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Singha OK Dinghy Worlds at Pattaya, Thailand - Overall

by Robert Deaves, IFA 5 Apr 2013 16:18 BST 30 March - 5 April 2013

Roger Blasse secures second OK Dinghy world title

Roger Blasse (AUS) has won the 2013 Singha OK Dinghy World Championship in Pattaya, Thailand after placing second in the only race sailed on the final day. Nick Craig (GBR) took the silver while Mike Williams (AUS) took the bronze. The final race was won by defending champion Andre Budzien (GER).

It was always going to be the lightest day of the regatta and as the fleet launched at 11.00 the wind was 2-3 knots and very patchy. The race officer Kevin Wilson (AUS) was clear he would not start racing in unsuitable conditions so the fleet waited afloat in 30 degrees of heat for over two hours. Finally the breeze stabilised and the fleet got away on the second attempt in 7-8 knots which built to 14 knots during the race.

By this time it was looking like only one race was possible within the time limit, so Blasse didn't actually need sail, but he got a great start and dominated the first beat to lead round from Budzien. The two battled round the course only for Budzien to take the lead in the closing stages for his fourth race win of the week. Blasse crossed in second with Jorgen Svendsen (DEN) in third again.

The more interesting battle was between Craig and Williams for the runner up slot. Initially Williams had the advantage with a five boat gap on Craig, but Craig whittled away the gap and closed up on the downwind to move ahead and cross in eighth, just ahead of Williams in ninth.

So Roger Blasse wins his second world title after first winning in 1998. Next year the worlds returns to his home club of Black Rock in Melbourne, Australia where he will be a firm favourite. He said, "Of course I am really happy to win, but this week has really showed how competitive the OK fleet has become. I also think It was a smart move to delay the start today. But 'Slippery Stool' was an appropriate name for my boat today as I had to stop for a 'comfort break' immediately after the race as I was feeling rather ill all day."

Four time champion Nick Craig is again on the podium, but still pleased with the silver coming out of the European winter with very little on the water training. He said, "This has been the best event I have ever done, both in terms of the sailing and on the shore, and I have done a lot of events over the last 30 years."

Mike Williams is on the podium for the second time after being the runner up in 2010. "Well done to Roger, he was superbly consistent, and congratulations also to Nick, he's a real competitor. Bad luck to Andre Budzien, but I hope to see everyone again at Black Rock next year."

At the prizegiving tonight Roger Blasse paid tribute to the club, it's staff, the event fantastic sponsor Singha and summed up everyone's thoughts by saying, "This club is a hidden gem; it's been an absolutely fantastic week." There was also a genuine feeling that the sailors wanted to return to Pattaya in the not to distant future for another championship.

Overall Results: (top 20 from 74)

PosSail NoHelmR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1AUS 749Roger Blasse312223‑52217
2GBR 2150Nick Craig4313(bfd)544832
3AUS 730Michael Williams1024171‑501935
4NZL 517Paul Rhodes241374475‑2746
5AUS 735Mark Jackson‑116656866649
6NZL 544Greg Wilcox815543‑2097455
7DEN 1411Jorgen Svendsen65‑322251233359
8DEN 1409Stefan Myralf59‑356971181368
9GER 782Andre Budzien173(ocs)121dnf191
10GBR 2118Terry Curtis121481110151213‑2495
11AUS 754Brent Williams711713‑399191618100
12DEN 1364Jorgen Lindhardtsen141012(ocs)2211101819116
13GER 693Martin von Zimmermann161210‑411416281011117
14NZL 542Alistair Deaves2313159‑2523151210120
15GER 778Soenke Behrens22‑3214181314202315139
16NZL 535Mike Wilde‑362416162310141523141
17NZL 546Luke O'Connell29‑4229261119131116154
18GBR 2152Lee Child(dnf)332128822172417170
19DEN 1335Mogens Johansen2023‑34142117242231172
20AUS 734Edward O'Donnell1322‑46251521211445176

Full results can be found here.

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