Everything is loOKing up
by Robert Deaves, OKDIA 18 Oct 2018 18:11 BST
18 October 2017
Opening shot: Did we mention the Europeans in Bandol was just awesome? - OK Dinghy World Championship © Robert Deaves
For those of you who have been out there this year, it has been an incredibly successful season for the OK Dinghy.
120 boats took part in the World Championship in Warnemünde with André Budzien claiming his third world title in perhaps the tightest ever finish at a world championship. Then Fredrik Lööf won an amazing European Championship in Bandol in another very tight finish.
That 77 boats travelled to the Mediterranean says much about the current growth in the class. It will hopefully continue to pave the way for further growth in the region and most of those who took part can't wait to go back.
With the 2019 World Championship in New Zealand just around the corner, many are already preparing boats to pack in containers and do last minute training. If you haven't committed yet, we can say that the Kiwis are planning to lay on a fantastic event. All the advance planning looks awesome and it is going to be a great event.
Planning is also well underway for the 2019 European Championship during Kiel Week, so there is lots to look forward to in 2019.
Further afield, we are also looking for bids for the 2020 and 2021 European Championship and expect to have some news of potential venues before the AGM in February.
Upcoming dates:
- 2019 World Championship - Wakatere, NZL - Feb 7-16
- 2019 European Championship - Kiel, GER - June 22-25
- 2020 World Championship - Marstrand, SWE - Aug 7-17 (tbc)
- 2020 European Championship - TBA
- 2021 World Championship - Arco, Lake Garda, ITA - July 23-30
- 2021 European Championship - TBA
- 2022 World Championship - Lyme Regis, UK
- 2023 World Championship - Queensland, AUS
The 2019 OK Dinghy Calendar is now available, featuring some of the best images from the 2018 season. Order your copy here.
Preparations are in full swing for the 2019 World Championship at Wakatere Boating Club in Auckland. So far we have had 83 entries with a potential 20-30 more expected. Either way it is looking like being the largest ever international OK Dinghy championship outside Europe.
There is still time to arrange shipping with a potential container planned from Denmark still having spaces.
If you are planing to compete please get your entry in as soon as possible. The deadline is December 1 (amended from the original Notice of Race) before the late entry kicks in.
All information and entry form is at: 2019.okworlds.org
The 2019 OKDIA AGM will be held at Wakatere Boating Club on Monday 11 February at 18.00. According to the OKDIA Constitution all agenda items and proposals must be with the OKDIA Secretary by Monday 10 December. Any submissions relating to Class Rules changes must be submitted to the Chairman of the Technical Committee by Monday 12 November.
The next AGM won't be until August 2020 so unless it's urgent, there won't be any more rule changes until then.
Minutes of the 2018 AGM in Warnemünde can be seen here.
The next OKDIA World Ranking List will be published after the final event this year, the Belgium Autumn OK Regatta (27-28 October). There are 21 entries so far. More details here.
The next ranking list starts with Sail Melbourne, from 14-16 December, and finishes with the Turangi event in New Zealand in March.
In addition to the world title Andre Budzien also collected the German championship after an almost flawless series, winning from Tomasz Gaj and Greg Wilcox. 48 boats took part. Results here.
Anders Andersen won the Danish Championship at Marstal from Bo Petersen and Lars Andreson in very light and tricky conditions. 53 boats took park. Results here.
Tomasz Gaj won the Polish nationals from Pawel Pawlaczyk and Marek Benat at Gdansk. Results here.
43 boats turned up for the Dutch Championship on the Oostersee, but it was a German 1,2,3 with Andreas Pich taking the win from Wolfgang Höfener and Dirk Dame.
Results, report and lots of photos here
Julien Dejugnat won the Southern French Nationals on Lac de Lacanau from Alain Renoux and Tim Petetin. Results here.
Charlie Cumbley won the Ovington British National Championship in Brixham with straight wins from Dave Bourne and Fergus Barnham. Results and report here.
Strong winds played havoc with the Swedish championship at Träslövsläge with only three races sailed. Fredrik Lööf won from Thomas Hansson-Mild and Bo Petersen. Results here.