Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 4

Strong fleet set to contend Australian OK Dinghy Nationals in two weeks

by Robert Deaves 13 Dec 2018 14:53 PST 28 December 2018 - 3 January 2019
Roger Blasse, 10 time Australian OK Dinghy champion - Australian OK Dinghy Nationals © Alex McKinnon Photography

With just two weeks to go before the start of the 57th Australian OK Dinghy Championship, the entry list is looking like a who's who of OK sailing in Australia, with 30 entries so far received. The championship will take place at Black Rock Yacht Club from 28 December 2018 to 3 January 2019.

The entry list includes the four most successful Australian OK Dinghy sailors over the past three decades, all of which are members of the Black Rock Yacht Club (BRYC): Roger Blasse, Mark Jackson, Andre Blasse, and Mike Williams. These four have won all but two national titles since 1995, and in fact BRYC members have won the national championship some 37 times since it first began in 1963.

Roger Blasse has the honour of having won the most titles in Australian OK Dinghy history. Since 1988 he has taken the national title a total of 10 times already and is now looking for an illusive 11th. He is probably the most successful Australian OK Dinghy sailor of all time, having won the world championship twice, in 1998 and 2013, though he hasn't won a national title since 2008.

Having sailed all his life and trained for his two world titles on the Port Phillip waters, he knows them well. Port Phillip is famous for its great sailing conditions, reliable winds and large waves.

"Occasionally we get days on end of sea breezes here, but it's quite rare for that to happen. More than likely you get a bit of everything. If a frontal system comes through then each day can be different."

One of the other favourites to take the title on home waters is Mark Jackson, who won five national titles in a row from 2013 to 2017 before losing to Rob McMillan in 2018. McMillan is unable to defend his title this year.

Jackson said, "We are very fortunate to have such a great stretch of water to race on, right on our doorstep. If the conditions are good, then it is one of the best places in the world to sail. It can also be really challenging, which is also good for us this year as many of us are using the event as final training before the upcoming world championship in New Zealand in February."

Mike Williams is back after a few years absence at the national championship. He won three back-to-back titles from 2010 to 2012. And with four titles under his belt, Roger's elder brother, Andre Blasse, is another favourite at the upcoming championship.

There was some indication of form at the recent Go for Gold Regatta at BRYC, where Jackson put together almost a clean sheet and won with a race to spare from Steve Wilson and Andre Blasse. A healthy fleet of 24 OK Dinghies is also competing this week at Sail Melbourne, sailed from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, just to the north of BRYC.

The national championship begins with a coaching session on Thursday 27 December before the invitation race and opening ceremony the following day. The National title series consists of 10 races from Sunday 29 December to Thursday 3 January, with a lay day on New Year's Day.

The Notice of Race, Entry Form and current Entry List can be found here: bryc.com.au

Related Articles

OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde preview
118 sailors from 14 nations on the entry list The 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship opens in Warnemünde this weekend with 118 sailors from 14 nations on the entry list. It will take place in the first half of Warnemünder Woche. Posted on 3 Jul
Countdown to the OK Nationals at Dabchicks
It's expected that the fleet will enjoy come close and competitive sailing The OK class are just ten days away from their 2025 National Championships, which are this year being hosted by Dabchicks Sailing Club. Posted on 1 Jul
OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche Overall
Niklas Edler retains the title after strongest winds of the week on the final day Niklas Edler, from Sweden has won the 2025 Kieler Wiche for OK Dinghies after the final two races on Sunday, which brought the strongest winds of the week. Posted on 30 Jun
OK Dinghy Open at Overy Staithe
Two days of contrasting weather challenged the sailors Two days of contrasting weather challenged the eight OK sailors competing for the Overy Staithe SC annual open meeting, which was first held in 1971. Posted on 29 Jun
OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche Day 3
Niklas Edler extends OK Dinghy lead at Kieler Woche with one day to go. Niklas Eder, from Sweden, extended his lead at Kieler Woche after two more races on Saturday in again, quite windy and shifty offshore winds. Posted on 28 Jun
OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche Day 2
Niklas Edler maintains narrow lead after four races Sweden's Niklas Edler has maintained his lead in the 49 strong OK Dinghy fleet at Kieler Woche on Friday with a 2,1 in fairly breezy conditions and holds a 2-point lead over Canada's Ben Flower who scored 1,2. Posted on 27 Jun
2025 International Classes Regatta preview
The ICR has earned a stellar reputation as an outstanding lead-up regatta for competitors The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is proud to announce that the 2025 International Classes Regatta (ICR)—the Club's premier annual dinghy event—will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025. Posted on 27 Jun
OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche Day 1
Niklas Edler leads the fleet after two races On the first day of Kieler Woche for the OK Dinghy class, Sweden's Niklas Edler began his defence for the OK Dinghy with a solid 2, 1 on the day that started with light winds and which increased through the second race. Posted on 26 Jun
OK Scottish Championship at East Lothian
Attracting sailors from the far corners of the UK On the weekend of 7th & 8th of June, East Lothian YC based out of the beautiful harbour of North Berwick hosted the OK Scottish Championship. The event was also part of the Grand Slam OK circuit and attracted sailors from the far corners of the UK. Posted on 11 Jun
OK class in Daffodil Regatta at Ullswater
Fleets of 12 for part 1 of the Border Trophy A dozen OKs turned up at Ullswater for the annual Daffodil Regatta, this year sponsored by Magic Marine and also being run as part of the SailRacer Summer challenge. It was especially encouraging to see several new faces join the fleet. Posted on 28 Apr
Armstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe GlandsRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER