OK worlds. Image copyright Malee Whitcraft
by Robert Deaves
Jorgen Svendsen (DEN) has retained the World No. 1 spot in the OK Dinghy World Rankings after a late charge at the recent Singha OK Dinghy World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Svendsen was the best sailor over the last three races in Pattaya to move up to seventh overall, which was just enough to hold a scant three point lead over multiple world champion Nick Craig (GBR) in the World Ranking.
This latest release of the OK Dinghy World Rankings includes the New Zealand Nationals, the Australian Nationals, Sail Melbourne, Sail Auckland and the World Championship.
Craig was runner up in Pattaya but moves up just one place, while Greg Wilcox (NZL) drops one to third. The biggest climber into the top 10 is the new World Champion Roger Blasse (AUS) who moves from 21st to 8th. Fellow Australians Mike Williams (AUS) and Mark Jackson (AUS) placed third and sixth in Pattaya to move up to 15th and 16th in the ranking.
While Jackson won the Australian Nationals, Blasse also won Sail Melbourne. Andre Budzien, the 2012 World Champion has also made his first appearance in the top 10, moving up from 19th to sixth.
One of the more interesting and encouraging bits of data to come out of the recent world championship was the diverse range of gear being used inside the top 10. While eight out of 10 of the hulls were built in the last three years, there are five different moulds being used, perhaps an indication that it is the sailors and their level of preparation, rather than the boat that counts. C-Tech from New Zealand continue to dominate the mast sector though Craig used the UK built Aardspars to good effect, while there was the widest range of sails being used for a number of years – seven different manufacturers. Foils are largely supplied by boat builders, apart from the odd exception, mainly because the shape of them largely limits much development.
Gear used at 2013 World Championship
Position Helm Hull (mould) Mast Sail Board Rudder
1 Roger Blasse Jason King (Delfs) C-Tech UK Halsey/Quantum Jason King Jason King
2 Nick Craig Idol (Icebreaker) Aardspars HD (Hunt Davis) Scoles Scoles
3 Mike Williams Jason King (Delfs) C-Tech North (NZ) Jason King Jason King
4 Paul Rhodes Cooksons (Icebreaker) C-Tech North (NZ) Ron Bull Ron Bull
5 Mark Jackson Jason King (Delfs) C-Tech Quantum Jason King Jason King
6 Greg Wilcox Icebreaker NZ C Tech Quantum Deaves C-Tech
7 Jorgen Svendsen Icebreaker NZ C-Tech Quantum Deaves Deaves
8 Stefan Myralf Idol (Rushworth) C-Tech Bojsen Møller Scoles Scoles
9 Andre Budzein Idol (Icebreaker) C-Tech Gericke Scoles Scoles
10 Terry Curtis Jason King (Delfs) C-Tech Pinnell and Bax Jason King Jason King
The next major event for the class is the Spring Cup in Medemblik later in May, though most of the sailors who travelled to Thailand will still be waiting for their boats and will be unable to sail. After that the class is looking forward to its Europeans in Carnac, France in July.
Svendsen at the mark. Image copyright Malee Whitcraft
OK Dinghy World Ranking List – April 2013
Top 30 from 432 (full list attached)
Rank Name Country Sail no. Points Events sailed
1 Jorgen Svendsen DEN 1420 947.99 11
2 Nick Craig GBR 2150 944.89 10
3 Greg Wilcox NZL 544 911.49 13
4 Jorgen Lindhartdsen DEN 1364 900.55 12
5 Stefan Myralf DEN 1408 892.19 14
6 Andre Budzien GER 762 859.55 5
7 Martin von Zimmermann GER 693 858.55 11
8 Roger Blassé AUS 749 831.19 6
9 Bo Petersen DEN 1421 792.48 5
10 Paul Rhodes NZL 517 786.07 6
11 Alistair Deaves NZL 542 781.46 9
12 Terry Curtis GBR 2118 778.88 6
13 Sonke Behrens GER 778 774.40 7
14 Jon Fish GBR 2151 760.94 7
15 Mark Jackson AUS 735 751.56 6
16 Mike Williams AUS 730 739.15 5
17 Mogens Johansen DEN 1335 736.48 11
18 Alex Scoles GBR 2147 683.87 8
19 Luke O'Connell NZL 546 679.53 6
20 Thomas Hanson-Mild SWE 100 678.92 8
21 Gunter Arndt GER 740 662.55 9
22 Rudiger Prinz GER 773 652.90 8
23 Jorg Rademacher GER 775 650.74 7
24 Rene Johannsen DEN 1393 626.92 10
25 Rob Hengst NZL 533 623.92 6
26 Jens Lauge DEN 1410 623.72 8
27 Mark Skelton AUS 736 612.74 5
28 Hans Elkjaer SWE 99 600.67 14
29 Robert Deaves GBR 2138 591.24 4
30 Christian Midtgaard DEN 1304 572.63 7
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