2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde - Preview
by Robert Deaves 4 Jul 03:37 AEST
4-13 July 2025
Nick Craig, GBR © Robert Deaves
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.
The entry list is a who's who of OK Dinghy sailing at the current time, though last year's champion, Luke Deegan, from New Zealand, is absent. Warnemünde is a favourite venue for the class and while the heatwave of the last week seems to have moved on, the wind forecast looks promising for some epic Warnemünde wave action.
Andre Budzien leads the challenge from the host country, following his silver medal at last week's Kieler Woche. The three-time world champion, including seven years ago here in Warnemünde, has never won the European title. The strong German team also includes Sebastian Kaule, Ulli Kurfeld and Cord Preignitz, who both have made their mark in the class. The last German, and only the second German sailor ever to win the European title, in 2006, was Martin von Zimmermann, who is also sailing well and taking part.
Perhaps the strongest team here is the British. It includes current and six-time world champion Nick Craig, past world and European champion Charlie Cumbley, Matt Howard, and the runner up at last year's worlds and world no 3, Andy Davis.
The Danish also have a strong presence both in numbers as well as in strength, and includes former European champions Bo Petersen and Jørgen Svendsen, as well as Jens Eckhardt and Steen Christensen.
From Sweden, another former world champion, Thomas Hansson-Mild, is also present along with the world No.2, Patric Mure. Norway's Lars Johan Brodtkorb, the European champion from 2017 is also back.
There is also a raft of new and relatively new sailors to the class attending, highlighting the current growth across the world.
Registration and equipment inspection take place on Friday and Saturday with an eight-race series from Sunday to Wednesday. Racing will likely take place in two groups with two days each of qualifying and finals races.
Event website including results and notice board