Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

OK Open at South Staffordshire Sailing Club

by Ben Pickering 19 Oct 2020 02:24 PDT 10 October 2020
OKs at Sout Staffs © South Staffs SC

Following swiftly after the recent Inland Championships, 13 eager OK sailors arrived last Saturday at South Staffs SC ready for their annual OK open. In classic South Staffs style, the day would prove to be a game of exceptionally run snakes and ladders, with shifty wind, the occasional downpour and some nice sunshine in-between. Fortunately, we've all got used to things being unsettled recently!

Race 1

The first race commenced with a typical OK sight, a tightly packed line of keen boats all jostling for position. Unfortunately, some were a little too keen, with a general recall called and the black flag swiftly raised. Slap on the wrist number one.

On the second attempt the race got away cleanly, with Ben Pickering (Chase SC) and Andy Davis (SSSC) pushing hard in front around the windward mark. Fortunately for them, Nick Craig (Burghfield / Frensham SC) had been heading for the wrong mark taking Ed Bradburn (SSSC) with him. Don't worry - it didn't take long for them to rectify their error!

Next up were two reaches followed by another short beat up into some severe wind shadows where the postcode lottery decided your fortunes. Despite this, positions remained much the same for the first lap, with Craig and Bradburn then getting back into the mix on the next. The four then consistently battled for the remainder, eventually with Craig pulling out a small lead to take the win, followed by Taxi second and Pickering just pipping Bradburn to the line for 3rd and 4th respectively. Neil Goodhead (SSSC) followed to round out the top five.

Race 2

The second race got away cleanly with an altered course, this time incorporating a different second beat navigating to the right of the island. This time the first lap incorporated some new faces near the front with Will Croxford (SSSC), Keith Byers (Morecambe SC) and Keith Macaulay (SSSC) well up. The first two laps ensured a thorough mix-up with multiple place changes with big wind shadows and travellator gusts for those that knew where to find them.

The island provided a particular challenge - fight for position and you could find yourself under the island's wind shadow at the end of the run, or alternatively stay low and retain the strongest breeze. It was Croxford that made the most of this. Having spotted an unwise group formation, he held his nerve low and reaped the rewards, sailing comfortably beneath a group of Bradburn, Pickering, Taxi and Craig. Continuing with a healthy helping of friendly banter - 'If you sail to leeward of me again, I'm going home' - the next lap would again see much place changing, eventually with Craig pressing into the lead to take the win, again followed by Taxi, Pickering and Bradburn with Croxford rounding out the top five this time.

Race 3

Followed by a COVID-style seated lunch, race three again got away cleanly with a heightened breeze and a tightly packed group around the windward mark. This time it would be Pickering who led for much of the race having climbed the ladders and avoided the snakes. This would prove not to hold though, with Bradburn overhauling him into the lead whilst Craig and Taxi gained.

It would wait until the 3rd lap however for Craig and Taxi to jump Bradburn and Pickering, having held left up the beat whilst the others jostled heading right. Finally, it would be Pickering to master the art of soaking low, this time under and out from Bradburn, with a familiar final finishing order; Craig took the win with Taxi second, Pickering third and Bradburn fourth.

Overall, this gave Craig a well-deserved victory after three hard fought and unpredictable races. As ever, the fleet enjoyed some challenging racing and a big thank you must go to South Staffs for again holding an excellent day with all necessary COVID precautions in place. Another testament that we can - and should - continue sailing!

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st2232Nick CraigBurghfield‑1112
2nd11Andy DavisSSSC‑2224
3rd99Ben PickeringChase‑3336
4th2185Ed BradburnSSSC‑4448
5th2124Will CroxfordSSSC‑65510
6th2128Neil GoodheadSSSC57(DNC)12
7th2125Keith MacaulaySSSC76(DNC)13
8th2176Keith ByersMorecambe8‑9614
9th2135Bill BradburnSSSC‑98715
10th2122Tom TempleSSSC11‑12819
11th2081Jon SmithSSSC‑1211920
12th2116Paul BottomleySSSC1010(DNC)20
13th2058Martin TempleSSSC‑1313DNF24

Related Articles

OK Nationals at Dabchicks day 3
Efficient use of WhatsApp ensures fleet are aware of the change to SIs The third day of the OK National Championships was kindly sponsored by Ovington Boats, who are the headline sponsors for our 2026 Nationals, to be held at Tynemouth Sailing Club from 4 to 7 September 2026. Posted today at 3:25 pm
OK Nationals at Dabchicks Day 2
Oliver Davenport put his OCS from day one behind him After a fantastic first night social run by the host club, Dabchicks SC, the fleet took to the water for day two, with today's sponsorship by HD Sails. Posted on 13 Jul
OK Nationals at Dabchicks Day 1
Glorious sunshine greeted the competitors at West Mersea The OK class are holding their 2025 National Championships at West Mersea, with the event hosted by Dabchicks SC. Glorious sunshine greeted the competitors for day one of the event, with racing taking place in the afternoon. Posted on 12 Jul
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde overall
Charlie Cumbley wins after no racing on final day Britain's Charlie Cumbley has won the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship, in Warnemünde, Germany, after all racing was cancelled on the last day with strong winds and passing storms. Posted on 10 Jul
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 3
Nick Craig fights back Canada's Ben Flower and Britain's Charlie Cumbley will go into Wednesday's final day at the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, on equal points with two more races to sail. Posted on 8 Jul
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 2
Charlie Cumbley leads at the half-way stage Britain's Charlie Cumbley holds a two-point lead at the half-way stage of the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, after two more races were held on Monday. Posted on 8 Jul
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 1
Race wins for Daniel Björndahl, Andy Davis, Charlie Cumbley and Steen Christensen The 2025 OK Dinghy Europeans got under way in Warnemunde, Germany, on Sunday with race wins for Sweden's Daniel Björndahl, Britain's Andy Davis and Charlie Cumbley and Denmark's Steen Christensen. Posted on 7 Jul
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
Zhik 2024 DecemberNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastSwitch One Design