Ovington British OK National Championship at Tynemouth Sailing Club - Runners & Riders
by Gavin Poulloin 1 Sep 11:29 BST
3-6 September 2026
Ben Flower © Robert Deaves /
www.robertdeaves.uk
As the summer of 26 starts to draw to a close and we have finally heard the last of the comparisons to 76 (of which some of the OK fleet remember well), it's time for one last record-breaking event this summer.
The OK class, in its 70th year, Ovington Boats British National Championship, hosted for the first time in the class history at Tynemouth Sailing Club between the 3-6 September. Despite not being able to go, it falls to me as the fixtures secretary to put together an envious preview of the event. As it is 2026 and AI is all the rage, I thought I'd give copilot a go at writing this report, that and I've left it to the last minute to think of anything special to write. So, with the help of AI, here is this year's Ovington UK OK dinghy national Championship.
This year's Nationals is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory: 33 boats with a blend of hardened veterans, ambitious juniors, home club locals, and a few wildcard elements. With some of the "big guns" travelling straight to the Europeans the week after, could the leaderboard flip on its head, and we see a brand-new OK UK National Champion?
THE BIG GUNS - Title Contenders
Charlie Cumbley GBR 6: The benchmark. The sailor everyone measures themselves against. Charlie possesses ferocious upwind pace and immaculate starting discipline. The man is basically an upwind vending machine: insert start line, receive bullet.
Andy Davis GBR 11: A multi class maestro and one of the sharpest tactical minds in British dinghy racing with race craft and consistency. Taxi hasn't been as active in the OK recently, but class is permanent.
Matthew Howard GBR 2298: Howard is now firmly in the top tier with heavy weather handling and big fleet composure. If it blows 20 knots, Matthew becomes legally classed as a small marine predator.
Baabii'O Flower CAN 26: International mystery entry (from Devon). Could bring exotic tuning secrets. Could bring chaos. Could bring maple syrup. Nobody knows.
Oli Davenport GBR 1: The current defending champion. The silent assassin proved last year he is more than a light wind lake sailor. Oli will be out to make sure last year's success doesn't go down in history as a one hit wonder.
Chris Turner GBR 44: Capable of brilliance. He's been around the block enough times to know when to push and when to survive. That matters when your body is as broken as Chris.
David Bourne GBR 17: Make way for the Herne Bay Heart Throb of the High Seas! Winning isn't everything — but looking magnificent while doing it is! And thanks to a modelling deal with Pinnell & Bax, Bourne's got that covered.
THE DARK HORSES - Ready to Upset the Order
Richard Burton GBR 8: Not the actor. But may still produce drama.
Jack Hodgkins GBR 3 (Junior): Young, fast, fearless. May attempt a port tack flyer on Day 1. Will either become a legend or a cautionary tale.
Tom Lonsdale GBR 33: No club listed. No known form. Could be a prodigy. Could be a man who found an OK in a hedge.
THE OVERSEAS THREAT
Sean Cleary NZL 24: A Kiwi. Fast, polite and 4th at the New Zealand Nationals. Sean will apologise while overtaking you.
THE HOME CLUB HOPEFULS
Alex Oyston GBR 26: The home club threat. Knows the tides, knows the chop, knows the Race officer. A potential serious spoiler.
Philip Cowans GBR 2136: Knows the launch ramp intimately. Possibly too intimately.
Simon Fay GBR 75: Could cause an upset, or could spend the most time spent chatting on the beach.
THE GRAND MASTERS OF CHAOS Over 70!
Mary Reddyhoff - GBR 58: Will beat many a sailor who are half her age and twice her confidence.
Paul Pike - GBR 2080: Could win the category or the "most layers worn" award.
Keith Byers - GBR 2276: Will finish every race. Eventually.
Timothy O'Leary (GBR 1966): O'Leary brings decades of dinghy racing experience. Still sharper than your centreboard. May tell you he "used to be faster" while beating you.
THE CHAOS MERCHANTS
Nigel King - GBR 2241: Will either finish top 10 or invent a new form of self inflicted penalty.
THE VENUE - Tynemouth SC
Expect: Long swell in easterlies. Short, steep chop in westerlies. Strong tidal gates off the river mouth. Cold water and surf launches if the breeze is up.
"Place your bets, hide your dignity, and remember: form is temporary, capsizes are eternal."