OK Dinghy European Championship - Fleet heads for Steinhude
by Robert Deaves on 17 Jul 2014
OK Dinghy European Championship International OK Dinghy Association - copyright
http://www.okdia.org/
An unprecedented entry of 116 have registered for the 2014 OK Dinghy European Championships, which is due to start this weekend at Steinhude, Germany.
The OK Dinghy European Championship is only traditionally held when the World Championship is outside Europe. The 2014 World Championship is Melbourne, Australia, this December, so for many sailors unable to travel down under the Europeans is the main focus of their season. The very large entry is testament to the recent growth in many nations, with a lot of sailors attending their first international championship.
The sailing will take place on Steinhuder Meer, a 30 square km lake in the Lower Saxony region of Germany, approximately 30 km north-west of Hanover. At about 6km long and 4km wide, it is the largest lake in north-western Germany, but also very shallow. It is at the heart of the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park, a popular tourism and recreational area. The lake has two small islands, both artificial, one of which, Wilhelmstein, was built in the 18th century as a military fortress. There is a mid-week sailors trip to explore Wilhelmstein Island.
The championship is hosted by two clubs on the lake's southern shore. Segler-Verein Großenheidorn and Yachtclub Steinhuder Meer are both experienced in organising large events. The majority of the sailors are expected to camp in the club grounds, which is providing breakfast, dinner and some beer as part of the entry fee.
In total there are sailors from 11 nations entered, including Australia, New Zealand and Ukraine, a new nation for the class. OK Dinghies were very popular in Eastern European countries in the 1960s and 1970s, mainly as a training class for the Finn, and in recent years there has been some interest again in the region.
With so many boats attending, predicting the form guide is always going to be a gamble. There are five former world champions in the fleet and three former European Champions, including the defending champion Bo Petersen (DEN), who has shown some form this year already with a win at Kiel Week in light winds. From the current World Ranking 14 out of the top 20 European sailors are competing, including eight out of the top 10. The world number one is Greg Wilcox (NZL), who recently dominated Warnemünde Week, but in very different conditions.
Ten years ago Jim Hunt (GBR) was the first British sailor to win the OK Dinghy World Championship. He's back for his first major OK Dinghy event since then, having won the Spring Cup in Medemblik earlier this year. A multiple champion across many classes he is one of the main favourites next week.
The largest entry is, unsurprisingly, from Germany. Perhaps more than any other nation they excel at light wind lake sailing so there is a whole raft of sailors capable of picking up race wins, though the 2012 World Champion Andre Budzien (GER) will be hard to beat.
A betting man would most likley bet on Petersen, Wilcox, Hunt or Budzien to lift the title, based on form this year. But throw in the vagaries of a German lake in summer, and the reality could be very different. The long range weather forecast for the region is for very high temperatures over the weekend, leading to 25-28 degrees next week with 8-12 knots of wind most days. Not trying to tempt fate, but if that prediction is correct, it is going to be fabulous sailing conditions.
A warm up regatta is being held over the weekend of 19-20 July, before measurement and registration start. Ten races are scheduled for the European Championship from Tuesday 22 July to Saturday 26 July. If the confirmed entry is more than 100 boats then the fleet will be split into two separate starts sailing on the same course. The fleets will be split based on the latest OK Dinghy World Ranking list, released this week, and adjusted each day based on the overall positions at the end of each day. On the fourth and fifth days, the fleet will be split into gold and silver fleets.
Entry List
|
Country
|
First Name Helm
|
Last Name Helm
|
Abbr. Helm
|
Club Helm
|
|
POL 1
|
Tomasz
|
Gaj
|
MOS 2 Warszawa
|
MOS 2 Warszawa
|
|
BEL 1
|
Rod
|
Andrew
|
SNEH
|
Société Nautique Eau ...
|
|
POL 4
|
Radoslaw
|
Drozdzik
|
LOK GRYF Kety
|
LOK GRYF Kety
|
|
POL 5
|
Darek
|
Kras
|
MOS2
|
MOS-2 Warszawa
|
|
POL 7
|
Marek
|
Bernat
|
Poland
|
KKS Warmia Olsztyn
|
|
UKR 8
|
Mykyta
|
Bushtian
|
BSYC
|
Black Sea Yacht Club
|
|
POL 10
|
Janusz
|
Stobinski
|
AZS Poznan
|
AZS Poznan
|
|
POL 14
|
Pawel
|
Pawlaczyk
|
JKW Poznan
|
JKW Poznan
|
|
POL 16
|
Marek
|
Jarocki
|
Poznan
|
ZLKS
|
|
POL 21
|
Waldemar
|
Czyz
|
HORN
|
Klub Zeglarski HORN K...
|
|
BEL 29
|
Johanna
|
Andrew-Becker
|
SNEH
|
Société Nautique Eau ...
|
|
POL 31
|
Antoni
|
Pawlowski
|
AZS POZNAN
|
AZS POZNAN
|
|
GER 35
|
Jessica
|
Finke
|
SKM
|
Segel-Klub Minden e. V.
|
|
POL 40
|
Robert
|
Swiecki
|
MOS 2
|
MOS 2 Warszawa
|
|
POL 58
|
Michal
|
Gaj
|
FIR Warszawa
|
FIR Warszawa
|
|
SWE 99
|
Hans
|
Elkjaer
|
Varbergs Sailing Club
|
Varbergs Sailing Club
|
|
BEL 151
|
Paul
|
Bouts
|
R Y C M Liege
|
Royal yacht club de l...
|
|
POL 201
|
Darius
|
Heinemann
|
AZS POZNAN
|
AZS POZNAN
|
|
BEL 203
|
Joost
|
Rommelaere
|
Belgium
|
KLYC
|
|
BEL 214
|
Paul
|
Verrijdt
|
KLYC
|
KLYC Antwerpen.
|
|
BEL 220
|
Ronny
|
Poelman
|
KLYC
|
KLYC Antwerpen.
|
|
POL 333
|
Mieczyslaw
|
Poplonyk
|
AZS POZNAN
|
AZS POZNAN
|
|
GER 539
|
Uli
|
Borchers
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
NZL 544
|
Greg
|
Wilcox
|
PSV
|
Potsdamer Seglerverei...
|
|
NZL 553
|
Finn
|
Gheury
|
DWSC
|
Datchet Water SC
|
|
GER 567
|
Jan
|
Beckmann
|
SVPB
|
Segler-Verein Paderbo...
|
|
GER 576
|
Ute
|
Witke
|
BSC
|
Bautzener Segel-Club ...
|
|
GER 595
|
Daniel
|
Groeschl
|
ENSFR
|
Entdecker- und Seefah...
|
|
GER 596
|
Jan
|
ten Hoeve
|
ZSK
|
Zwischenahner Segelkl...
|
|
GER 606
|
Katharina
|
Huß
|
SCFR
|
Segel-Club Friedrichs...
|
|
GER 607
|
Christian
|
Heinze
|
SCV
|
Segel-Club Ville e.V.
|
|
GER 630
|
Norbert
|
Petrausch
|
TSVS
|
Turn- und Sportverein...
|
|
GER 633
|
Cornelia
|
Wirbeleit
|
SWS
|
Sächsischer Wasserspo...
|
|
NED 638
|
Robert
|
Bancken
|
WVB
|
WV Braassemmermeer
|
|
GER 640
|
Sven
|
Marchot
|
SGSP
|
Sportgemeinschaft Seg...
|
|
GER 642
|
Claus
|
Stockhardt
|
SSCP
|
Surf- und Segel-Club ...
|
|
GER 643
|
Jürgen
|
Illers
|
SCO
|
Segelclub Otterstadt ...
|
|
GER 649
|
Kai
|
Wehmhörner
|
SSCRA
|
Seesportclub Rangsdor...
|
|
GER 651
|
Heinz
|
Ridder
|
SVPB
|
Segler-Verein Paderbo...
|
|
GER 653
|
Susanne
|
Mackmann
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
GER 662
|
Gerd
|
Breitbart
|
SCÖ
|
Segelclub Övelgönne
|
|
NED 664
|
Peter
|
van der Schaaf
|
1929
|
KW Sneek
|
|
GER 665
|
Peter
|
Stephan
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
GER 688
|
Ronald
|
Foest
|
DRS
|
Deutscher Regatta Seg...
|
|
GER 690
|
Carsten
|
Saß
|
ZSK
|
Zwischenahner Segelkl...
|
|
GER 693
|
Martin
|
v. Zimmermann
|
SCOE
|
Segel-Club Oevelgönne...
|
|
AUS 694
|
Peter
|
Milne
|
BRYC
|
Black Rock Yacht Club
|
|
GER 695
|
Erik
|
Bork
|
SSCRA
|
Seesportclub Rangsdor...
|
|
GER 697
|
Jörg
|
Posny
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
GER 715
|
Sven
|
Beye
|
SSC
|
Segeberger Segel-Club...
|
|
GER 726
|
Jörg
|
Sylvester
|
SSC
|
Segeberger Segel-Club...
|
|
GER 727
|
Frank
|
Strelow
|
WSVRH
|
WSVRh Duisburg e. V.
|
|
GER 731
|
Thomas
|
Glas
|
SSC
|
Segeberger Segel-Club...
|
|
GER 735
|
Dirk
|
Gericke
|
SGE
|
SG Einheit Brandenbur...
|
|
GER 740
|
Gunter
|
Arndt
|
FYC
|
Flensborg Yacht Club ...
|
|
GER 747
|
Christian
|
Hartmann
|
SSCRA
|
Seesportclub Rangsdor...
|
|
GER 748
|
Wilhelm
|
Kath
|
SVN
|
Segelverein Neptun vo...
|
|
GER 749
|
Jens
|
Wehmeier
|
SGH 1978
|
Seglergemeinschaft Hö...
|
|
GER 750
|
Dirk
|
Dame
|
SVM
|
Segler-Vereinigung Ma...
|
|
GER 755
|
Yves
|
Kaminski
|
SVEW
|
Seglervereinigung Ein...
|
|
GER 757
|
Falk
|
Hagemann
|
SWS
|
Sächsischer Wasserspo...
|
|
GER 761
|
Stefan
|
Rassau
|
DYC
|
Düsseldorfer Yachtclu...
|
|
GER 762
|
André
|
Hennings
|
CKA
|
Club der Kreuzer Abte...
|
|
GER 765
|
Rainer
|
Pospiech
|
YCBG
|
Yachtclub Berlin-Grün...
|
|
GER 766
|
Gunnar
|
Goronzi
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
GER 767
|
Juliane
|
Hofmann
|
PSV
|
Potsdamer Seglerverei...
|
|
GER 769
|
Volker
|
Paatz
|
SVB
|
Seglervereinigung Bru...
|
|
GER 771
|
Ralf
|
Mackmann
|
SCH
|
Segel Club Haltern am...
|
|
GER 772
|
Oliver
|
Gronholz
|
SSC
|
Segeberger Segel-Club...
|
|
GER 774
|
Michael
|
Wolf
|
SSCP
|
Surf- und Segel-Club ...
|
|
GER 775
|
Jörg
|
Rademacher
|
SCST
|
Segel-Club Stevertals...
|
|
GER 777
|
Andreas
|
Pich
|
LYC
|
Lübecker Yacht-Club e...
|
|
GER 778
|
Sönke
|
Behrens
|
SCOE
|
Segel-Club Oevelgönne...
|
|
GER 782
|
André
|
Budzien
|
SYC
|
Schweriner Yachtclub ...
|
|
GER 783
|
Karsten
|
Kath
|
SVN
|
Segelverein Neptun vo...
|
|
GER 787
|
Ralf
|
Tietje
|
SVG
|
Segler-Verein Grossen...
|
|
FRA 1053
|
Francois
|
Podevyn
|
C.V.D. (Belgium)
|
Cercle de Voile de Dave
|
|
DEN 1265
|
Jesper Stig
|
Andersen
|
Tsk
|
Thurø
|
|
DEN 1315
|
Bo
|
Reker Andersen
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1324
|
Nicklas
|
Heide
|
SSS
|
Svendborg Sunds Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1335
|
Mogens
|
Johansen
|
Solrød Strand
|
Solrød Strand
|
|
DEN 1354
|
Peter
|
Heide
|
SSS
|
Svendborg Sunds Sejlklub
|
|
POL 1361
|
Zbigniew
|
Dryzner
|
JK KOTWICA
|
JK KOTWICA Tarnobrzeg
|
|
DEN 1369
|
Christian
|
Hedlund
|
Hellerup yachtclub
|
Hellerup
|
|
DEN 1393
|
Rene Sarabia
|
Johannsen
|
VSK
|
Vallensbæk Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1396
|
Stig
|
Frandsen
|
Kaløvig Bådelaug
|
Kaløvig Bådelaug
|
|
DEN 1397
|
Henrik
|
Kofoed Larsen
|
HS
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1407
|
Malte
|
Pedersen
|
Royal yacht club
|
2860 Søborg
|
|
DEN 1410
|
Jens
|
Lauge
|
HS
|
Hellerup
|
|
DEN 1420
|
Jørgen
|
Lindhardtsen
|
HvS & HS
|
Hvidovre Sejlklub & H...
|
|
DEN 1421
|
Jesper
|
Strandberg
|
HSS
|
Herslev Strand Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1423
|
Stefan
|
Myrälf
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1427
|
Jørgen
|
Svendsen
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
Hellerup
|
|
DEN 1431
|
Bo
|
Petersen
|
HS
|
Hellerup Sejlklub
|
|
DEN 1432
|
Ralph
|
Eriksen
|
Soenderballe Baadelaug
|
Soenderballe Baadelaug
|
|
FRA 1820
|
Raymond
|
Dodard
|
AVA
|
Association Voile Ail...
|
|
FRA 1823
|
Guillaume
|
De Kervenoael
|
ABC Voile
|
ABC Voile
|
|
GBR 2080
|
Paul
|
Pike
|
Covenham SC
|
Covenham SC
|
|
GBR 2084
|
Keith
|
Byers
|
MHYC
|
Morecambe & Heysham Y...
|
|
GBR 2123
|
Andy
|
Turner
|
ossc
|
Overy Staithe
|
|
GBR 2139
|
Kenneth
|
Carroll
|
AWSC
|
Alton Water Sailing Club
|
|
GBR 2141
|
Simon
|
Davis
|
UTSC
|
Upper Thames SC
|
|
GBR 2142
|
Ian
|
Harris
|
Bristol Corinthians
|
BCYC
|
|
GBR 2145
|
Tony
|
Woods
|
Glossop S.C.
|
Glossop Sailing Club.
|
|
GBR 2147
|
Tom
|
Lonsdale
|
WOSC
|
West Oxford sailing club
|
|
GBR 2154
|
simon
|
cowood
|
NSC
|
northampton sailing club
|
|
GBR 2155
|
Robert
|
Bourne
|
URYC
|
Up River Yacht Club
|
|
GBR 2156
|
Robert
|
Deaves
|
WSC
|
Waldringfield SC
|
|
GBR 2158
|
John
|
Ball
|
BSC
|
Brightlingsea sc
|
|
GBR 2160
|
Alex
|
Scoles
|
OSSC
|
Overy Staithe Sailing...
|
|
GBR 2162
|
Jim
|
Hunt
|
BSC
|
Blithfield Sailing Club
|
|
GBR 2163
|
Gavin
|
Waldron
|
MHYC
|
Morecambe & Heysham Y...
|
|
GBR 2165
|
Simon
|
Cox
|
WSC
|
Waldringfield SC
|
|
GBR 2167
|
Lee
|
Child
|
Dabchicks
|
Dabchicks
|
|
GBR 2169
|
Will
|
Turner
|
DSC
|
Dabchicks
|
|
SWE 2741
|
Ulf
|
Dagerbrant
|
USS
|
Umeå Segelsällskap
|
|
SWE 2775
|
Johnny
|
Billström
|
SSV
|
Segelsällskapet Vikin...
|
|
SWE 2788
|
Magnus
|
Gillgren
|
GESS
|
Getskärs Segelsällskap
|
|
SWE 2790
|
Ulf
|
Sahle
|
GeSS
|
Getskärs Segelsällskap
|
|
SWE 2796
|
Bengt
|
Larsson
|
SS Kaparen
|
Segelsällskapet Kaparen
|
|
SWE 2803
|
Mårten
|
Bernesand
|
SSV
|
Segelsällskapet vikin...
|
|
SWE 2804
|
Per
|
Jaensson
|
SSV Kalmar
|
Segelsällskapet Vikin...
|
|
SWE 2810
|
Johannes
|
Dagerbrant
|
USS
|
Umeå Segelsällskap
|
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