OK Dinghy Thailand Championships 2025
by Matt Norton 4 Apr 03:05 BST
22-23 March 2025
OK Dinghy Thailand Championships 2025 © Royal Varuna social media team
A small but select group of boats gathered for the first OK class event to be held at Royal Varuna YC in 35 years, including two visitors from India, making it a properly 'international' event!
Friday was a practise day, with coach Nat (who is now official OK Class Measurer for Thailand) stepping into a boat for the last two races and winning !
Saturday there were three races in 8-14 knots of wind. Whilst Morten Jakobsen won all three, Nitin Mongia (OK World Champion in 2003) pushed him all the way. With close racing further down the fleet.
At the end of day 1, positions were Morten, Nitim, and Matt Norton. Enjoying a few sundowners after racing, we were joined by our special guest Peter Cummins. Peter previously sailed an OK for 35 years and raced with the late King Rama IX of Thailand.
Sunday brought a short delay whilst waiting for the wind, but when it came it was more of the same. Indeed the results were as well, except the top two retired from the last race giving Gautaha Dutta the race win followed by Matt and Jerome Collins. Overall Morten was 1st, with Nitim 2nd and Gautaha 3rd.
A special mention goes to the European sailors who have donated boats, masts and sails to the OK fleet in Thailand, which is greatly helping in the revival of the OK fleet. Also to Move It who provided the shipping logistics of the sails to Thailand.
If you want warm weather sailing in the middle of the European winter, Royal Varuna will be hosting a Masters event (31 Jan – 2 Feb 2026), and then there's the OK Open nationals (6-8 Feb 2026), with the strong likelihood of holding the OK Worlds in early 2027.
Short Results
1. Morten Jacobsen 1,1,1,1,1,(9 RET): 5
2. Nitin Mongia 2,2,2,2,2,(9 RET): 10
3. Gautaha Dutta 3,(9 NSC),3,3,3,1: 13
4. Matt Norton (5),3,5,4,4,2: 18
5. Jerome Collins 4,(5),4,5,5,3 :21
6. Neil Semple 6,4,6,6,6,(9 DNC): 28
7. Christopher Biscomb 7,6,7,7,7,(9 DNC): 34
8. Apple Asawawatanaporn (8),7,8,8,8,4: 35