OK Dinghy Worlds - Germany wins after difficult final day

by Robert Deaves on 2 Aug 2015 Andre Budzien (GER) has won the OK Dinghy World Championship in Puck, Poland after a very difficult, and sometimes contentious, final day. Charlie Cumbley (GBR) took the silver while Bo Petersen (DEN) took the bronze.

It was certainly a day of two halves in Puck. The first half was one of mystery and confusion. While some of the fleet were mystified why the first attempt at race eight was abandoned at the windward mark after a 70 degree wind shift, others were mystified why the re-sail wasn't abandoned when the wind deserted the course for 20 minutes on the final upwind and then popped up in the corners to completely change the finishing order. But everyone was confused by the pressure and direction changes that continued unabated all day long.

The second half continued when the breeze shifted 180 degrees and for the first time this week the fleet sailed a northerly upwind leg. The other major change was that the sun came out properly for the first time in a week. As the fleet now leaves Puck, typically, a week of high temperatures and low rainfall is forecast.

The first attempt at race eight started under black flag and half way up the beat it was clear a change was coming. On the right the wind gradually veered 70 degrees bringing the middle up to the mark. Confusion reined at the top mark as the race committee tried to abandon without any flags. Several major contenders including Budzien, Stefan Myralf (DEN) and Pawel Pawlakzyk (POL) were quite relieved as they were all on the left and very, very deep.

On the re-sail in a slightly more stable wind, Pawlakzyk favoured the right this time to round first from Antoni Pawlowski (POL) and Dawid Kania (POL). The leaders stayed in control round the next lap but it all changed on the final upwind. The wind was easing as the fleet rounded the gate mark, but switched off completely for 15-20 minutes as they negotiated the final upwind. Lots of the leading group were stranded in the middle with no way back. A few on the left found some pressure and ended up beating to the finish from way beyond the layline. Gradually the middle clocked up to the line while the right side reached down. Despite the disgruntled sailors, the race officer let it run. Kania won from Myralf and Andreas Pich (GER). Regatta leader Budzien struggled across in 17th. Jim Hunt (GBR) was one of eight black flags and decided to call it a day.

The final race was looking doubtful for a while with not many sailors exactly keen to repeat the previous race. But half an hour later a 10-12 knot northerly appeared and a course was set.

It was probably the best race of the week in brilliant sunshine and a more stable breeze. It was also time for the old man to show who was the boss. At 70 years of age, Jørgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) had won the practice race and then a series of bad luck followed with two black flags and a deep result on the shifty race four. However he put that to right in race nine, leading from start to finish and extending for a very popular win. He also choose this week to sail his very oldest boat, which he used when he returned to the class in the 1990s. Cumbley crossed in second with Myralf third.

So Andre Budzien wins his second title following his victory in 2012. Charlie Cumbley wins the silver at the first attempt and is surely someone to watch closely in the years ahead. Bo Petersen wins the bronze, his first OK Dinghy Worlds medal after four years of trying.

All told it has been an interesting week in Puck, some extreme weather and extreme wind shifts, far too much rain, a little bit of sunshine, great hospitality and most importantly of all, a worthy champion in André Budzien. Next year the OK Dinghy World Championship heads to Quiberon in France.?

Results after nine races

1 GER 789 André Budzien 31
2 GBR 2173 Charlie Cumbley 49
3 DEN 1431 Bo Petersen 56
4 SWE 100 Thomas Hansson-Mild 59
5 DEN 6 Stefan Myralf 78
6 AUS 735 Mark Jackson 87
7 NZL 544 Greg Wilcox 98
8 GBR 2154 Simon Cowood 134
9 POL 14 Pawel Pawlaczyk 136
10 GBR 2042 Richard Burton 138

Results

Lp.	Sail #	Name	Club	year	sex	Cat.	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1	GER-789	BUDZIEN ANDRE	Schweriner Yachtclub e.V	62	M	Vet	6	7	5	1	1	4	2	17	5	31
2	GBR-2173	CUMBLEY CHARLIE	TEIGN CORINTHIAN YC	80	M		5	4	10	7	5	2	DNF	14	2	49
3	DEN-1431	PETERSEN BO	Hellerup Sejlklub	63	M	Vet	1	1	BFD	16	2	5	9	13	9	56
4	SWE-100	HANSSON-MILD THOMAS	SS Kaparen	71	M	Vet	17	13	14	3	6	1	1	10	11	59
5	DEN-6	MYRALF STEFAN	Hellerup Sejlklub	59	M	Mast	13	5	12	37	BFD	3	3	2	3	78
6	AUS-735	JACKSON MARK	Black Rock Yacht Club	64	M	Vet	12	11	15	8	7	16	6	51	12	87
7	NZL-544	WILCOX GREG	Potsdamer Seglerverien	57	M	Vet	9	3	3	25	BFD	9	7	38	4	98
8	GBR-2154	COWOOD SIMON	Northampton SC	62	M	Vet	45	19	26	6	16	19	17	12	19	134
9	POL-14	PAWLACZYK PAWEL	JKW POZNAN	64	M	Vet	8	28	1	10	4	6	8	5	DNE	136
10	GBR-2042	BURTON RICHARD	Oxford SC	91	M		42	DNF	9	4	10	11	21	28	13	138
11	DEN-1442	SARABIA JOHANNSEN RENE	VSK	73	M	Vet	19	6	22	29	BFD	8	5	21	30	140
12	GBR-1	HUNT JIM	Blithfield SC	67	M	Vet	3	2	2	31	3	7	4	BFD	DNF	146
13	GER-693	V. ZIMMERMANN MARTIN	SCOe	67	M	Mast	27	9	6	55	12	30	11	36	15	146
14	GBR-13	SCOLES ALEX	Overy Staithe	81	M		31	15	29	12	21	15	18	22	16	148
15	POL-1	GAJ TOMASZ	MOS 2 WARSZAWA	67	M	Vet	10	17	32	17	18	DNF	30	18	7	149
16	AUS-754	WILLIAMS BRENT	Adelaide Sailing Club	62	M	Vet	11	40	11	53	8	14	12	43	20	159
17	DEN-1397	KOFOED HENRIK	Hellerup Sejlklub	61	M	Vet	21	8	33	28	11	18	24	57	37	180
18	GBR-2156	DEAVES ROBERT	Waldringfield SC	67	M	Vet	36	20	16	11	17	24	28	29	41	181
19	SWE-2810	DAGERBRANT JOHANNES	Umea SS	94	M	Jun	25	36	24	14	31	17	31	56	8	186
20	SWE-16	CLARSUND MATS	LBS	67	M	Vet	16	29	20	22	19	33	20	35	39	194
21	GBR-2172	BOURNE DAVE	Up River Yacht Club	73	M	Vet	39	14	13	47	14	21	16	46	35	198
22	DEN-1420	LINDHARDTSEN JORGEN	Hellerup Sejlklub	45	M	Mast	4	BFD	17	60	BFD	10	10	11	1	207
23	DEN-1	ANDERSEN BO REKERS	Hellerup Sejlklub	60	M	Vet	15	BFD	36	36	23	28	51	4	14	207
24	GER-797	PICH ANDREAS	LUBECKER YACHT CLUB	66	M	Vet	34	12	25	DNF	25	41	34	3	34	208
25	POL-27	KANIA DAWID	ZLKS POZNAN	97	M	Jun	14	BFD	37	59	24	13	19	SCP	SCP	209.4
26	SWE-2809	BORJESSON JONAS	Kungliga Svenska Segelsa	67	M	Vet	22	26	41	21	46	35	42	8	57	241
27	GER-775	RADEMACHER JOERG	Segelclub Stevertalsperr	67	M	Vet	28	21	35	46	22	22	39	52	33	246
28	POL-117	WOJEWSKI MILOSZ	Pogon Szczecin	91	M		18	BFD	19	19	BFD	39	15	16	31	251
29	POL-10	STOBINSKI JANUSZ	AZS POZNAN	68	M	Vet	59	23	45	50	15	36	48	15	24	256
30	GBR-2163	WALDRON GAVIN	Morecambe SC	64	M	Vet	48	30	21	26	28	20	26	67	63	262
31	SWE-99	ELKJAER HANS	Varbergs SC	59	M	Mast	41	31	34	23	30	63	46	9	51	265
32	GER-787	TIETJE RALF	Segler-Verein Grossenhei	60	M	Mast	51	42	50	56	29	29	25	19	27	272
33	AUS-719	WILLIAMS GLENN	Big River Sailing Club	60	M	Vet	53	35	49	42	13	26	14	64	42	274
34	SWE-2783	ANDERSSON JONAS	Nyss	71	M	Vet	20	41	31	9	42	38	45	69	59	285
35	GBR-2145	WOODS TONY	Etherow SC	61	M	Vet	26	37	18	58	20	42	27	59	DNF	287
36	SWE-2803	BERNESAND MARTEN	SSV	72	M	Vet	68	24	55	24	37	48	54	25	28	295
37	GER-765	POSPIECH RAINER	Yachtclub Berlin-Grunau	53	M	Mast	30	56	40	13	34	45	38	BFD	47	303
38	POL-31	PAWLOWSKI ANTONI	AZS POZNAN	64	M	Vet	23	BFD	42	63	DNF	31	23	6	22	304
39	POL-4	DROZDZIK RADOSLAW	KZ Dryf Kety	67	M	Vet	40	18	48	27	41	DNF	DNF	24	17	309
40	SWE-2796	BENGT LARSSON	SS Kaparen	63	M	Vet	37	51	39	30	35	50	36	37	46	310
41	AUS-762	ROBERTS MARK	Adelaide Sailing Club	71	M	Vet	29	BFD	44	5	9	34	22	77	DNF	314
42	GBR-2151	FISH JONATHAN	Waldringfield SC	80	M		38	27	4	18	BFD	27	13	BFD	DNF	315
43	POL-7	BERNAT MAREK	KKS WARMIA OLSZTYN	62	M	Vet	47	49	46	38	33	32	49	62	25	319
44	FRA-1823	DE KERVENOAEL GUILLAUME	ABC Voile	91	M		DNF	32	52	40	49	40	41	26	40	320
45	DEN-1402	TEGLERS BO	Hellerup Sejlklub	75	M	Vet	7	50	8	BFD	BFD	12	BFD	50	18	333
46	POL-19	SALAMON GRZEGORZ	KZ HORN KRAKÓW	71	M	Vet	65	62	79	43	38	52	44	33	10	347
47	AUS-725	KETTERIDGE DAVID	Adelaide Sailing Club	56	M	Mast	49	38	61	35	45	64	59	27	44	358
48	GBR-2147	LONSDALE TOM	West Oxford SC	89	M		44	33	28	51	32	44	37	DNF	DNF	363
49	GER-665	STEPHAN PETER	Segelclub Stevertal e.V.	66	M	Vet	54	46	60	34	36	37	53	49	70	369
50	DEN-1395	PETERSEN HENRIK KIMMER	Herslev Stand Sejlklub	62	M	Vet	50	22	59	66	40	59	DNF	40	38	374
51	DEN-1407	PEDERSEN MALTE	Royal Danish Yachtclub	56	M	Mast	35	BFD	47	BFD	27	46	33	58	45	385
52	GER-735	GERICKE DIRK	SG Einheit Brandenburg e	64	M	Vet	75	64	62	41	DNF	23	35	34	53	387
53	DEN-3	SVENDSEN JORGEN	Hellerup Sejlklub	64	M	Vet	2	10	7	2	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	397
54	GBR-2171	COX SIMON	Waldringfield	73	M	Vet	57	BFD	23	15	26	60	29	BFD	DNF	398
55	POL-11	GAJ MICHAL	UKS FIR WARSZAWA	95	M	Jun	58	58	68	DNF	44	51	50	41	32	402
56	GER-750	DAME DIRK	Segler-Vereinigung Mannh	63	M	Vet	52	39	DNF	DNF	DNF	47	32	30	21	409
57	POL-5	KRAS DAREK	MOS 2 WARSZAWA	67	M	Vet	DNF	55	58	32	50	43	40	BFD	43	415
58	POL-44	DROZDZIK PRZEMEK	KZ Dryf Kety	74	M	Vet	63	45	64	64	48	49	52	47	49	417
59	SWE-2752	MALM ARNE	Kungliga Svenska Segelsa	57	M	Mast	46	59	57	48	52	61	56	BFD	48	427
60	AUS-761	BAKER ANDREW	Black Rock Yacht Club	70	M	Vet	56	65	38	20	53	58	47	DNF	DNF	431
61	GER-688	FOEST RONALD	DRS	64	M	Vet	55	71	63	45	43	53	58	63	52	432
62	DEN-77	STRANDBERG JESPER	JESPER STRANDBERG	77	M		32	25	30	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	44	23	436
63	DEN-1391	TROLAND NILS	Herslev Stand Sejlklub	62	M	Vet	67	34	54	68	39	54	55	BFD	68	439
64	GER-731	GLAS THOMAS	Segeberger Segel Club	73	M	Vet	33	16	DNF	DNC	DNF	55	DNF	39	26	451
65	GER-751	RAMIN KNUT	CKA	67	M	Vet	78	66	66	49	DNF	72	61	20	56	468
66	POL-40	SWIECKI ROBERT	MDW	59	M	Mast	64	52	65	39	54	69	65	DSQ	60	468
67	DEN-1430	BRUNN RENE	Hellerup Sejlklub	56	M	Mast	84	43	51	54	47	DNF	DNC	54	55	482
68	GER-695	BORK ERIK	Seesportclub Rangsdorf	70	M	Vet	62	47	56	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	7	29	483
69	SWE-2815	WESTLUND PER	Norrkopngs Segelsallskap	44	M	Mast	66	BFD	69	DNF	51	62	57	45	54	498
70	GER-640	MARCHOT SVEN	SGS Postdam	66	M	Vet	72	61	74	52	DNF	66	60	55	61	501
71	DEN-7	HEDLUND CHRISTIAN	Hellerup Sejlklub	66	M	Vet	24	BFD	53	DNF	DNF	25	DNF	31	DNF	509
72	GBR-46	CARROLL KENNETH	Alton Water SC	51	M	Mast	73	48	DNF	DNS	DNS	57	43	48	58	515
73	POL-93	CHMIELEWSKI MACIEJ	UKZ GROT OSIR SUWALKI	96	M	Jun	DNF	68	70	44	55	74	64	74	73	522
74	GER-767	HOFMANN JULIANNE	Potsdamer Seglerverine	80	W		61	57	71	DNF	DNF	71	DNF	32	50	530
75	POL-8	CZYZ WALDEMAR	KZ HORN KRAKÓW	55	M	Mast	81	44	73	61	DNF	73	67	66	67	532
76	POL-189	CHODAKOWSKI BARTOSZ	KZ HORN KRAKÓW	75	M		69	70	72	62	DNF	68	62	68	74	545
77	DEN-1433	ANDERSEN LASR	Herslev Stand Sejlklub	60	M	Vet	70	DNF	43	BFD	DNF	DNF	DNF	23	36	548
78	POL-9	GLINKIEWICZ KAJETAN	Tsunami	51	M	Mast	60	BFD	27	DNF	DNF	56	DNF	42	DNF	561
79	POL-12	WLÓCZKOWSKI WALDEMAR	KKS WARMIA OLSZTYN	57	M	Mast	85	73	80	67	58	75	66	78	75	572
80	SWE-2763	HEYMAN CLAES	SS Kaparen	67	M	Vet	80	69	DNF	DNC	56	70	63	72	69	573
81	GER-678	RIDDER HEINZ	Seglerverein Paderborn	59	M	Mast	77	63	75	57	57	DNC	DNF	DNF	65	582
82	POL-333	GMAJ MICHAL	CHKZ LOK Chodziez	94	M		76	DNF	78	33	DNF	67	DNF	60	DNF	596
83	SWE-2812	GILLGREN MAGNUS	Getskars SS	59	M	Mast	43	54	67	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	71	DNF	611
84	GER-539	BORCHERS ULI	SCST	46	M	Mast	87	BFD	81	65	DNF	76	DNF	53	72	622
85	SWE-2790	SAHLE ULF	Getskars SS	60	M	Vet	71	53	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	73	62	635
86	GER-633	WIRBELEIT CORNELA	Saechsischer Wassersport	63	W	Vet	83	72	77	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	61	64	639
87	POL-651	JANCZAK WIESLAW	KZ OGNIWO Wšgrowiec	55	M	Mast	79	60	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	70	66	651
88	GER-649	WEHMHORNER KAI	SSh	65	M	Vet	82	67	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	65	71	661
89	DEN-112	JAKOBSEN SVEND	Hellerup Sejlklub	45	M	Mast	BFD	BFD	BFD	DNF	DNF	65	DNF	76	DNF	705
90	DEN-1432	ERIKSEN RALPH	Hadersleve Sejl Club	57	M	Mast	86	DNF	76	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	75	DNF	707
91	GBR-2170	BOURNE ROBERT	Up River Yacht Club	48	M	Mast	74	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	732
N/K	BEL-230	PIRENNE JACQUES	KLYC Antwerp	00	M	Mast	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	752
N/K	BEL-203	ROMMELAERE JOOST	KLYC Antwerp	64	M	Vet	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	752