2024 OK Dinghy European Championship begins this week in Palma
by Robert Deaves 29 Oct 2024 03:06 NZDT
30 October - 3 November 2024
OK Dinghies at RCNP © Robert Deaves /
www.robertdeaves.uk
The OK Dinghy European Championship is being held this coming week at the Real Club Nàutico de Palma. Nearly 80 sailors from 14 countries are expected to arrive in Palma in the coming days. The event will mark the first ever international OK Dinghy championship to be held in Spain.
The defending champion is Charlie Cumbley, who won a close series last year at Arco on Lake Garda. He comes to Palma on the back of a decisive victory at the Autumn Trophy in Bandol last week, against many of the class champions, who will also challenge him in Palma.
The Autumn Trophy is becoming a significant fixture in the International OK Dinghy calendar and this year attracted 45 entries, mostly as a double event on route to Palma. Tim Petetin from the SNB led after the opening day in light winds, but then Cumbley moved to the top of the second day and stayed there until the end. Two days of light winds were followed by two days of heavy wind, and some rain as bad weather swept through the Côte d'Azur. Only one race was sailed on the final day. Behind Cumbley were former World Champions Thomas Hansson-Mild from Sweden and Roger Blasse from Australia. Report and results here.
The Spanish fleet in Palma is a relatively new addition to the OK Dinghy family. Out of the need for something to do during the pandemic, two boats were built in living rooms, and once on the water these attracted great interest, with gradually more and more sailors, from many nationalities, buying and building boats, and having fun on the Bay of Palma. The fleet now numbers almost 25 sailors, so it seemed a natural progression to hold a championship there to support this growth.
While Cumbley, also a former world champion, is arguably the one to beat, he will have some tough opposition. As well as Blasse and Hanson-Mild, former champions include three times European Champion Bo Petersen, from Denmark and New Zealand's Greg Wilcox. In addition, there is Matt Howard and world championship runner up Andy Davis from Britain, and twice world championship runner up and winner of Kieler Woche this year, Niklas Edler from Sweden. The event has attracted a very deep field of talent.
After a spate of bad weather across the region, the outlook looks more settled and equipment inspection is under way under sunny skies and increasing temperatures.
Registration and equipment inspection is taking place on Monday 28 October and Tuesday 29 October, while racing gets under way on Wednesday 30 October with a 10-race series until Sunday 3 November.
The 2024 OK Dinghy European Championship is being held at in Palma, Mallorca, hosted by tee al Club Nautico de Palma. Ten races are scheduled from 30 October to 3 November June. The fleet consists of 80 sailors from 14 nations.
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