P&B OK National Championship at Dabchicks Sailing Club - Overall

Thirty-one OKs gathered at Dabchicks SC on West Mersea island from 12th-15th July for the 2025 OK Dinghy National Championships. With the European Championships having been held just a week or so earlier (won by Britain's Charlie Cumbley), some notable sailors were absent, but Ben Flower who took second at the Europeans made it to the Nationals.

The event was kindly sponsored by Pinnell & Bax with additional support from Ovington Boats and HD Sails who donated spot prizes as well as Synergy Marine who sponsored the daily drink and hot snack for the sailors as they came off the water.

Day 1

The competitors launched into a rising tide with the PRO predicting a sea breeze coming in around 12:38 - 12:40 in time for the first start. His comment that he had heard 'silly' reports of 20+knts being forecast would be something the competitors found out not to be entirely accurate.

By the time the fleet had made its way to the start line a strong F4 was kicking up a substantial chop and with distant windsurfers and kite boarders flying off the West Mersea shore it was clear there was more than some expected on the way.

Race 1 got away after a brief postponement into a strong adverse flood tide. At the windward mark, Ruchard Burton did the whole fleet a favour by pointing out that the spreader mark, which should have been a short beam reach away was out of place and needed further beating to get to it. The tide, running with the wind made several sailors hit the spreader mark before turning onto a glorious reach to the gybe mark near the beach. At the end it was Oli Davenport who took first place from strong wind aficionado Dave Bourne and Ben Flower in third.

Race 2 saw the tide turn to run against the wind which, with a repositioned pin end caused problems on the start line with several sailors caught OCS, including the #1 and #2 from Race 1. After a Sausage/triangle/ sausage course, Ben Flower took the gun from Richard Burton with Terry Curtis in 3rd.

Spot prizes from P&B and Ovington were went to:

• PINNELL & BAX GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) T-shirt - Tim O'Leary
• Ovington Commitment T-shirt - Sarah Meyer
• Ovington Drinks bottle - Neil Goodhead
• Ovington Hat - Adrian Pelis
• PINNELL & BAX Hat - Spike Turner
• Yellow Suit for Dick of the Day went to Terry Curtis for falling out his boat when the toestraps came undone

OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © Charlton Timms

Day 2

Day 2 dawned cloudy, with a delay to wait for wind along with the police attending an incident on the slip. After a delay of about 45mins, the AP was dropped, and the fleet made their way out into 8-10 knots of breeze and sunshine. The first race got away on a Sausage/Triangle/Sausage course with Oli Davenport showing the fleet a clean pair of heels and stretching out a lead that was as impressive as it was long. Ben Flower took second with Jim Downer who had to miss the first day enjoying the conditions to take third. The trial sausage first worked well in the conditions to keep the fleet together and made the mark rounding hotly contested throughout the fleet.

Race 2 saw class legend Rodney Tidd round first at the windward mark, but his years of experience couldn't hold back the young guns forever. After a 4 lap S/T/S/T course Oli finished in first ahead of Ben and Jim Downer again

Spot prizes:

• P&B GOAT (Greatest if all time) T-shirt - Rodney Tidd
• Ovington Commitment T-shirt - Ed Crichton
• Ovington Drinks bottle - Matt Norton
• P&B Hat - Olivier
• P&Bpocket (for keeping rules book in!) - Adrian Pelis
• Yellow suit went to Alex Ogilvie for winding the quiz master up on the previous night

Day 3 start - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © DSC

Day 3

Day 3 saw a switch in wind direction to SW and gave a wind against tide course that was plagued by weed and sizeable waves further offshore. With the wind cycling between F3 and F5. the first race saw Jim Downer get his nose in front to take the win from Richard Burton and Dave Bourne in third with Davenport uncharacteristically down in fifth. The second race which had consistently strong winds saw Davenport back on form and take another win from Ben Flower and Richard Burton.

Spot Prizes:

• P&B GOAT (Greatest if all time) T-shirt - Andy Rushworth
• Ovington Commitment T-shirt - Chris Baines
• Ovington Drinks bottle - Peter Holbrook
• P&B Hat - Jack Hodgkins
• Ovington Hat - Jack Hodgkins' dad!

The fleet also held an open forum where future events etc were discussed.

Oli Davenport Leads Richard Burton on day 4 - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © DSC

Day 4

Day 4 brought with it forecast that installed a degree of trepidation for some of the fleet and joy for the others. With the PRO indicating that the forecast had a small, but sailable window, the much-depleted fleet launched almost at low water which gave some issues with those with fixed rudders. The conditions on the racecourse were boisterous with a steep, sharp wind against tide chop and winds generally at the top end of a F5 and into F6 territory (and occasionally beyond) in the gusts.

Richard Burton reinforced his reputation as a strong wind expert by winning both races in style with Davenport taking the second in the first race and Jim Downer taking second in the last race of the series. With all 8 races of the series complete and an ever-increasing wind, the boats headed for home to tell takes of daring do before the prize-giving.

Keith Byers on day 4 - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © DSC

With the OK class having been active for many decades the prize-giving saw many, many trophies to be awarded. There are substantial trophies for each race win, along with trophies for overall winner, runner up, ladies, masters, vintage boat etc and with thanks to our sponsors there was a table heaving with goodies for winners to pick from.

The overall winner was Oli Davenport from Northampton with Ben Flower taking second place.

Runner up, Ben Flower - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © Bernard Clark

• Ladies Prize -Sarah Meyer
• Junior Prize - Jack Hodgkins
• High score (all races completed) - Ed Crichton
• Veteran - Dave Bourne
• Masters - Andy Rushworth
• Grand Master - Steve Cooke
• Vintage boat Trophy - Tim O'Leary
• Team Trophy - Overy Staithe
• Mid Fleet prize - Karen Robertson

Sarah Meyer, Ladies champion - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © Bernard Clark

It is noticeable that the top four all used the new Pinnell & Bax OK mainsail designed by Tom Lonsdale, but on a variety of hulls, with Oli sailing a 2019 Idol Composites hull, Ben sailing an Ovington, Burt also in a Idol and Dave Bourne in his own design built in conjunction with Andy Rushworth. Regardless of gear used, Oli Davenport put down an amazing demonstration of sailing and left everyone in his wake this year.

With the World Championships being held in Garda this September, the UK is in a strong position to see the World Championship crown staying here (currently held by Nick Craig).

Our huge thanks go to Dabchicks SC, their amazing club manager Fiona and PRO Paul Jackson and his outstanding on the water team. Next years' Nationals are at Tynemouth on the first week of September. See you there!

Jack Hodgki, Junior champion - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © Bernard Clark

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the OK nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Andy Rushworth, Masters champion - OK Nationals at Dabchicks - photo © Bernard Clark