinnon

Matt Stechmann secures title after classic Black Rock day

After a week of uncooperative weather at Black Rock, Australia, the OK Dinghy World Championship wrapped up in perfect Port Phillip conditions. Matt Stechmann (NZL) did just enough to take the title by one point from Luke O'Connell (NZL), who won a three way points tie with defending champion, Roger Blasse (AUS), who took third overall, and Greg Wilcox (NZL) in fourth.

Going into the final day, the fleet needed two more races to get in a valid series, so there was audible relief as the sailors arrived on Sunday morning to a sailable 15-20 knots on the bay. The day started damp and grey, following the overnight storm and rain, but by the second race the sky was clear and the sea breeze was pumping. The strong winds of Saturday had also left a large confused sea behind, but this soon moderated along with the wind.

The first race of the day, race four went to Mike Williams (AUS). He said "It was about 15 knots, so a nice breeze. I got off the line cleanly and just had a good lane and got around the top mark just behind Ben Morrison (NZL). I got through him at the gybe mark and was able to keep the group just behind me, but they were so close to me the whole time, it was a bit nerve racking.

"When the wind started dropping out half way through the race I was a bit concerned the lighter guys might come through. Matt Stechmann (NZL) and Matt Coutts (NZL) got into their own little tacking dual, that was before Matt Coutts knew he was BFD, so that let me sail away a little bit from them." Coutts was one of eight sailors black flagged at the start, which somewhat hindered his chances of the title. Williams led across the line from Morrison and Greg Wilcox (NZL).

By the time the second race started the dropping wind had been reinforced by a growing sea breeze. The sailors were able to stretch their legs and enjoy the conditions and the sunshine to the full. The main battle was between Stechmann and Luke O'Connell (NZL) for the title, though it was so close it could have gone any of five ways.

After a week of drama and waiting, the event then had a poetic ending. Black Rock YC Commodore, Andre Blasse (AUS), had spent the previous two years organising this championship, and dominated the final race to win by a massive margin. It was a very popular win. He said, "It was good fun for me. I came off the start line near the starboard end, tacked, ducked a couple of boats and got the first shift and just went up the middle. I was first to the top mark and thought I was pretty quick downwind and got away. It's beautiful having nice clear air out the front" He took a huge win from Wilcox and Morrison.

Andre Blasse leads race 5 at the OK Worlds - photo © Lara Blasse

However the real drama was playing out behind them as Stechmann tried to stay in touch with O'Connell.Eventually Stechmann crossed in 10th with O'Connell in eighth, to give Stechmann his first ever OK Dinghy World title. O'Connell took the silver while the defending champion Roger Blasse (AUS), from the home club, took the bronze.

Blasse continued. "It was perfect Black Rock conditions with fantastic waves. I wish we'd had a little bit more of that during the regatta, but unfortunately we didn't. It's a shame for the overseas competitors but at least they got to see what it can be like. The race committee did a great job in difficult conditions all week."

"After two years work it's fantastic for me to finish the week with a race win. I have won a couple of races before but not for a while, so it's nice to do that at home, after all the work."

The visitors to Black Rock have learned a lot about Australian weather this week. Most came expecting the nice sea breezes that makes sailing in Port Phillip famous. But it was not too be. Of the six days, three were lost through strong westerlies and northerlies and a further race was lost when the wind went away. The 77 sailors feel very fortunate that they were able to complete their championship on the final day.

Stechmann's win also completed the hat-trick of Kiwis winning the OK Dinghy World Championship at Black Rock YC after Rick Dodson (NZL) in 1982 and Leith Armit (NZL) in 1990. In fact, no Australian has yet won the title when it has been held at Black Rock.

Roger Blasse (AUS), Matt Stechmann (NZL) and Luke O'Connell (NZL) at the OK Worlds - photo © Robert Deaves

On his chances today, Stechmann said, "I was quite confident that I could perform good enough today to give myself a chance. But whether I woke up this morning thinking today I would win the worlds, probably not.But I was confident I could put in a good display and let it all unfold."

"The first race went incredibly well and I got a good start just up from the pin and managed to get over the little bunch to leeward of me which really gave me the leverage to sail the way I wanted. I could sail low and quick to the left hand corner and we got a shift which popped us up into a nice lead with a few other boats. Though Greg and Luke still had good races, that really set me up to hold all the cards for the final race."

"I always knew I had the biggest drop, so my game plan for the final race was just to stay close to Luke and shadow him round the track and see how the cards fell. There are so many good guys out there, you just had to sail your own race but Luke and I pushed each other hard to be in the top bunch, and on the line there was just one boat between us, and that was enough to give me the one point lead."

"I am absolutely over the moon to be honest. My goal for this regatta was top five, I thought that would be a good effort here and just to really focus for 2016 worlds in 18 months times. I am just stoked about this."

"I am absolutely thrilled for Luke. We work together and we're pretty tight. We do a lot of training together. His day day will come but I am absolutely rapt that if I had to go toe to toe with someone it would be Luke. Could we have planned it any better? Probably not."

Silver medalist O'Connell paid tribute to Stechmann, "It was a great week. Very challenging conditions, very difficult for the race officer and the competitors, varied conditions and as always great fun. I am thrilled with second place. Thrilled to get my first tie and thrilled to finish second to such a great bloke. I am well happy with the result and Matt is definitely the deserving winner."

Roger Blasse took the bronze. He said, "I think of course the weather could have been better, but I am happy about the guys who won. They have done a lot of work in the last few years with their boats and their sailing, so that's really good. I am happy with third as I don't think I sailed well enough at times, because it was such a short regatta. At times I had a couple of bad first works, so I couldn't get round the top mark how I liked, but that's just sailing sometimes. It doesn't always go your way. So I was a bit surprised to end up third. It was a good week, just a shame we didn't get better weather."

In accepting his winners' prize Stechmann said, "In the circumstances I think the race team have done a fantastic job. I never came here expecting to win this contest. One of my goals coming here was to win a race just to prove I could, because I don't win many, in fact I have never won an OK regatta before. I could stand here all night and thank people who have had an impact on my sailing career."

Prizewinners at the 2015 OK Worlds - photo © Robert Deaves

He thanked his New Zealand team mates. "Any one of those guys could win this event, and they will. There's some good men there. They all have a piece of this. It's not just about me winning this. It's a team thing. We share info and have come a long way in a short time. We do some great yachting and have great camaraderie. I wouldn't be standing here tonight if it wasn't for you, so thank you."

"It's been a wonderful event, not just because I won, but to be here with all my friends from around the world. Every year we all get together and have a great time. It's what it's really all about. This is a really massive moment in my life and I am really pleased to be able to share it with all of you."

Overall Results: (five races, 1 discard)

Pos	Helm	Sail No	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	STECHMANN Matt	NZL549	Naval Point Club	1	5	‑11	2	10	18
2	O'CONNELL Luke	NZL546	Worser Bay BC	‑8	6	1	4	8	19
3	BLASSE Roger	AUS749	BRYC	‑11	2	6	8	3	19
4	WILCOX Greg	NZL544	Potsdamer Seglerverien	3	‑12	7	5	4	19
5	WILLIAMS Michael	AUS730	BRYC	6	8	‑21	1	6	21
6	COUTTS Matt	NZL519	Auckland SC	4	7	5	‑78	9	25
7	MORRISON Ben	NZL530	Wakatere BC	27	3	‑56	3	2	35
8	SVENDSEN Jorgen	DEN1445	Hellerup Sejlklub	2	14	‑78	9	12	37
9	SKELTON Mark	AUS753		7	‑19	3	14	14	38
10	JACKSON Mark	AUS735	BRYC	9	16	8	‑24	7	40
11	BLASSE Andre	AUS729	BRYC	17	18	‑19	6	1	42
12	OLESEN Christian	DEN1340	VSK	14	17	2	10	‑78	43
13	DOUGLAS Bradley	NZL369	Wakatere BC	12	20	‑22	7	5	44
14	COLLINGS Glenn	AUS535	Safety Beach SC	5	10	‑30	12	22	49
15	NOSSITER Anthony	AUS765	MHYC	22	1	17	‑78	13	53
16	DAVIES Tim	AUS739	Wangi ASC	10	24	‑54	11	15	60
17	PERROW Mark	NZL551	Waiuku YC	15	11	‑34	27	11	64
18	MCMILLAN Robert	AUS766	WSC/RPAYC	20	4	20	21	‑33	65
19	DEAVES Alistair	NZL542	Wakatere BC	29	‑37	10	13	16	68
20	HOOGENBOOM David	NZL303	Waiuku Yacht Club	26	‑34	9	19	25	79
21	CLOUGH Jonathan	NZL498	Wakatere BC	21	38	4	‑78	20	83
22	MILNE Peter	AUS694	BRYC	13	13	38	‑78	19	83
23	DEAVES Robert	GBR2156	Waldringfield SC	‑41	33	14	15	29	91
24	HORNE Peter	AUS764	Drummoyne SC	25	29	‑37	23	17	94
25	RHODES Paul	NZL557	Worser Bay BC	23	23	‑43	20	28	94
26	WILLIAMS Brent	AUS754	ASC	24	26	24	‑78	21	95
27	MCDOWELL Steve	NZL545	Worser Bay BC	28	‑31	25	26	18	97
28	BOURNE Dave	GBR2157	Upriver YC	34	27	15	22	‑46	98
29	BUSH Daniel	NZL478	Wakatere BC	‑50	9	35	31	26	101
30	RONE Eric	USA536	Wakatere BC	16	42	‑78	16	32	106
31	WELLS Gareth	AUS742	Wangi ASC	18	28	‑59	25	38	109
32	ROBINSON Peter	AUS750	Drummoyne SC	‑42	41	31	17	24	113
33	JANSSEN Folkert	AUS733	BRYC	‑65	25	32	35	27	119
34	ASHTON Bruce	AUS728	BRYC	19	‑78	16	40	47	122
35	O'DONNELL Edward	AUS734	Wangi ASC	32	15	40	37	‑78	124
36	PEDERSEN Malte	DEN1407	Royal Danish YC	57	40	12	18	‑78	127
37	COULTHARD Adrian	NZL531	Napier Sailing Club	31	‑55	29	28	39	127
38	FENWICK Chris	NZL509	Napier SC	30	‑54	28	43	30	131
39	MANNERING Adrian	NZL504	Napier SC	36	35	‑49	32	34	137
40	KETTERIDGE David	AUS725	Adelaide SC	33	46	18	42	‑51	139
41	BAKER Andrew	AUS761	BRYC	44	‑49	23	33	45	145
42	POSPIECH Rainer	GER765	Yachtclub Berlin‑Grunau	35	‑44	41	29	40	145
43	LOKUM Gary	AUS741	BRYC	‑60	32	46	44	31	153
44	WILLIAMS Glenn	AUS719	Big River SC	47	22	‑52	49	36	154
45	DAME Dirk	GER750	Segler‑Vereinigung Mannheim	37	58	33	34	‑78	162
46	HENGST Rob	NZL533	Napier SC	‑48	39	47	41	42	169
47	SYLVESTER Jorg	GER726	Segeberger Segel‑Club	39	‑63	50	36	48	173
48	FOEST Ronald	GER688	DRS	55	‑68	13	56	59	183
49	VISICK Christopher	AUS758	BRYC	45	47	‑64	39	52	183
50	ROBERTS Mark	AUS762	ASC	54	‑78	78	30	23	185
51	WILLIAMS Elizabeth	AUS759	Sandgate YC /BRYC	40	‑78	26	57	62	185
52	WALDRON Gavin	GBR756	Morecambe SC	43	‑53	44	48	50	185
53	PIKE Martin	NZL554	Napier SC	‑63	50	42	59	37	188
54	HAINES Samuel	AUS708	BRYC	59	43	48	‑78	43	193
55	WAKEFIELD Grant	AUS736	DSC	38	‑61	58	46	55	197
56	LYNCH Peter	AUS726	Wangi ASC	56	30	‑78	78	35	199
57	GERICKE Dirk	GER735	SG Einheit Brandenburg e.V.	61	59	27	‑62	53	200
58	DEVINE Chris	NZL548	Napier SC	‑67	36	62	58	44	200
59	POWRIE Sefton	NZL547	Wakatere BC	49	‑56	55	47	49	200
60	HALL Chris	AUS757	Ballarat YC	46	48	‑57	55	56	205
61	WILSON Mitchell	AUS695	Wangi ASC	53	64	39	52	‑67	208
62	SMITH Tim	AUS740	BRYC	‑70	52	61	54	41	208
63	BROCKHUUS Mads	DEN1419	Skaelskor Amator Sejlklub	58	‑60	53	50	54	215
64	PARKINSON Ashley	GBR711	London Corinthian SC	74	‑78	36	45	65	220
65	TROLAND Nils	DEN1391	HSS	52	45	45	‑78	78	220
66	HORVATH Michael	AUS744	BRYC	62	21	63	‑78	78	224
67	FURNEAUX Richard	AUS737	BRYC	66	57	67	38	‑78	228
68	YATES Glenn	AUS767	Wangi ASC	‑64	62	51	53	64	230
69	FERGUSSON Ron	AUS618	Albert SC	51	66	66	60	‑68	243
70	WILLIAMSON Neil	USA678		68	‑78	71	51	60	250
71	THOMPSON Erik	AUS706	Sandgate YC / BRYC	‑72	67	60	66	57	250
72	CROMIE Luke	AUS672	BRYC	‑73	65	73	63	58	259
73	WALKER Michael	AUS655	Drummoyne SC	71	‑78	68	61	61	261
74	MOORE Stephen	AUS755	BRYC	69	51	65	‑78	78	263
75	HENDERSON John	AUS715	BRYC	‑76	69	72	64	63	268
76	USTOVYTSKI Slava	AUS760	BRYC	77	‑78	69	67	66	279
77	FLAVELL Mike	AUS543	BRYC	75	70	70	65	‑78	280