Nick Craig (GBR) in the lead during the 2009 OK Worlds. Supplied image.
by Mandy Burt
THE EVENT
Regatta Dates: 30th January – 12th February 2010
Nationals & Interdominions: Racing 1st-3rd February
World Championships: Racing 5th-12th February (including reserve days)
The Organising Authority: The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in conjunction with The New Zealand OK Dinghy Association and OK Dinghy International Association
All competitors must qualify to compete in the Worlds, entry to which is limited to 80 boats, plus the reigning World Champion. This ensures competition at the highest level
ROYAL PORT NICHOLSON YC
Organising Chairman, Wellingtonian and Southern Hemisphere Vice President of the OK Dinghy International Association, Joe Porebski, said “The World OK Dinghy Championship is certainly the biggest dinghy championship ever sailed in Wellington. In the past, Wellington has played host to America's Cup boats skippered by the likes of Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard, the Volvo around the World Ocean Race, BT Global Challenge stopovers and the 2009 Portimao Global Ocean Race.”
OK DINGHY INTERNATIONALLY
Countries currently involved in the class are Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, India, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand and the United States. Porebski says “Most of the sailors in the OK fleet have raced many different classes of international/Olympic class dinghies, keel boats even Volvo open 70’s and Americas cup class yachts!”
“Starting life in 1956, the OK Dinghy design was created by two Danes, Knud Olsen and Axel Damgaard. One was a sailor seeking an exciting new concept in sailing and the other was an experienced designer and boatbuilder who knew how to put a concept onto paper. By their simple design, they have created a lasting family of sailors right across the world...
"Probably the most famous person to ever step into an OK Dinghy was His Majesty the King of Thailand, King Bhumibol. His first interest in the class started in 1966 with the building of the first four boats”. (‘Completely OK’, Edited by Robert Deaves)
COMPETING COUNTRIES in 2010
7 countries – New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
ENTRANTS - 72 sailors comprising:
New Zealand – 27
Australia – 21
Germany – 9
UK – 7
Poland – 4
Denmark – 3
Sweden – 1 (current World Champion)
PAST WORLD CHAMPIONS COMPETING IN 2010 WORLDS
2009 – Thomas Hansson-Mild, Sweden – Current World Champion
2008 – Karl Purdie, NZ (A Wellingtonian – Worser Bay Boating Club)
2007, 2006, 2005 – Nick Craig, UK
2002 – Greg Wilcox, NZ
1998 - Roger Blasse, Australia
New Zealand OK World Champions
Greg Wilcox (NZL) leads the fleet during the 2009 OK Worlds. Supplied image.
New Zealand has had ten World Champions since 1973:
Karl Purdie 2008
Greg Wilcox 2002
Leith Armit 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994
Richard Dodson 1979, 1982
Peter Lester 1977
Clive Roberts 1973
PREVIOUS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD IN NEW ZEALAND
2010 will be the sixth time New Zealand has hosted the OK World Championships, although the first time they have been held in Wellington.
Previous NZ World Champs have been held in:
Takapuna – 1970, 1977, 1986
Napier – 1994, 2002
Porebski said “The whole city is a buzz with excitement, the first ever Yachting World Championships will be sailed on Wellington Harbour. The city will be going off with the NZ leg of the International Rugby Sevens and the country’s own national celebrations for Waitangi Day all at the same time.
GENDER IMBALANCE, THE YOUNG AND THE OLD
Women:
There are only two women in the World Championships, interestingly both from Germany – Merina Dellas (55yrs) and Juliane Hofmann
Youngest:
19 year old Kagan Weeks from Napier
Oldest:
Bill Tyler, Australia, will celebrate his 70th birthday on the last day of the 2010 World Champs, 12th February 2010. Andre Blasse, International President, said of Tyler: “Bill has been involved with the OK Dinghy for 37 years and has represented Australia in many International events over the years, not only as a competitor but also as an administrator, holding many positions on state, national and international committees. His list of accomplishments in yachting is immense... Bill is also one of three directors of the Clive Roberts Trust Fund that was established in the 1970s to help with the development of Australian OK Juniors. Bill has been able to help send many Australian Juniors to international events over the years, and this has enabled some of them to bring home the Junior World title. “
Tyler was inducted at the 2008 World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
There are some interesting family associations in the World Champs. We have six family groups competing.
* Napier, NZ, boasts a father and two sons combination, Marty Weeks (Dad), Joseph (20) & Kagan Weeks (19 – the youngest competitor)
* Two brothers, Adrian and Nigel Mannering, competing against each other
* Australia has three family battles occurring
- 1998 World Champion, Roger Blasse, will be competing against his brother, Andre Blasse – who is the current International Association President.
- Father and son combination, Edward and David O’Donnell
- Brent and Glenn Williams, brother
*Germany not only enjoys the infamy of the only two female entrants in the 2010 World Champs, but one of them, Marina Dellas is competing against her brother Jan-Dietmar.
Perhaps we should have inter-family prizes too!
OK DINGHY IN NEW ZEALAND
The OK currently enjoys a strong reputation in New Zealand, being probably our most successful international fleet. The real attraction is that sailors who wish to pursue their professional careers can compete at a truly world class level while still remaining amateur.
There are three major strongholds for the class in New Zealand, these are Wellington, Napier and Auckland, and smaller fleets are also in action in the south island. The NZ entrants for the 2010 World Champs come from three clubs
Worser Bay, Wellington – 11 entrants, including 2008 World Champ, Karl Purdie
Napier – entrants
Wakatere, Auckland – 6 entrants
The racing is extremely competitive amongst the New Zealand fleet however information is freely shared by competing skippers enabling the level of the fleet as a whole to be lifted, we also know how to have a good time and have a number of “interesting” trophies given out at each regatta which most OK sailors have managed to own at some stage in their career, two of these trophies are; “The golden Harpoon” and the “Tiki”...
Porebski said “The OK Dinghy is the most successful International class sailed in NZ producing 10 World Champions. The OK (in rugby terms) is grass roots yachting and the "front row" of sailing.
"Many of NZ top sailors have cut their teeth racing the OK Dinghy.
"Sir Peter Blake, Craig Monk, Dodson brothers and Peter Lester all AC sailors claim the OK on their resume.”
Other prominent NZ sailors in the OK fleet over the years include Rick and Tom Dobson, David Barnes, Tony Mutter, Graham Woodroffe and Barry Thom.
THE BOAT
OK fleet heads upwind during the 2009 Worlds. Supplied image.
The international OK Dinghy is a 4 metre single-handed racing yacht, which has enjoyed strong international competition for many years.
The OK allows the skipper to have a mast and sail designed and built to their weight and sailing style, this gives almost anyone the opportunity no matter there size to be at the front of the fleet (unlike a type forming boat such as a Laser), this has lead to even closer racing over a wide wind range that is just not possible with a normal “one design”.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Porebski said “The visitors will be treated to first class hospitality.
"As Vice President I have tried to put the Fun back into the regatta, lets face it only 10 sailors actually have a chance of winning, yet 80 turn out to compete. To ensure that the OK remains a class people actually want to sail, I want the Fun aspect re-introduced.
"Beginning with a City Powhiri (traditional Maori welcome), to be held at the country’s National Museum, Te Papa. This honour, which is normally reserved for dignitaries and royalty, will be held in Te Papa’s marae. Our overseas guests will be encouraged to show respect to Maori traditions by replying with a song, sung in Maori, and being welcomed with a “Hongi”, the touching of the forehead and nose.
"It will give our international visitors chance to experience traditional NZ culture and will definitely be interesting. We have brought back the World Soccer game, always a good challenge. The "Waka" Maori canoe race will be a fun event followed by Model yacht racing outside RYPNC, only meters from the bar. The whole fleet will travel to NZ wine country to taste some of the worlds best kept secrets. This will happen on the "lay day".
"Too many regattas have taken this day out of the schedule, which I think is a mistake, after all its the friends you remember making, not the plastic you take home.
"Teams will be formed for match racing in the new Olympic Elliot 6 metre, which will really challenge the boys. In addition we have the International Karaoke competition, judged by the sailors themselves.
"These guys will sail ten of the most gruelling yacht races in one of the windiest places in the world. When asked, the around-the-world sailors all testified that Wellington Harbour was the hardest place to sail.
"Just to end we have a curry night and then visit one of the 100s of bars and clubs within minutes of the boat park. Should be a Fun regatta....”
OK International Dinghy Association
OK Worlds 2010
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