Final Results
Win for Thomas Hanson-Mild, Purdie new world champion.
Final Results
All reports by Robert Deaves
Trio of legends welcomed into OK Dinghy Hall of Fame
Three of the most influential OK Dinghy sailors from Australia, Germany and Poland were honoured last week at the championship dinner of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, by being welcomed in to the OK Dinghy Hall of Fame.
The OK Dinghy Hall of Fame was established just over one year ago to celebrate the first 50 years of the OK Dinghy. Candidates can be nominated by member national associations and by the OK Dinghy International Association. Other members of the OK Dinghy Hall of Fame include Jørgen Lindhardtsen (DEN), Clive Roberts (NZL) and Leith Armit (NZL).
This year though, rather than honouring racing success on the water, the class has recognised three individuals who have had a profound influence on the growth and development of the class in these three countries. All amateur classes depend to a large extent on the enthusiasm and dedication of many unpaid individuals, and it can honestly be said that without people such as Bill Tyler (AUS), Norbert Petrausch (GER) and the late Marian Jankowski (POL), that OK Dinghy sailing in those countries would be far poorer as a result.
Bill Tyler (AUS)
First, Andre Blasse (AUS) spoke about
Bill Tyler on behalf of the Australian Association. 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. Most recently, Bill, and his wife Jan's efforts
in organising and managing the 2006 OK Dinghy World Championship at
Belmont, Australia, was recognised by not only NSW Yachting and OKDIA,
but all their peers, as the benchmark in the management and
co-ordination of international dinghy events.
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. Recently Bill also won NSW Yachting's Services to Yachting Award. Collecting his award, Bill was visibly moved by the occasion. He said, "This is a great honour and I very much appreciate it," before reminiscing about his early days his the class.
Norbert Petrausch (GER)
Next Peter Scheuerl (GER) spoke. He
said, "I have the honour to introduce somebody to the Hall of Fame who
has served the class for most of its existence. He owned the first OK
Dinghy in Germany and still sails his own OK today. I asked him when
he sailed his first worlds, but he couldn't remember, though of course
he remembers all the funny stories than have happened over the years.
Norbert Petrausch has been involved in the German OK Dinghy
Association for over 30 years and has been its president for about 20
years. Once when the class struggled to find a host for a major
regatta, he jumped in a did the whole race management with just a few
helping hands, even if he would have preferred to sail himself.
Through all the years of OK Dinghy sailing in Germany, Norbert has
been the steady hand, keeping it all together. Without him, the class
in Germany would not be what it is today."
Marian Jankowski (POL)
Finally, Darek Kras, OKDIA
Vice-President Northern Hemipshere spoke about the late Marian
Jankowski. "Marian was fully devoted to the OK Dinghy class. In fact,
if it was not for him, there would probably not be any Poles sailing
here in Germany this week. We all owe him for attracting us to the OK.
He was among the first OK sailors in Poland and the first National
Champion. He first won the title back in 1964 and continued to
dominate the Polish circuit for many years. His devotion to the class
was demonstrated in many ways. He always had time and energy to
encourage new sailors to the OK, help them to obtain gear and tune it.
When it was decided that the OK Dinghy was no longer to be a
preparatory junior class for the Finn, its existence in Poland was
threatened. Luckily, we had Marian. He made sure that whatever gear
was in Poland, would be safely put in the hands of those who really
needed it. Perhaps his best idea was to attract to the class guys like
myself - those who sailed when young and thought of getting back to
sailing. He had many friends, sailing friends, like Norbert here. And
with their help he helped us get our boats. Back in the 1980s living
in Poland was not easy, and importing gear from the West a big task
which required a lot of persistence. He took us to regattas in
Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden and had seemingly endless reserves
of energy and enthusiasm for the sport. He died a few years ago from
heart complications, and the OK class in Poland suffered a huge loss,
one that we still feel today."
left to right: Bill Tyler, Marian Jankowski's daughters Anna and
Magda, Norbert Petrausch
In the rooftop restaurant of the Kurhaus Warnemunde, Bill Tyler and Norbert Petrausch accepted their awards in person. Bill was competing in his 9th world championships, while Norbert was a very active part of the organisation. Marian's daughters Anna and Magda (who specially travelled from Poland with her husband, OK Dinghy sailor Antoni Pawlowski) received the award on behalf of their late father.
OK Dinghy World Championship day five
Karl Purdie wins OK World Championship
On the final day of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, only one race was possible because of violent storms crossing the course area. Though regatta leader Karl Purdie (NZL) performed badly under pressure, placing 16th, it was enough to take the title by just four points.
Race nine started with the usual general recall and then under black flag. Race winner Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE) takes up the story. "Before the start I noticed a pressure line coming down the course with a right shift in the wind. So I went to the committee boat end and started there are headed out to the right, working the shifts on that side." It paid off and he rounded the top mark just behind Alistair Deaves (NZL) and Jonathan Fish (GBR). However true to form, Fish crash tacked to avoid Marek Jarocki (POL) and fell out the back of his boat.
Hansson-Mild continued, "It was a tight race from there on with Nick Craig (GBR), Karsten Hitz (GER) and Andre Blasse (AUS) fighting for the lead. Karsten led round one side of the downwind gate, and I went to the other mark and took the lead. The finish was very tight. We all crossed very close. It was very exciting. It feels really good to win the race. My goal here was a top ten and I have achieved that, but it's a shame not to have been able to sail the final race as I would have had a chance of a medal then."
With Craig fourth and Purdie 16th in race nine, the potential was there for a final race showdown, with any of five boats still in with a chance of taking the title. However it was not to be, Soon after race nine finished, the skies started to darken and the wind increased. With reports coming through of Force 8 winds further up the coast, the race officer decided to abandon racing for the day and the send the fleet home. BY the time the storm had passed so had the time limit for starting a race.
This left Karl Purdie as the 2008 OK Dinghy World Champion, with the three times and defending champion Nick Craig in second, and Andre Blasse picking up his first ever medal at a world championship. For Purdie, winning the title is a dream come true. This year was his third attempt. In 2006 in Belmont, Australia he finished 5th. In Leba, Poland last year he finished third, so having specifically requested sail number NZL 531 for his new Icebreaker boat, it is very fitting that he should finish first this year. Craig says he will be back next year to try again. He was realistic about his chances today, but clearly would have liked to sail the last race, having reduced the points gap on Purdie to within striking range.
Worlds racing day 4
Mixed fortunes for front runners at OK Worlds
On the penultimate day of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, Nick Craig (GBR) sailed the best of the day with a race win and a fourth place, while regatta leader Karl Purdie (NZL) struggled with a 16th and a 7th. However, the Z-flag took its toll on more than half the top ten, including Craig, leaving Purdie with a 16 point lead going into the final day.
After two general recalls, race seven started in 10-12 knots from the sea. The forecast Force 6-7 never materialised, so the sailors enjoyed near perfect conditions for this race. Nick Craig (GBR) led out of the committee boat end, never to be seriously challenged during the race. He extended on each leg and with the wind relatively stable for a change, controlled the fleet easily from the front. Second place was dominated by Pawel Pawlaczyk (POL), while third at the first mark, Terry Curtis (GBR) dropped to sixth before climbing back to third on the final beat.
Race eight was where everything changed. Before the fleet finally got underway under a black flag there were three general recalls under the Z-flag. In a slightly decreased wind, Purdie led round the top mark from Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE), Matthew Steven (NZL) and Craig. Greg Wilcox (NZL) found the best route on the reaches to move ahead by the gybe mark, and then led all the way to the finish to record yet anther Kiwi race win. As the race progressed, the wind dropped to virtually nothing and the final upwind leg was shortened as the boats got slower and slower. Wilcox remained in front, with Hansson-Mild in second and Steven in third. However many of the front runners received Z-flag penalties, Wilcox got one, Steven got two and Craig got one. In a fleet of 91 boats this means a scoring penalty of 18 points per infringement.
Craig came ashore thinking he had closed the gap on Purdie and set up a last day showdown. However his scoring penalty could cost him dear as Purdie has extended his lead despite sailing his worst day so far. However, Purdie is not getting too excited yet. He said, "I have a bit of breathing space, but anything can happen tomorrow."
Tomorrow's forecast is 15-18 knots when the final two races will be sailed and we will know who will be the 2008 OK Dinghy World Champion.
Worlds racing day 3
Kiwis dominate and Purdie extends lead
Yesterday's tough physical conditions were today replaced by tough mental conditions as the fleet at the OK Dinghy World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany contended with large and frequent wind shifts caused by the unstable offshore wind. However regatta leader Karl Purdie (NZL) extended his lead with a third and second, while both race wins went to his Kiwi team mates Alistair Deaves (NZL) and Matthew Steven (NZL).
After waiting around for 100 minutes for a stable wind to develop, the race committee set a course in a very shifty offshore breeze of 8-10 knots. Starting mid-line Alistair Deaves (NZL) was first into a massive left hand shift that brought him to the first mark with a nice lead followed by Jørgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) and Andre Blasse (AUS). Deaves extended his lead over the next legs to take his first ever race win at a OK Dinghy World Championship. Behind him, Blasse dropped to fifth on the downwind, only to recover to second on the final beat. Luke O'Connell (NZL) spent most of the race in third place, but lost his advantage to regatta leader Karl Purdie (NZL) on the final upwind leg. Deaves commented, "Our boats and rigs are ideally suited to these sort of conditions, and that allows us to pop out at the starts and gives us the freedom to tack on the shifts in clear air, without worrying about the other boats."
And today there were certainly a lot of shifts. Conditions didn't improve much for race six of the championship, although the wind did increase slightly to 12-14 knots. Again the race was characterised by a large left shift soon after the start. Mark Perrow (NZL) was first to tack away from the biased line, and headed right to round the first mark in the lead. Behind him, Kiwi junior, Matthew Steven (NZL) and Deaves were in close pursuit. By the second windward mark, Steven was in the lead, followed by Purdie and Christian Olesen (DEN), although on the final lap, Olesen lost this to Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE), posting his best result of the series so far.
After six races, the series seems like Purdie's to lose. So far he has not placed lower than third and holds a 12 point lead over Blasse and 14 points over defending champion Nick Craig (GBR). Today Craig had an indifferent day, posting an 11th and an 8th.
Lighter winds are again forecast for Thursday, when two more races are scheduled for 11.00
Worlds racing day 2
Dogs off chains
With winds strong enough to blow dogs off chains, sore legs and weary arms were the order of the day on day two of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championships in Warnemünde, Germany. Karl Purdie (NZL) maintained his overnight lead with two second places, while defending world champion Nick Craig (GBR) posed his first serious challenge with a 3, 1 scoreline. The first race went to Purdie's team mate Steve McDowell (NZL).
Race one got underway on time in 15-20 knots of easterly wind and a large sea starting to build. Steve McDowell (NZL) started at the committee boat and crossed to the left to lead round the top mark. Those on the right initially suffered from a more backed wind, although a late left shift brought them back into contention. McDowell showed excellent boat handling skills to extend on the fleet and win by a useful margin. Overnight leader Karl Purdie (NZL) was one of those on the left at the start and had to catch up from 6th at the top mark. Making ground on each leg, he crossed the finish line in second place, just ahead of Nick Craig (GBR).
The second race started in stronger wind conditions which were close to limits set under class rules. This was reflected in only about 60 boats out of the 91 entries managing to finish the race. This time it was Craig who started close to the committee boat end and sailed across to the left before tacking for the windward mark. Many of those boat beneath him overstood the mark, which was quite hard to spot in the large and often rolling waves. Craig led round the mark and was never headed, though Purdie did threaten him a few times on the upwind legs. Purdie recovered to second place again, just yards ahead of Andre Blasse (AUS) in third. The downwind legs proved especially challenging in winds up to 30 knots, and while some sailors excelled at it, others just survived.
So, overnight Purdie maintains his 8 point advantage on Craig, while Blasse moves up to third after posting a 3, 4. Craig clearly enjoyed the extreme conditions and said, "We had wind, waves and sun. It doesn't get any better than this and not many classes would have held racing in those conditions. Although I didn't close any points on Karl today, I have kept the pressure on."
Purdie said, "It was a tough day with awesome reaches and a bit of a washing machine upwind." Although he ended up with two second places, he admitted to making mistakes. "In the first race, I started at the wrong end and in the second I overstood the windward mark. So I had to play catch up in both races. For both Steve and Nick, the offwind legs were made easier because of their leads, sailing in clear water and extending on the rest of the fleet. But for sure today everyone was overpowered, which meant we were all very equal in terms of boat speed and it was boat handling that made the difference."
Many of the sailors here welcomed the news that the next days should bring lighter winds, but that remains to be seen. Two more races are scheduled for Thursday at 11.00.
Worlds racing day 1
Purdie produces a perfect score (Photo Norbert Petrausch)
Two tough and challenging races. One clear winner. Karl Purdie (NZL) dominated proceedings on the opening day of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championships to win both races to take the early lead. Defending world champion Nick Craig (GBR) lies in second place with a 7th and a 3rd. By this morning, a total of 91 sailors from seven nations had completed measurement and registration and were ready for the battle ahead.
With forecasts varying between 10 knots and 35 knots, depending on who you listened to, the fleet set out to the start area in torrential rain and 10-12 knots of wind. By the time the first start got away at 11.00, the wind was more like 15-18 knots and pretty gusty. A large shift 10 minutes into the beat favoured those on the left of the course and produced a massive split down the ranks as the half of the fleet on the right struggled to get back into contention.
Jørgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) was the early leader and as the wind increased the leaders stretched away from the fleet. Hot on his heals was Purdie, finally taking the lead at the start of the final beat to take the winning gun. Andre Blasse (AUS) clearly enjoyed the fresh conditions to post a second place while Lindhardtsen slipped to third by the finish.
The second race started soon after, but not before waiting for a large black cloud to pass which brought winds exceeding 25 knots. By the time the race started the wind had abated to 12-15 knots, though it strengthened again during the race. Again the race was dominated by black clouds and large shifts. An early shift to the right had seemingly favoured the left hand side again, but Purdie had started mid-line and tacked for the right hand corner before coming back into the first mark on a right hand shift and an enormous lead.
Blasse was again in second with Craig soon working up to third by the leeward mark. The increased wind stabilised for the second upwind leg with few place changes until the final beat. Then another large shift to the left brought about 10 more boats up to the front runners. Purdie's lead was quite safe though and he took a second race win. Blasse slipped to ninth, while the 2000/01 World Champion Karsten Hitz (GER) hooked into the left hand shift to take second while Craig hung onto third. In the final 200 metres there was more place changing than in the rest of the race as the finish line became a mass of boats all arriving together for an exciting finish to a tough race.
The exhausted sailors were sent home to be greeted by ample quantities of beer and snacks generously provided by many of the event's minor sponsors such as Quantum Sails, Icebreaker Boats, Green Sails, Sylvester, AXA, Gutaussehen Cosmetics, Gerike Segel and Marina Dellas.
Last night the opening ceremony was held at the Baltic Point Cruise terminal, dwarfed by two enormous cruise ships in port for the day. Greg Wilcox, President of OKDIA was encouraged by the health of the class. He said, "The class has experienced an excellent period of growth in the past few years with a number of new boat builders and more boats built in the last year than in any year in the past 10 years. This has to bode well for the future of the class." OKDIA also used the occasion to officially launch its exciting new book,'Completely OK - the history, techniques and sailors of the OK Dinghy', a magnificently illustrated and comprehensive 208 page book charting the first 50 years of the OK Dinghy class. Copies were on sale at the ceremony and are also available through the class website at www.okdia.org/completelyok.php
Racing for the world championship continues on Wednesday at 11.00 with two more starts scheduled.
Kiwis dominate OK Dinghy Pre-Worlds event
In Warnemünde, Germany, Kiwi pride was dominant in the final warm-up event prior to the 2008 OK Dinghy World Championship, which starts tomorrow, Tuesday 8th July.
Photo credit: WARNEMUNDE WEEK, photo: Pepe Hartmann
The 71st Warnemünde Week was convincingly won by Karl Purdie (NZL) after a great opening day in 8-20 knots winds and then managing to hold onto his points lead in the lighter and trickier conditions of the next two days.
Seven races were sailed on the same course area as the world's races will be sailed in a diverse range of conditions. Friday brought stiff north-easterlies and three tough races. The first race went to Mark Perrow (NZL), runner up in last year's worlds. Karl Purdie rounded the first mark in the middle of the 70 boat fleet and as the wind strengthened from 8 knots to 15 worked his way up to third place by the finish. In the next two races, the wind gradually strengthened and Purdie was clearly the fastest to take two bullets, the final one by a significant margin.
Lighter winds on Saturday brought some new faces to the front, with Luke O'Connell (NZL) sailing well to win the first race. As the wind started to drop still further Jorgen Holm (DEN) took race 5. Race six was then won by Alistair Deaves (NZL), a British sailor now living in New Zealand, after overtaking Greg Wilcox (NZL) on the final approach the to finish.
The final race on Sunday was also the practice race for the World Championship and was sailed in very light and patchy winds. O'Connell started well mid line and soon pulled ahead to build a useful lead to take his second race of the series and the Sven Lehn Memorial Trophy. Alistair Deaves snatched second place from Juliane Hoffman (GER) during the closing stages as the final beat was shortened in the very light winds.
O'Connell's win sealed the top four for New Zealand and with the Kiwi team taking six out of the top nine, they have sent a clear message to the rest of the fleet. Last year's world champion Nick Craig (GBR) didn't sail the full series and could only manage a 5-3-10-27 in the fickle conditions, while Kiel Week winner Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE) counted a DNC but was near the front in most races. The only non-New Zealander in the top 6, Jorgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) placed well in the windy races, but dropped to fifth place overall after the lighter wind races at the end of the week.
Measurement of equipment for the world championship is almost complete and after the opening ceremony tonight, the first races for the 2008 OK Dinghy World Championships will start at 11.00 Tuesday morning. The long term forecast for the week promises a variety of conditions to challenge the fleet, and while no one is predicting a winner yet, the event could prove to be one of the most open for some time.
