OK Dinghy Worlds 2013 - Blasse extends lead in perfect Pattaya

by Robert Deaves on 2 Apr 2013 It was 'more of the same' on day two at the Singha OK Dinghy World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, with slightly less wind and tide making the racing exciting and close. Race wins went to Nick Craig (GBR) and Mike Williams (AUS) though Roger Blasse (AUS) continues to lead overall.

Race three started after a few recalls as the ebb tide pushed the fleet over the line. Soon after the start Nick Craig tacked on a left shift and crossed the fleet to lay the top mark perfectly as more than half the fleet overstood and ended up reaching back. Craig extended away though Andre Budzien (GER) and Roger Blasse closed up at the gate. Budzien briefly took the lead by rounding the opposite gate, but Craig held on until the wind came back in his favour and in the fight to the finish, took the win from Blasse and Budzien.

Race four started on the flood tide with the leaders coming in from the left, Mike Williams timed it perfectly to lead round and extend on each leg for a magnificent win. The chasing pack included Craig, Jonathan Fish (GBR), Paul Rhodes (NZL), Greg Wilcox (NZL), Blasse and Budzien. On the second beat Blasse went hard left and got through to third behind Budzien, though it was all change on he final beat and Blasse moved up to third and Craig hit the left again to end a great day with a third, while Budzien was disqualified as OCS.

Wilcox, who placed fifth and fourth to jumps up to sixth overall said, 'It was a great day for me. I got the big decisions right, though it was another tough day on the body. I am wishing I spent the winter in the gym rather than the pub.'
Williams commented, 'The winds are bit more than expected, so that suits us Aussies, and it's good to see four of us in the top 10.The tide is playing a big part but there was a wind shift to the left in the second race that was too big to ignore. I had to tack on it, and that was pretty much it.

'My last Worlds race win was in 2006. I didn't win any last time so it's always special to win a race at this level.'
'We are staying here at the Club. Everything is perfect, the staff, the accommodation and the food. It's exceptional and we're having a great time.'

With four tough races completed the fleet can now enjoy a lay day on Tuesday, with various activities and entertainments organised in and around Pattaya tonight and on Tuesday. Those that survive will continue racing on Wednesday, though some will be using the time to recover energy ready for the final six races. The championship concludes on Friday.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]

Results (top 20 from 70) - subject to protest

1 AUS 749 Roger Blasse 8.0 3 1 2 2
2 GBR 2150 Nick Craig 11.0 4 3 1 3
3 AUS 730 Michael Williams 17.0 10 2 4 1
4 NZL 517 Paul Rhodes 26.0 2 4 13 7
5 AUS 735 Mark Jackson 28.0 11 6 6 5
6 NZL 544 Greg Wilcox 32.0 8 15 5 4
7 AUS 754 Brent Williams 37.0 7 11 7 12
8 GBR 2118 Terry Curtis 44.0 12 14 8 10
9 DEN 1409 Stefan Myralf 55.0 5 9 35 6
10 NZL 542 Alistair Deaves 59.0 23 13 15 8
11 DEN 1411 Jorgen Svendsen 64.0 6 5 32 21
12 DEN 1421 Bo Petersen 74.0 9 16 40 9
13 GER 693 Martin von Zimmermann 78.0 16 12 10 40
14 GBR 2138 Robert Deaves 83.0 21 18 28 16
15 GER 778 Soenice Behrens 85.0 22 32 14 17
16 GER 782 Andre Budzien 86.0 1 7 3 ocs
17 DEN 1335 Mogens Johansen 90.0 20 23 34 13
18 AUS 727 Don Williams 90.0 19 20 25 26
19 NZL 535 Mike Wilde 91.0 36 24 16 15
20 GER 775 Joerg Rademacher 91.0 15 29 27 20