Ben Morrison wins OK Interdoms with one race to spare
by Miranda Powrie on 12 Apr 2012
Paul Rhodes, Ben Morrison,Jake Weeks (Junior Champs) Mike Williams - 2012 OK Interdominions and NZ Nationals, Wakatere BC April 2012 NZ OK Dinghy Assoc
Ben Morrison dominated the 40 strong fleet of 25 Kiwis and 15 Aussies, winning the OK Interdominions and New Zealand Nationals sailed from Wakatere BC over Easter with one race to spare.
Ben sailed a consistent regatta, and with three race wins and a drop of only fourth place going into the last day he could afford to skip the last race and watch from a chase boat. Ben credits the depth and strength of the New Zealand fleet for his success, together with a strong summer of racing and training with his compatriots.
The NZOK Tour of six regattas held around the North Island provided the perfect build-up for Ben and the NZ team, with the result that New Zealand also took out the Interdomion trophy with a 110 point lead over the Aussies (points are calculated from the top 5 finishers in each nation). Paul Rhodes from Wellington took out second and Mike Williams from Australia was third in a fleet containing numerous former national, interdominion and even world champions.
The win also gave Ben enough NZOK Tour points to edge ahead of Wellington’s Luke O’Connell to take out the overall tour for 2011-2012.
Despite a terrible forecast, Wakatere BC managed to dial up some beautiful conditions: the first two days saw light-moderate and shifty south easterly breezes and the last two days stronger south westerlie. With lovely breezes, bright sunshine and the full moon sending up some strong tides, the local sailors were loving the conditions, although those less used to dealing with current took a race or two to get their heads around it.
Wakatere boating club and the New Zealand OK Dinghy Association hosted a superb regatta and a great time was had on and off the water, with lunches and dinners provided and the sailors well looked after at all times. Cold beers were plentiful and of course the rum bucket made an appearance (many thanks to the Aussies for supplying the essential ingredients).
NZOKDA would like to particularly thank Janet Watkins, Janine Page-Wood and Dean Coleman for all their hard work and of course our sponsors, without whom the regatta would not have been possible: Victoria Cruising Club, Art of Racing, North Sails NZ, Harken NZ, Fosters Ship Chandlery, Magic Marine, Kiwi Yachting, Primal Earth, A M Morrison, Jen Cheyne Design, C-Tech, Wettie Wetsuits, Icebreaker Boats, Narrow Neck Beach Café and BRG Consulting.
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