OK Dinghy End of Season Championship at Northampton Sailing Club

OK End of Season Championship at Northampton © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

OK End of Season Championship at Northampton © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

OK End of Season Championship at Northampton © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

The OK fleet gathered at Northampton SC over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of November for their End of Season Championships. With a forecast to be around 30 knots and above, it was a surprise to find notable strong wind experts, Jim Hunt and Lee Child were not in attendance. Reports suggest they were last seen skipping, hand in hand to their nearest nail salon for matching his and hers treatments.

Racing got underway in about 28 knots of breeze with Richard Burton, Nick Craig and Ben Steel at the front. Burton promptly capsized at the gybe mark to allow Nick, Ben and Dave Bourne through. Dave managed to sneak in front of Ben up the beat and then promptly capsized down the run in his pursuit of Nick. Nick won, with Ben in second, Richard third and Deryck Lovegrove fourth.

Race 2 and with the breeze building a little, Dave rounded the windward mark first with Nick and Richard in hot pursuit. Dave looked like he was going to hang on for the win until a particularly bad, last windward mark rounding allowed Nick to get on the inside at the top of the run and hold his position till the finish. Richard Burton came in third with Keith Byers in fourth.

Dave again led at the windward mark in race 3 only to tire and allow the rampaging Craig and Burton through up the beat. Nick and Richard were having a great battle which Nick won with Richard having to settle for second with Dave in third and Keith again in fourth.

Special mention should go to Colin Meddows-Smith and Dave Cooper who, in addition to the racing, were also trying to see who could swim the furthest!

Saturday night at the club was bonfire and fireworks night. As you can imagine, Richard Burton and Dave Bourne were on their best behaviour while regular rabble rousers, Dave Cooper, Keith Byers and Deryck Lovegrove were doing their best to keep the OK legend alive and well, although Finn Gheury may have a video that proves otherwise!

Sunday morning dawned to a lot less breeze although it was expected to strengthen. Simon Cowood also put in a welcome appearance, and now that the wind had eased, his neatly brushed bouffant could happily stay set in place. Race 4 started in about 15 knots and Nick quickly made his intentions clear. Richard Burton was keeping Nick honest by making him really work hard for his race win. Simon showed that age should never be a handicap by pushing the leading pair hard all the way. Luke Gower had a good race to come home in fourth.

The fifth and final race was a pretty tight affair throughout the fleet. Richard Burton took the lead and maintained it throughout despite Nick chasing hard and trying every trick in the book to get past. Richard won, Nick second, Simon third and Dave in fourth.

OK End of Season Championship at Northampton - photo © Anthony York / www.chunkypics.co.uk

So Nick won the End of Season Championships with a consistent set of firsts although he certainly had to work hard for it. Richard Burton took second place with Dave Bourne coming in third.

Richard Burton also picked up the Travellers Trophy and the inaugural Grand Tour, Gold fleet win to complete a pretty successful year for him. Deryck Lovegrove picked up the Grand Tour, Silver fleet win.

Many thanks must go to Northampton Sailing Club for another well run and successful event, from the race team to the ladies in the galley and we look forward to visiting again in the coming year.

More excellent ChunkyPics photos from the event can be found here.

Overall Results: