OK Dinghy World Championship - Artemis sailors shine after first races

by Robert Deaves on 31 Dec 2014 OK Dinghy World Championship 2014 - Following a long day of waiting for the breeze, the fleet at the 2014 OK Dinghy World Championship at Black Rock YC in Melbourne, Australia was finally rewarded by two great races in a rapidly building sea breeze. Matt Stechmann (NZL) leads overall after winning the first race. Matt Coutts (NZL) is in second while defending champion Roger Blasse (AUS) is in third. The second race was won by Stechmann's Artemis teammate Anthony Nossiter (AUS).

After losing the invitation race and first day of racing to strong winds and big seas on Port Phillip, the second day of the championship started in start contrast: flat seas and no wind. The fleet again waited patiently ashore for most of the day. Some sailors ventured out as a light two-three knots breeze filled in to try and encourage the elements into some action, but the wind was never strong enough for racing. Around 15.00 a southerly started to appear and slowly strengthened and the fleet was released at about 16.00.

The wind continued to build to seven-eight knots for the start of Race one. After one general recall, the fleet got away under U flag with Matt Stechmann (NZL) crossing at the pin end and tacking to cross the entire fleet by a substantial margin. It was enough of a jump on the fleet to lead all the way round. He was chased by Jørgen Svendsen (DEN) and Greg Wilcox (NZL) but there was little they could do about his enormous lead.

Stechmann takes up the story, 'I started four boats up from the pin and managed to have a bit of a gap. I looked over my shoulder and there were 74 boats to cross, so I tacked and crossed them and kept going and waited for it to come back and that was pretty much it. I was about a minute ahead at the top. Then I just kept between Jørgen and Greg and the mark. They made some gains downwind which I took back upwind. Once I was in front there wasn't too much to it really. I had a good lane and pressure and that just popped me out and put me in the lead.'

'At the end of the first triangle Greg has closed to about 25 seconds but I got the breeze straightaway and he had to tack to cover Jørgen, so that gave me some leverage on the right and I got a nice little shift that put 30 seconds on them right there to take my advantage back out to a minute.' Stechmann won the race comfortably from Svendsen and Wilcox.

The wind really started to build after the fleet finished the race and after a wait for the course to be realigned, Race two got underway in a solid 20 knots breeze and rising seas. These were fantastic conditions for the OK Dinghy and also to the liking to Anthony Nossiter (AUS). After rounding close to the front group at the top mark he took the lead on the final downwind from Roger Blasse (AUS) to lead up to the finish. Ben Morrison (NZL) crossed in third.

Nossiter explained his day. 'That was my first race in an OK Dinghy since the Interdominions this time last year. First race off the start line and I got a yellow flag, So I perhaps need to sail more like a gentleman and be a bit less active. But it was good fun, plug and play, just like a Finn.'

'The second race was much windier and I won that one. I just tried to get free and sail how it feels good to me. I wasn't really sure what was the best way; a lot of the boats were going too high for me so I just sailed a bit freer and got the top at the business end and then just chipped away a bit and got past a few guys. It was really good fun, very gentlemanly sailing at the front of the fleet.'

'It was a good day for Artemis; we got two firsts today. I think we have different strengths though. Stech and I are 15 kg different in weight.'

It was a testing race for the fleet with some fantastic Port Phillip waves to surf down as the sun started to nudge the horizon. By the time the fleet reached the shore it was gone 20.00 and sunset followed shortly after as the sailors hurried into the club for some well-deserved fish and chips baskets.

Racing continues on January 2, after the scheduled lay day on New Year’s Day. Tonight the tired sailors are enjoying a New Year's Eve party at the Black Rock Yacht Club. With a day off tomorrow some of the sailors are planning a big night, probably in the way that only OK Dinghy sailors can. The less said about that the better, but all are happy that the 2014 OK Dinghy World Championships is finally underway. Happy New OK Year.

Top 10 after 2 races

1 NZL 549 Matt Stechmann 1 5 6
2 NZL 519 Matt Coutts 4 7 11
3 AUS 749 Roger Blasse 11 2 13
4 NZL 546 Luke O'connell 8 6 14
5 AUS 730 Michael Williams 6 8 14
6 NZL 544 Greg Wilcox 3 12 15
7 AUS 535 Glenn Collings 5 10 15
8 DEN 1445 Jorgen Svendsen 2 14 16
9 AUS 765 Anthony Nossiter 22 1 23
10 AUS 766 Robert McMillan 20 4 24

Overall Results - 2014 OK Dinghy World Championships

Pl	Name	Sail Num	Country	Club	1	2	Total Points	Net Points
1	STECHMANN, Matt	NZL549	NZL	Naval Point Club	1	5	6	6	Veterans
2	COUTTS, Matt	NZL519	NZL	Auckland SC	4	7	11	11
3	BLASSE, Roger	AUS749	AUS	BRYC	11	2	13	13	Veterans
4	O'CONNELL, Luke	NZL546	NZL	Wakatere BC	8	6	14	14
5	WILLIAMS, Michael	AUS730	AUS	BRYC	6	8	14	14	Veterans
6	WILCOX, Greg	NZL544	NZL	Potsdamer Seglerverien	3	12	15	15	Veterans
7	COLLINGS, Glenn	AUS535	AUS	Safety Beach SC	5	10	15	15	Veterans
8	SVENDSEN, Jorgen	DEN1445	DEN	Hellerup Sejlklub	2	14	16	16	Veterans
9	NOSSITER, Anthony	AUS765	AUS	MHYC	22	1	23	23	Veterans
10	MCMILLAN, Robert	AUS766	AUS	WSC/RPAYC	20	4	24	24	Veterans
11	JACKSON, Mark	AUS735	AUS	BRYC	9	16	25	25	Veterans
12	SKELTON, Mark	AUS753	AUS		7	19	26	26	Veterans
13	PERROW, Mark	NZL551	NZL	Waiuku YC	15	11	26	26
14	MILNE, Peter	AUS694	AUS	BRYC	13	13	26	26	Veterans
15	MORRISON, Ben	NZL530	NZL	Wakatere BC	27	3	30	30
16	OLESEN, Christian	DEN1340	DEN	VSK	14	17	31	31
17	DOUGLAS, Bradley	NZL369	NZL	Wakatere BC	12	20	32	32
18	DAVIES, Tim	AUS739	AUS	Wangi ASC	10	24	34	34	Veterans
19	BLASSE, Andre	AUS729	AUS	BRYC	17	18	35	35	Veterans
20	WELLS, Gareth	AUS742	AUS	Wangi ASC	18	28	46	46	Veterans
21	RHODES, Paul	NZL557	NZL	Worser Bay BC	23	23	46	46	Veterans
22	O'DONNELL, Edward	AUS734	AUS	Wangi ASC	32	15	47	47	Veterans
23	WILLIAMS, Brent	AUS754	AUS	ASC	24	26	50	50	Veterans
24	HORNE, Peter	AUS764	AUS	Drummoyne SC	25	29	54	54	Veterans
25	RONE, Eric	USA536	USA	Wakatere BC	16	42	58	58
26	BUSH, Daniel	NZL478	NZL	Wakatere BC	50	9	59	59
27	CLOUGH, Jonathan	NZL498	NZL	Wakatere BC	21	38	59	59
28	MCDOWELL, Steve	NZL545	NZL	Worser Bay BC	28	31	59	59
29	HOOGENBOOM, David	NZL303	NZL	Waiuku Yacht Club	26	34	60	60	Masters
30	BOURNE, Dave	GBR2157	GBR	Upriver YC	34	27	61	61	Veterans
31	DEAVES, Alistair	NZL542	NZL	Wakatere BC	29	37	66	66	Veterans
32	WILLIAMS, Glenn	AUS719	AUS	Big River SC	47	22	69	69	Veterans
33	MANNERING, Adrian	NZL504	NZL	Napier SC	36	35	71	71	Veterans
34	DEAVES, Robert	GBR2156	GBR	Waldringfield SC	41	33	74	74	Veterans
35	KETTERIDGE, David	AUS725	AUS	Adelaide SC	33	46	79	79	Masters
36	POSPIECH, Rainer	GER765	GER	Yachtclub Berlin-Grunau	35	44	79	79	Masters
37	HORVATH, Michael	AUS744	AUS	BRYC	62	21	83	83	Veterans
38	ROBINSON, Peter	AUS750	AUS	Drummoyne SC	42	41	83	83	Veterans
39	FENWICK, Chris	NZL509	NZL	Napier SC	30	54	84	84
40	LYNCH, Peter	AUS726	AUS	Wangi ASC	56	30	86	86	Veterans
41	COULTHARD, Adrian	NZL531	NZL	Napier Sailing Club	31	55	86	86	Veterans
42	HENGST, Rob	NZL533	NZL	Napier SC	48	39	87	87	Veterans
43	JANSSEN, Folkert	AUS733	AUS	BRYC	65	25	90	90	Veterans
44	LOKUM, Gary	AUS741	AUS	BRYC	60	32	92	92	Veterans
45	VISICK, Christopher	AUS758	AUS	BRYC	45	47	92	92	Veterans
46	BAKER, Andrew	AUS761	AUS	BRYC	44	49	93	93	Veterans
47	HALL, Chris	AUS757	AUS	Ballarat YC	46	48	94	94
48	DAME, Dirk	GER750	GER	Segler-Vereinigung Mannheim	37	58	95	95	Veterans
49	WALDRON, Gavin	GBR756	GBR	Morecambe SC	43	53	96	96	Veterans
50	ASHTON, Bruce	AUS728	AUS	BRYC	19	78 DNF	97	97	Masters
51	PEDERSEN, Malte	DEN1407	DEN	Royal Danish YC	57	40	97	97	Masters
52	TROLAND, Nils	DEN1391	DEN	HSS	52	45	97	97	Veterans
53	WAKEFIELD, Grant	AUS736	AUS	DSC	38	61	99	99	Veterans
54	SYLVESTER, Jorg	GER726	GER	Segeberger Segel-Club	39	63	102	102	Veterans
55	HAINES, Samuel	AUS708	AUS	BRYC	59	43	102	102
56	DEVINE, Chris	NZL548	NZL	Napier SC	67	36	103	103	Veterans
57	POWRIE, Sefton	NZL547	NZL	Wakatere BC	49	56	105	105	Masters
58	PIKE, Martin	NZL554	NZL	Napier SC	63	50	113	113	Masters
59	FERGUSSON, Ron	AUS618	AUS	Albert SC	51	66	117	117	Veterans
60	WILSON, Mitchell	AUS695	AUS	Wangi ASC	53	64	117	117	Youth
61	WILLIAMS, Elizabeth	AUS759	AUS	Sandgate YC /BRYC	40	78 DNF	118	118	Women Veterans
62	BROCKHUUS, Mads	DEN1419	DEN	Skaelskor Amator Sejlklub	58	60	118	118	Veterans
63	MOORE, Stephen	AUS755	AUS	BRYC	69	51	120	120	Masters
64	GERICKE, Dirk	GER735	GER	SG Einheit Brandenburg e.V.	61	59	120	120	Veterans
65	SMITH, Tim	AUS740	AUS	BRYC	70	52	122	122
66	FOEST, Ronald	GER688	GER	DRS	55	68	123	123	Veterans
67	FURNEAUX, Richard	AUS737	AUS	BRYC	66	57	123	123	Masters
68	YATES, Glenn	AUS767	AUS	Wangi ASC	64	62	126	126	Masters
69	ROBERTS, Mark	AUS762	AUS	ASC	54	78 DNF	132	132	Veterans
70	CROMIE, Luke	AUS672	AUS	BRYC	73	65	138	138	Veterans
71	THOMPSON, Erik	AUS706	AUS	Sandgate YC / BRYC	72	67	139	139	Masters
72	HENDERSON, John	AUS715	AUS	BRYC	76	69	145	145
73	FLAVELL, Mike	AUS543	AUS	BRYC	75	70	145	145	Masters
74	WILLIAMSON, Neil	USA717	USA		68	78 DNF	146	146	Veterans
75	WALKER, Michael	AUS655	AUS	Drummoyne SC	71	78 DNF	149	149	Masters
76	PARKINSON, Ashley	GBR711	GBR	London Corinthian SC	74	78 DNF	152	152	Veterans
77	USTOVYTSKI, Slava	AUS760	AUS	BRYC	77	78 DNC	155	155

Event website