OK Dinghy International Association Press Release

2009 OK Dinghy World Championship Kalmar, Sweden

Day three - Tuesday 28th July 2009

The flatter water and lighter breeze on day three at the OK Dinghy World
Championship in Kalmar, Sweden was a welcome change to the
previous two days of racing.

The OK Dinghy races to the triangle, sausage, final beat
format which suits this 52 year old design.There was a
general recall for the first start, but the second, still
under blue peter, was successfully away with three individual recalls.
The majority of the fleet started at the committee boat end, but some
of the leaders opted for clearer air further along the line. At the
windward mark Nick Craig (GBR) and Greg Wilcox (NZL) were clear ahead
of Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE), Jan-Erik Engholm (SWE), Terry Curtis
(GBR) and Martin Zimmerman (GER).

Andre Blasse

At the wing mark Craig had to give water to Wilcox who
pulled away from the chasing pack. With a rising
breeze, the fleet closed on the leading group up the beat, but Wilcox
continued to increase his lead down the run. On the final beat Wilcox
was chased by Hansson-Mild on the right side of the course, but the
lead remained unchanged, with Wilcox winning his first race in this
championship, with Hansson-Mild second and Antoni Pawlowski (POL) third.

1. Greg Wilcox NZL
2. Thomas Hansson-Mild SWE
3. Antoni Pawlowski POL
4. Nick Craig GBR
5. Terry Curtis GBR
6. Jan-Erik Engholm SWE
7. Mogens Johansen DEN
8. Arne Lindermann GER
9. Martin Zimmermann GER
10. Bo-Staffan Andersson SWE

With a dying wind, race six looked threatened for some time. However,
with five already completed, there were sufficient races held for the
World Championship series to be assured. As the countdown to the
start began the wind increased to ensure a good race would be held,
albeit in a shifting wind.

The black flag caught eight sailors from six countries on the second
start. Bunched at the pin end in light airs, it took a long time for
the competitors to sail into free air. Bo-Staffan Andersson (SWE),
the most successful OK Dinghy World Champion ever, led the fleet on
the first triangle, but as the wind picked up and veered for the
second beat the heavier sailors slowly overhauled him as they sailed
to the newly laid windward mark.

Bo-Staffan Andersson

With the increasing wind, a wave pattern built up that enabled Karl Purdie
(NZL) and Jorgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) to surf into the lead at the leeward
mark.
Andre Blasse (AUS), the newly elected President of the OK Dinghy
International Association, lying 7th at the leeward mark, sailed into
third at the finish. Martin Zimmermann (GER), who needed three
stitches in his index finger after a washing up accident on Sunday,
was able to sail to his potential today, finishing 4th.

1. Karl Purdie NZL
2. Jorgen Lindhardtsen DEN
3. Andre Blasse AUS
4. Martin Zimmermann GER
5. Bo-Staffan Andersson SWE
6. Nick Craig GBR
7. Soenke Behrens GER
8. Jan-Erik Engholm SWE
9. Ralf Tietje GER
10. Ulf Dagerbrant SWE

On completion of the sixth race, the discard could now take effect.
Three of the top ten sailors are carrying an OCS, so the series is still
wide open.

Greg Wilcox et Nick Craig

Overall positions

1. Karl Purdie NZL
2. Thomas Hansson-Mild SWE
3. Jorgen Lindhardtsen DEN
4. Andre Blasse AUS
5. Nick Craig GBR
6. Greg Wilcox NZL
7. Terry Curtis GBR
8. Antoni Pawlowski POL
9. Martin Zimmermann GER
10. Bo-Staffan Andersson SWE

A President retires

Greg Wilcox retired as President of the OK Dinghy International
Association last night, handing over to Andre Blasse, who will be in
post for four years. He finished in fitting style by winning race 5.

Wilcox reflected upon his success today. "I had a good
start and sailed up the middle of the course with Craig. We were
equally matched for speed on the first reach, but as inside boat, I
had the advantage and managed to sail away from him. On the second
beat we again were playing the shifts in the middle of the course,
with Craig gaining on me initially. I felt I was faster on the run
and pulled away from Craig. I opted to turn on the starboard leeward
gate mark and covered Hansson-Mild up the beat. This side paid as
Craig, who tacked on the port buoy could only manage 4th at the finish".

"It has been a privilege to be President of OKDIA. During my four
year term we have introduced the ’Hall of Fame’, which recognises the
input of those who developed the class in its early days and
celebrates the successes of all the great sailors who have and are
still sailing the OK Dinghy today".

"We have seen a significant increase in the number of new boats being
built in the last four years, which has stimulated the second hand
boat market and encouraged many new faces to experience the joys of
sailing an OK Dinghy".

Greg Wilcox

Current World Champion, Karl Purdie, said "It was the reason I moved
into OKs, as Wilcox, World Champion in 2002,
was the role model I was looking for to improve my sailing."

Wilcox added "The Committee has also undertaken a thorough review of
the rules to make sure the OK Dinghy keeps up with modern trends. I
am now handing over the Presidency to Andre Blasse, who, I know, will
make an excellent President as he is as keen as me to see the
continuing success of the OK Dinghy worldwide."

The OK Dinghy World Championship continues to Thursday, with four
more races scheduled to complete the series.

Event website: www.kalmarraceweek.se
Class website: www.okdia.org

Text: Mary Reddyhoff OKDIA
Photos: Mary Reddyhoff