Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

OK Dinghy European Championship on Lake Garda Overall

by Robert Deaves 14 Sep 2023 19:04 PDT 9-14 September 2023

Charlie Cumbley, from Britain has won the 2023 OK Dinghy European Championship on Lake Garda, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco. He led a British clean sweep with Nick Craig in second and Matt Howard in third. He becomes only the third British European champion in the class after Craig won it as a Euro Cup in 2002 and Alastair McMichael won in 1982.

The fourth and final day brought the lightest winds of the week with some new faces pushing the front. The forecast again promised rain and thunderstorms but these never materialised, though a lot of low cloud did limit the Ora during the day.

Cumbley led the first race all the way to win from Poland's Michal Strumnik and Britain's Andy Davis. The final race was then led all the way by Denmark's Bo Petersen, from Germany's Andre Budzien and Denmark's Jens Eckhardt.

With Craig in eighth in the first race, Cumbley had the overall lead and the two battled round the course in the final race, crossing the line in a pack of boats. Though Craig tried to push him back, Cumbley had done enough to take the title by two points and add the European title to the world title he won in 2022.

Cumbley said, "A lot lighter Ora today and all to play for with the points really close, Nick was leading with four points and then there was a group of boats all piled up behind us so we had to wait to see how the first race went to see what would happen in the second race.

"And I got away with a great start in the first race and led all the way round which then put the pressure on Nick and just meant I couldn't lose second.

"So, the pressure was off in a way but it meant I just had to keep tabs on Nick, which is easier said than done. He's quite slippery. So, we had a bit of shadowing up the first beat and then he got past me down the run. And then it was a case of he was trying to get as many boats between us and I was trying to lure him out to the other side of the race track, which I thought would drop him outside the top five.

"So in the end I am over the moon to win here in Garda after coming second a couple of times, and just before the worlds here in 2025."

As the event closed, thoughts turned to 2025, when the World Championship will also be hosted by Circolo Vela Arco, with perhaps 200 boats expected.

Craig commented on the venue. "I think this in one of the best places to sail in the world, and then the shoreside is amazing as well, the restaurants, the bars, it's a fantastic holiday as well. We wouldn't be surprised if we get 200+ boats for the worlds in 2025."

All in all, the championship was a fantastic event, with free beer, after race pasta, awesome sailing, great hospitality from Circolo Vela Arco, and some of the slickest race management on the planet. 200 boats in 2025 is no idle boast. There were 110 boats here from 15 countries, following 140 boats at the worlds in the UK in June. The class is growing at an unprecedented rate and its event management is constantly evolving to cope with demand.

In 2024 the world championship takes place in Brisbane, Australia, in February, with the European Championship in Palma, Spain, in October. And in two days the fleet gathers in Bandol, France, for the Autumn Trophy.

Overall Results: (top ten)

1 GBR 6 Charlie Cumbley 29pts
2 GBR 2261 Nick Craig 31pts
3 GBR 2279 Matthew Howard 43pts
4 DEN 12 Jens Eckardt 44pts
5 GER 18 Jan Kurfeld 46pts
6 ESP 111 Tim Goodbody 46pts
7 GER 71 André Budzien 52pts
8 DEN 21 Bo Petersen 56pts
9 GBR 11 Andy Davis 71pts
10 SWE 73 Patric Mure 77pts

Master: Jens Eckardt, DEN
Grand Master: Jørgen Holm DEN
First Lady: Jessica Finke

Full results.

Gallery of photos.

Related Articles

OK Nationals at Dabchicks overall
Oli Davenport wins on West Mersea island Thirty OKs gathered at Dabchicks SC on West Mersea island from 12th-15th July for the 2025 OK Dinghy National Championships. With the European Championships having been held just a week or so earlier some notable sailors were absent. Posted today at 12:36 pm
OK Dinghy World Ranking July 2025
Patric Mure is the new World No.1 Patric Mure has become only the 11th person to reach the top of the OK Dinghy World Ranking list as he takes over the No.1 spot from Australia's Roger Blasse, who drops to fourth. Britain's Andy Davis and Nick Craig move up to second and third. Posted on 16 Jul
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 on 14 Jul
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
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px BOTTOM