OK National Championship at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Preview
by Paul Childs 7 Jun 2023 10:38 BST
10-11 June 2023
Nick Craig at the 2022 OK Dinghy European Championship, Bandol, France © Robert Deaves /
www.robertdeaves.uk
This weekend the Royal Torbay YC host the OK Nationals. A great opportunity to build up to the World Championships at Lyme Regis, which has a MAMMOTH 150 boat entry, and has drawn 43 keen sailors. The talent and depth in the fleet is almost unrivalled in single handed sailing in the UK.
On Friday, Dave Ellis and former OK World Champ Jim Hunt will lead a training day, which given the forecast looks to be an incredible opportunity to get the hiking legs ready and play in the waves, learning from the best.
The main event will start on Saturday - the forecast steadily improving for the weekend, but one thing is for certain, the start line and racing will be hotly contested given the super stars in attendance.
Current National Champion Russ Clark will be looking to defend his championship that he won over a range of conditions last year, but he will certainly have a battle on his hands.
Current World Champion and North Sails supremo Charlie Cumbley, who has been putting in some hours on the water at HISC whenever he free will be leading the HISC charge. Where the OK fleet is still growing and drawing in some top, top sailors.
Whenever an OK report is written, one name that is never far from the top is Nick Craig. Nick is a former OK World Champ, multiple National Champion and won in just about every class he has sailed. Without an OK National title for 2 years is probably the longest he has gone without it and he will be sure to want to correct that.
HD Sails Andy Davis has been getting the hours in with Nick and this was proven at the Spring Cup in Medemblik, Taxi dominated the event in a quality 44 boat fleet, so he has the current form and hours under his belt.
Fellow HD founder Jim Hunt will also be in the mix providing he hasn't given away all of his secrets on the Friday, but given its only a one day training camp, there will not be enough time to give away all he knows!
Following Herne Bay, where no two races were won by the same person, this event could follow a similar theme. Given the right conditions I think there are 10-15 people who could win a race, so getting off the start line and putting together a consistent series will undoubtedly be the key to the weekend.
It will certainly be a fantastic event, the OK sailors are an incredibly welcoming fleet, willing to share tips and tuning guides so anyone coming along will be certain to learn from the event and come away having had a great time.