OK Dinghy Worlds final day - Perfect Port Phillip conditions

by Robert Deaves on 4 Jan 2015 At the OK Dinghy World Championship 2015-15, after a week of uncooperative weather at Black Rock, Australia, the competition wrapped up in perfect Port Phillip conditions. Matt Stechmann (NZL) did just enough to take the title by one point from Luke O'Connell (NZL), who won a three way points tie with defending champion, Roger Blasse (AUS), who took third overall, and Greg Wilcox (NZL) in fourth.

Going into the final day, the fleet needed two more races to get in a valid series, so there was audible relief as the sailors arrived on Sunday morning to a sailable 15-20 knots on the bay. The day started damp and grey, following the overnight storm and rain, but by the second race the sky was clear and the sea breeze was pumping. The strong winds of Saturday had also left a large confused sea behind, but this soon moderated along with the wind.

The first race of the day, race four went to Mike Williams (AUS). He said 'It was about 15 knots, so a nice breeze. I got off the line cleanly and just had a good lane and got around the top mark just behind Ben Morrison (NZL). I got through him at the gybe mark and was able to keep the group just behind me, but they were so close to me the whole time, it was a bit nerve racking.

'When the wind started dropping out half way through the race I was a bit concerned the lighter guys might come through. Matt Stechmann (NZL) and Matt Coutts (NZL) got into their own little tacking dual, that was before Matt Coutts knew he was BFD, so that let me sail away a little bit from them.' Coutts was one of eight sailors black flagged at the start, which somewhat hindered his chances of the title. Williams led across the line from Morrison and Greg Wilcox (NZL).

By the time the second race started the dropping wind had been reinforced by a growing sea breeze. The sailors were able to stretch their legs and enjoy the conditions and the sunshine to the full. The main battle was between Stechmann and Luke O'Connell (NZL) for the title, though it was so close it could have gone any of five ways.

After a week of drama and waiting, the event then had a poetic ending. Black Rock YC Commodore, Andre Blasse (AUS), had spent the previous two years organising this championship, and dominated the final race to win by a massive margin. It was a very popular win. He said, 'It was good fun for me. I came off the start line near the starboard end, tacked, ducked a couple of boats and got the first shift and just went up the middle. I was first to the top mark and thought I was pretty quick downwind and got away. It's beautiful having nice clear air out the front' He took a huge win from Wilcox and Morrison.

However the real drama was playing out behind them as Stechmann tried to stay in touch with O'Connell.Eventually Stechmann crossed in 10th with O'Connell in eighth, to give Stechmann his first ever OK Dinghy World title. O'Connell took the silver while the defending champion Roger Blasse (AUS), from the home club, took the bronze.

Blasse continued. 'It was perfect Black Rock conditions with fantastic waves. I wish we'd had a little bit more of that during the regatta, but unfortunately we didn't. It's a shame for the overseas competitors but at least they got to see what it can be like. The race committee did a great job in difficult conditions all week.'

'After two years work it's fantastic for me to finish the week with a race win. I have won a couple of races before but not for a while, so it's nice to do that at home, after all the work.'

The visitors to Black Rock have learned a lot about Australian weather this week. Most came expecting the nice sea breezes that makes sailing in Port Phillip famous. But it was not too be. Of the six days, three were lost through strong westerlies and northerlies and a further race was lost when the wind went away. The 77 sailors feel very fortunate that they were able to complete their championship on the final day.

Stechmann's win also completed the hat-trick of Kiwis winning the OK Dinghy World Championship at Black Rock YC after Rick Dodson (NZL) in 1982 and Leith Armit (NZL) in 1990. In fact, no Australian has yet won the title when it has been held at Black Rock.

On his chances today, Stechmann said, 'I was quite confident that I could perform good enough today to give myself a chance. But whether I woke up this morning thinking today I would win the worlds, probably not. But I was confident I could put in a good display and let it all unfold.'

'The first race went incredibly well and I got a good start just up from the pin and managed to get over the little bunch to leeward of me which really gave me the leverage to sail the way I wanted. I could sail low and quick to the left hand corner and we got a shift which popped us up into a nice lead with a few other boats. Though Greg and Luke still had good races, that really set me up to hold all the cards for the final race.'

'I always knew I had the biggest drop, so my game plan for the final race was just to stay close to Luke and shadow him round the track and see how the cards fell. There are so many good guys out there, you just had to sail your own race but Luke and I pushed each other hard to be in the top bunch, and on the line there was just one boat between us, and that was enough to give me the one point lead.'

'I am absolutely over the moon to be honest. My goal for this regatta was top five, I thought that would be a good effort here and just to really focus for 2016 worlds in 18 months times. I am just stoked about this.'

'I am absolutely thrilled for Luke. We work together and we're pretty tight. We do a lot of training together. His day will come but I am absolutely rapt that if I had to go toe to toe with someone it would be Luke. Could we have planned it any better? Probably not.'

Silver medalist O'Connell paid tribute to Stechmann, 'It was a great week. Very challenging conditions, very difficult for the race officer and the competitors, varied conditions and as always great fun. I am thrilled with second place. Thrilled to get my first tie and thrilled to finish second to such a great bloke. I am well happy with the result and Matt is definitely the deserving winner.'

Roger Blasse took the bronze. He said, 'I think of course the weather could have been better, but I am happy about the guys who won. They have done a lot of work in the last few years with their boats and their sailing, so that's really good. I am happy with third as I don't think I sailed well enough at times, because it was such a short regatta. At times I had a couple of bad first works, so I couldn't get round the top mark how I liked, but that's just sailing sometimes. It doesn't always go your way. So I was a bit surprised to end up third. It was a good week, just a shame we didn't get better weather.'

In accepting his winners' prize Stechmann said, 'In the circumstances I think the race team have done a fantastic job. I never came here expecting to win this contest. One of my goals coming here was to win a race just to prove I could, because I don't win many, in fact I have never won an OK regatta before. I could stand here all night and thank people who have had an impact on my sailing career.'

He thanked his New Zealand team mates. 'Any one of those guys could win this event, and they will. There's some good men there. They all have a piece of this. It's not just about me winning this. It's a team thing. We share info and have come a long way in a short time. We do some great yachting and have great camaraderie. I wouldn't be standing here tonight if it wasn't for you, so thank you.'

'It's been a wonderful event, not just because I won, but to be here with all my friends from around the world. Every year we all get together and have a great time. It's what it's really all about. This is a really massive moment in my life and I am really pleased to be able to share it with all of you.'

Results after five races (one discard)
1 Matt Stechmann NZL 549 18
2 Luke O'connell NZL 546 19
3 Roger Blasse AUS 749 19
4 Greg Wilcox NZL 544 19
5 Michael Williams AUS 730 21
6 Matt Coutts NZL 519 25
7 Ben Morrison NZL 530 35
8 Jorgen Svendsen DEN 1445 37
9 Mark Skelton AUS 753 38
10 Mark Jackson AUS 735 40

Overall Results - 2014 OK Dinghy World Championships

Race Number					Points
Pl	Name	Sail Num	Country	Club	1	2	3	4	5	Total Points	Net Points
1	STECHMANN, Matt	NZL549	NZL	Naval Point Club	1	5	(11)	2	10	29	18	Veterans
2	O'CONNELL, Luke	NZL546	NZL	Worser Bay BC	(8)	6	1	4	8	27	19
3	BLASSE, Roger	AUS749	AUS	BRYC	(11)	2	6	8	3	30	19	Veterans
4	WILCOX, Greg	NZL544	NZL	Potsdamer Seglerverien	3	(12)	7	5	4	31	19	Veterans
5	WILLIAMS, Michael	AUS730	AUS	BRYC	6	8	(21)	1	6	42	21	Veterans
6	COUTTS, Matt	NZL519	NZL	Auckland SC	4	7	5	(78) BFD	9	103	25
7	MORRISON, Ben	NZL530	NZL	Wakatere BC	27	3	(56)	3	2	91	35
8	SVENDSEN, Jorgen	DEN1445	DEN	Hellerup Sejlklub	2	14	(78) DSQ	9	12	115	37	Veterans
9	SKELTON, Mark	AUS753	AUS		7	(19)	3	14	14	57	38	Veterans
10	JACKSON, Mark	AUS735	AUS	BRYC	9	16	8	(24)	7	64	40	Veterans
11	BLASSE, Andre	AUS729	AUS	BRYC	17	18	(19)	6	1	61	42	Veterans
12	OLESEN, Christian	DEN1340	DEN	VSK	14	17	2	10	(78) BFD	121	43
13	DOUGLAS, Bradley	NZL369	NZL	Wakatere BC	12	20	(22)	7	5	66	44
14	COLLINGS, Glenn	AUS535	AUS	Safety Beach SC	5	10	(30)	12	22	79	49	Veterans
15	NOSSITER, Anthony	AUS765	AUS	MHYC	22	1	17	(78) BFD	13	131	53	Veterans
16	DAVIES, Tim	AUS739	AUS	Wangi ASC	10	24	(54)	11	15	114	60	Veterans
17	PERROW, Mark	NZL551	NZL	Waiuku YC	15	11	(34)	27	11	98	64
18	MCMILLAN, Robert	AUS766	AUS	WSC/RPAYC	20	4	20	21	(33)	98	65	Veterans
19	DEAVES, Alistair	NZL542	NZL	Wakatere BC	29	(37)	10	13	16	105	68	Veterans
20	HOOGENBOOM, David	NZL303	NZL	Waiuku Yacht Club	26	(34)	9	19	25	113	79	Masters
21	CLOUGH, Jonathan	NZL498	NZL	Wakatere BC	21	38	4	(78) BFD	20	161	83
22	MILNE, Peter	AUS694	AUS	BRYC	13	13	38	(78) BFD	19	161	83	Veterans
23	DEAVES, Robert	GBR2156	GBR	Waldringfield SC	(41)	33	14	15	29	132	91	Veterans
24	HORNE, Peter	AUS764	AUS	Drummoyne SC	25	29	(37)	23	17	131	94	Veterans
25	RHODES, Paul	NZL557	NZL	Worser Bay BC	23	23	(43)	20	28	137	94	Veterans
26	WILLIAMS, Brent	AUS754	AUS	ASC	24	26	24	(78) BFD	21	173	95	Veterans
27	MCDOWELL, Steve	NZL545	NZL	Worser Bay BC	28	(31)	25	26	18	128	97
28	BOURNE, Dave	GBR2157	GBR	Upriver YC	34	27	15	22	(46)	144	98	Veterans
29	BUSH, Daniel	NZL478	NZL	Wakatere BC	(50)	9	35	31	26	151	101
30	RONE, Eric	USA536	USA	Wakatere BC	16	42	(78) OCS	16	32	184	106
31	WELLS, Gareth	AUS742	AUS	Wangi ASC	18	28	(59)	25	38	168	109	Veterans
32	ROBINSON, Peter	AUS750	AUS	Drummoyne SC	(42)	41	31	17	24	155	113	Veterans
33	JANSSEN, Folkert	AUS733	AUS	BRYC	(65)	25	32	35	27	184	119	Veterans
34	ASHTON, Bruce	AUS728	AUS	BRYC	19	(78) DNF	16	40	47	200	122	Masters
35	O'DONNELL, Edward	AUS734	AUS	Wangi ASC	32	15	40	37	(78) BFD	202	124	Veterans
36	PEDERSEN, Malte	DEN1407	DEN	Royal Danish YC	57	40	12	18	(78) BFD	205	127	Masters
37	COULTHARD, Adrian	NZL531	NZL	Napier Sailing Club	31	(55)	29	28	39	182	127	Veterans
38	FENWICK, Chris	NZL509	NZL	Napier SC	30	(54)	28	43	30	185	131
39	MANNERING, Adrian	NZL504	NZL	Napier SC	36	35	(49)	32	34	186	137	Veterans
40	KETTERIDGE, David	AUS725	AUS	Adelaide SC	33	46	18	42	(51)	190	139	Masters
41	BAKER, Andrew	AUS761	AUS	BRYC	44	(49)	23	33	45	194	145	Veterans
42	POSPIECH, Rainer	GER765	GER	Yachtclub Berlin-Grunau	35	(44)	41	29	40	189	145	Masters
43	LOKUM, Gary	AUS741	AUS	BRYC	(60)	32	46	44	31	213	153	Veterans
44	WILLIAMS, Glenn	AUS719	AUS	Big River SC	47	22	(52)	49	36	206	154	Veterans
45	DAME, Dirk	GER750	GER	Segler-Vereinigung Mannheim	37	58	33	34	(78) BFD	240	162	Veterans
46	HENGST, Rob	NZL533	NZL	Napier SC	(48)	39	47	41	42	217	169	Veterans
47	SYLVESTER, Jorg	GER726	GER	Segeberger Segel-Club	39	(63)	50	36	48	236	173	Veterans
48	FOEST, Ronald	GER688	GER	DRS	55	(68)	13	56	59	251	183	Veterans
49	VISICK, Christopher	AUS758	AUS	BRYC	45	47	(64)	39	52	247	183	Veterans
50	ROBERTS, Mark	AUS762	AUS	ASC	54	(78) DNF	78 OCS	30	23	263	185	Veterans
51	WILLIAMS, Elizabeth	AUS759	AUS	Sandgate YC /BRYC	40	(78) DNF	26	57	62	263	185	Women Veterans
52	WALDRON, Gavin	GBR756	GBR	Morecambe SC	43	(53)	44	48	50	238	185	Veterans
53	PIKE, Martin	NZL554	NZL	Napier SC	(63)	50	42	59	37	251	188	Masters
54	HAINES, Samuel	AUS708	AUS	BRYC	59	43	48	(78) BFD	43	271	193
55	WAKEFIELD, Grant	AUS736	AUS	DSC	38	(61)	58	46	55	258	197	Veterans
56	LYNCH, Peter	AUS726	AUS	Wangi ASC	56	30	(78) DNF	78 BFD	35	277	199	Veterans
57	GERICKE, Dirk	GER735	GER	SG Einheit Brandenburg e.V.	61	59	27	(62)	53	262	200	Veterans
58	DEVINE, Chris	NZL548	NZL	Napier SC	(67)	36	62	58	44	267	200	Veterans
59	POWRIE, Sefton	NZL547	NZL	Wakatere BC	49	(56)	55	47	49	256	200	Masters
60	HALL, Chris	AUS757	AUS	Ballarat YC	46	48	(57)	55	56	262	205
61	WILSON, Mitchell	AUS695	AUS	Wangi ASC	53	64	39	52	(67)	275	208	Youth
62	SMITH, Tim	AUS740	AUS	BRYC	(70)	52	61	54	41	278	208
63	BROCKHUUS, Mads	DEN1419	DEN	Skaelskor Amator Sejlklub	58	(60)	53	50	54	275	215	Veterans
64	PARKINSON, Ashley	GBR711	GBR	London Corinthian SC	74	(78) DNF	36	45	65	298	220	Veterans
65	TROLAND, Nils	DEN1391	DEN	HSS	52	45	45	(78) BFD	78 BFD	298	220	Veterans
66	HORVATH, Michael	AUS744	AUS	BRYC	62	21	63	(78) DNF	78 DNC	302	224	Veterans
67	FURNEAUX, Richard	AUS737	AUS	BRYC	66	57	67	38	(78) BFD	306	228	Masters
68	YATES, Glenn	AUS767	AUS	Wangi ASC	(64)	62	51	53	64	294	230	Masters
69	FERGUSSON, Ron	AUS618	AUS	Albert SC	51	66	66	60	(68)	311	243	Veterans
70	WILLIAMSON, Neil	USA678	USA		68	(78) DNF	71	51	60	328	250	Veterans
71	THOMPSON, Erik	AUS706	AUS	Sandgate YC / BRYC	(72)	67	60	66	57	322	250	Masters
72	CROMIE, Luke	AUS672	AUS	BRYC	(73)	65	73	63	58	332	259	Veterans
73	WALKER, Michael	AUS655	AUS	Drummoyne SC	71	(78) DNF	68	61	61	339	261	Masters
74	MOORE, Stephen	AUS755	AUS	BRYC	69	51	65	(78) DNC	78 DNF	341	263	Masters
75	HENDERSON, John	AUS715	AUS	BRYC	(76)	69	72	64	63	344	268
76	USTOVYTSKI, Slava	AUS760	AUS	BRYC	77	(78) DNC	69	67	66	357	279
77	FLAVELL, Mike	AUS543	AUS	BRYC	75	70	70	65	(78) DNF	358	280	Masters