Massive OK Dinghy Worlds poised to start on Lake Garda
by Robert Deaves 12 Sep 18:55 BST
12-19 September 2025
Sailors from across the world are gathering at Circolo Vela Arco on Lake Garda, Italy, for the 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship. Racing starts on Monday, but before then the colossal task of registering and checking more than 200 boats is under way.
For here many in Garda it has been a pilgrimage to get here, with containers from Australia and New Zealand, and sailors from 20 countries, the most countries represented at the event for generations. It has become a bucket list event with most sailors planning for three years to be here. After a period of unsettled weather, the conditions have returned to normal, with a plethora of ear-to-ear smiles on and off the water.
The seeds of the 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship were planted back in 2017, but after the original plan for 2021 was scuppered by the pandemic, it was reorganised for 2025. It's been a long time coming but it's almost here. And the fleet cannot wait to get started,
Equipment inspection is never a welcome task, but the need for rigorous checking and limitation control under way for such a large fleet has been embraced by most of the fleet. Sails are checked for correct labelling and certification, masts are checked for weight and centre of gravity, hulls for correctors, rudder fittings and safety. The jig templates are used to check the last hulls built from all production manufacturers and any new home builds.
With up to 215 boats to pass through the inspection shed there are queues unlike the class has seen for many years, but there is no rush. Conversations, catching up with friends, and checking out the other boats keeps everyone occupied while they wait. Friendships are renewed and new ones made in the queue. It is, for want of a better phrase, organised chaos. But good natured and useful for all.
More than 100 boats were cleared on the first day, which is some achievement given that it used to take three days to get through 80 boats.
During the last two days Garda has produced sublime conditions, with a 14-16 knots afternoon Ora that has tempted most out for training. With six former world champions and many more world championships in waiting, it is going to be a monumental battle on the water. There will be three starting groups, two races per day, so up to 30 starts in all. It's a big challenge to make it all work.
Many here will have their own objectives, but for the majority it is just to enjoy the event, a celebration of a class that is growing faster than at any time for three generations. In the words on one former world champion, "My goal is to be surprised if I go well."
Registration and equipment inspection continues Saturday and Sunday morning. A lively technical meeting was held Friday evening, the class AGM will be held Saturday evening, all with the now traditional free beer for participants, and then the practice race on Sunday afternoon. It's about to get real.
But it will all be OK!