OK Dinghy Europeans - Conditions halt racing on day 4

by Robert Deaves on 26 Jul 2014 The forecast for day four at the OK Dinghy European Championship on Steinhuder Meer in Germany was for rain and a reducing wind. Soon after the Gold fleet set off, the rain stopped and the wind died. The fleet waited afloat for two hours and ashore for three hours but racing was finally abandoned for the day just before 1800.

For the record, Bo Petersen (DEN) was leading on the right and Martin von Zimmermann (GER) on the left but the wind had dropped from 7-8 knots just before the start to 1-2 knots and was swinging wildly when the race officer decided to abandon half way up the first beat. Soon after the abandonment was signalled the wind dropped out completely and the fleet was towed back to the harbour.

On Saturday, the last day of racing, the first start has been brought forward to 10.00, to make the best of the forecast wind, which even then is only 5-6 knots. A maximum of two races will be sailed, though to get even one in is being considered ambitious. The fleet will have to see what the new day brings.

Someone once said that the OK Dinghy fleet has a social competence far exceeding any other class. The 110 sailors here in Steinhude have been proving that statement right all week. Most of the fleet have drunk more free beer and eaten more free food than was covered by the entry fee alone. Of course it is not free but thanks to the huge number of sponsors that have got on board to support this fabulous week by a beautiful German lake.

At the dinner on Thursday evening, every sailor was given a tombola prize, donated by sponsors, including toestraps, bags, ropes, buoyancy aids, etc. Following that, the band, which induced sailor Peter Stephan (GER), entertained the sailors late into the night. Earlier, on the camp site, Rod Andrew (BEL) had entranced the sailors with his superb renditions of modern classics with his guitar and blues voice. Every day, breakfast is provided in the tent, beer and snacks are consumed on the grass after sailing and a dinner is served in the evening in the tent. All this has been included in the EUR 200 entry fee. The OK Dinghy class is famous for this kind of social responsibility.

The 2014 OK Dinghy European Championship will conclude on Saturday.

Results after six races (one discard)
1 DEN 1427 Jørgen Svendsen 7
2 GER 789 André Budzien 10
3 DEN 1431 Bo Petersen 12
4 GER 772 Oliver Gronholz 17
5 POL 14 Pawel Pawlaczyk 17
6 NZL 544 Greg Wilcox 20
7 GBR 2162 Jim Hunt 21
8 DEN 1420 Jørgen Lindhardtsen 24
9 DEN 1393 René Sarabia Johannsen 30
10 GBR 2169 Will Turner 34

Full results here

www.okem2014.de" target="_blank">Event website