OK Dinghies: 'Not the Worlds' to be sailed in Auckland this August

Dan Slater directing traffic at the wing mark - Day 4 - 2019 Symonite OK Worlds - February 2019, Wakatere Boating Club © Richard Gladwell

Given world events, the regatta calendar for 2020 has certainly had some changes to the point of being completely upended.

Currently New Zealand is like the Land that Time Forgot, with the country running akin to a gated community, with the borders closed, and within that fortress life is as near-normal as possible.

Major new sports events are underway, playing to full stadiums - when similar events could draw only a handful of spectators pre-COVID.

Maja Hanson-Mild (SWE) and Andrew Thyrd (AUS) - Day 2- 2019 Symonite OK World Championship, Wakatere BC - February 11, 2019 - photo © Richard Gladwell

Obviously the America's Cup overshadows all sailing activities for the coming summer in Auckland, but the grass-roots sailors are getting back into gear with club sailing. With the international sailing calendar in a state of flux, it would seem that it is up to local sailors to build up their own national competitions and regattas, and while they hurry up and wait for the world scene to settle.

The OK Dinghy is New Zealand's oldest established international classes, with a record of sailors competing in Europe and Australian going back into the mid-1960's.

So it should not be a surprise that the class has come up with a replacement for the 2020 World Championships

The "Not the Worlds" is a special event as a replacement for the NZ sailors who were to be competing in Marstrand, Sweden at the 2020 OK World Championships, unfortunately postponed due to COVID-19.

Wing Mark chaos - Day 2 - 2019 Symonite OK World Championship, Wakatere BC - February 11, 2019 - photo © Richard Gladwell

This regatta, at the Wakatere Boating Club, is open to all boats of the OK Dinghy Class whose owners are current financial members of the NZ OK Dinghy Association and are members of a yacht club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand.

Wakatere was the venue for the 2019 World Championships with over 50 sailors competing from New Zealand in the 111 strong fleet. New Zealanders took nine of the top 12 places overall - and the 2020 "Not the Worlds" will be keenly contested.

Racing will be held on the weekend of 22nd - 23rd August 2020

The event is part of the NZOKDA tour. Points to count for the series.

For more information click here.

Auckland's North Shore is renowned for its sea-breezes - Symonite OK Worlds, Wakatere BC - February - photo © Richard Gladwell

Over 50 sailors competed as part of the Kiwi team at the Symonite OK Worlds, Wakatere BC - February - photo © Richard Gladwell