International OK Dinghy at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2011

The International OK Dinghy UK Class Association will be exhibiting on stand G28 at this year's RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2011 (5-6 March, Alexandra Palace, London).

On the stand there will be a Swedish built Delf OK which is 16 years old and still extremely competitive at international level. The Delf hull shape is renowned for being extremely quick off wind, which the current owner of this boat proves on a regular basis. The second OK on display will be a brand new Idol Composite Icebreaker built by the very talented Alex Scoles. It should be easy to spot as its bright orange! Alex’s reputation for building top quality boats is paying off, as he is currently working on completing 3 OKs for German sailors, one for a Belgian and another for a Canadian.

This year is a busy one for the UK Association, as along with the Scottish Sailing Institute in Largs and Largs SC they will be hosting the World Championships in July. It will be the first time that the OK Worlds has taken place in Scotland and the Class could not be happier with what the venue has to offer. The facilities, race management and organisation are first class. Choosing Scotland as the venue has already seen a number of Scots purchasing OKs. The Class are hoping that more will follow and that the OK will once again develop strong fleets in Scotland.

The OK Worlds is one of the most competitive and prestigious amateur sailing championships, with many great names having competed for the title since the first in 1963. This year Nick Craig on home waters will start as favourite seeking a record equalling 4th OK World title. Only two have managed this feat in the past, the great Leith Armit from New Zealand and Bo-Steffan Anderson from Sweden. Two time winner Karl Purdie (2008, 2010) will head up a strong team from New Zealand and will be hoping to spoil Craig’s party along with the Australian contingent. Another capable of taking the title is Ireland’s Olympian Tim Goodbody who took up the OK last year after campaigning a Finn. Tim hasn’t quite managed a big win in the OK yet, but with more time in the boat this could be his year.

The OK Dinghy is currently sailed in 19 countries from the Southern Hemisphere, to North America, Asia and many countries in Europe making it a truly international boat. To compete in a world championship countries hold qualification series with the best of their sailors going on to represent them at world level. At the end of 2010 there were 403 OK sailors on the World ranking list.

In the UK the class continues to grow with second hand boats getting snapped up quickly. On the circuit last year 68 sailors competed for the travellers trophy with 60+ year old Andy Turner deservedly taking the title held previously by world ranked number 4 Terry Curtis. The age range competing in this challenging thoroughbred singlehander is truly remarkable, with the youngest at 15 and the eldest at 71.

Visit stand G28 to view the wonderful International OK Dinghy on display and hear the latest news and information from the International OK Dinghy Class.

For more information about the OK Dinghy Class visit the UK Class Association website or visit the International OK Association website which also has links to some of the many International OK Class Associations across the world.