OK Girls and Boys
by Karen Robertson 3 Jan 2018 08:29 GMT
3 January 2018
OK Dinghy European Championship practice race © Robert Deaves
With the noticeable increase in female and youth sailors in the resurgent continental and antipodean OK fleets, the British OK Association is keen to emulate that growth and encourage more ladies and youths into sampling the delights of this truly international class.
The class association is therefore delighted to be able to announce that it is making the class demo boat available for the 2018 National Championships at Brixham (16-19 Aug) with the entry fee paid for either a lady or a youth who does not currently sail an OK but who is interested in joining the class.
All that is needed to be considered is to email the class secretary, Mary Reddyhoff at with a short introduction about yourself and why you think you are the best applicant to receive the free entry and use of the demo boat at the 2018 Nationals. The Association committee will decide from the applicants who they believe is the most worthy and that best fits the class's objectives.
With a competitive weight range from 70kg to 100kg the modern OK offers a refined and highly developed sailing experience with the opportunity of sailing at highly competitive and highly sociable events in the UK, continental Europe and around the world every year. While it is very much sailing in the style of it's bigger sibling the Finn, the OK is significantly lighter, doesn't need Olympian strength to handle both on and off the water and it is this that makes it a potential option for the taller lady or youth sailor. With its deep cockpit giving a comfortable sailing position both upwind and down, freedom of control systems layout to suit every physique it is a boat that is rewarding and continually challenging to sail with class rules that promote skill rather than strength on the downwind legs.
The class demo boat which is currently being kept at Rutland SC until mid-march can also be tried out before the Nationals by any sailor interested in the OK by contacting the Dave Bourne at and it may be available for other events in the UK calendar.