OK Dinghy National Championships at Brixham Yacht Club - Overall

Racing on the final day of the OK Dinghy National Championships at Brixham © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

Racing on the final day of the OK Dinghy National Championships at Brixham © Gareth Fudge / www.boatographic.co.uk

So, at the half way stage of the 2013 OK Dinghy National Championships Robert Deaves held a commanding lead over the rest. Could anyone catch him?

Nick Craig had now appeared after missing the first two days having recently recovered from a severe bout of gastroenteritis, he could only hope to win a few races and show the fleet he was still boss. Did he manage it?

Race 5 - The fleet left the shore in a fickle northerly, but after a short postponement the wind built steadily to a solid but very shifty 15-20 knots. After a clean start at the first attempt Richard Burton came in from the right to lead at the windward mark by a couple of boat lengths from Robert Deaves, Simon Cox and Deryck Lovegrove producing his best start to a race for many a year. Burton played the shifts well on the second beat to lead by a significant margin with Tony Woods and Terry Curtis moving to second and third after picking up a shift from the left. Competition was tight off wind with battles going on throughout the fleet.

On the final beat Craig came through to take second from Curtis who was forced to cover Deaves on the right side of the course. Burton (Burt) took the bullet comfortably and in doing so won his first Nationals race. This was a popular win as Burt is one of a group of young OK sailors now challenging the more experienced guys.

Race 6 – Brixham del Garda delivered again in race 6 with racing in a glorious force 4 and sunshine in spite of the dreary weather forecast. In a crucial race for the National Title, Robert Deaves nailed every shift on the first beat to lead into the windward mark from Simon Cox again having another great first leg, then Dave Bourne with Terry Curtis in fourth. Curtis pushed hard all race closing in on Deaves downwind with great speed but Deaves covered tightly to hold on until the finish. Craig made a late charge to get on the transoms of Deaves and Curtis but lost out on a split tack with Dave Bourne almost getting in on the act in fourth.

The fleet sailed home after another satisfying day on the water and again tucked into free pasties and another free barrel of Hook Norton Lion Beer which was part of the sponsorship for the week.

Everyone then moved onto the annual 'Fishstock' music and seafood festival just along the quay.

Race 7 – the fleet launched in 5knots which built very suddenly to around 15 knots +. The start got away first time and Nick Craig won the favoured pin end, but it was Dave Bourne again show great upwind pace to lead the fleet around the windward mark from Craig, Burt and Terry Curtis. After a blast downwind Craig was right on Bourne's tail with Tony Woods in a close third, with Curtis and Burt not far behind. These positions remained for another lap then on the following upwind Craig finally got passed Bourne. Woods stayed constant in third and Burt had eased by Curtis to fourth.

As the wind increased in strength the next two reaches were screamers which allowed Curtis to show his off wind speed. By the bottom mark Curtis had passed both Burt and Woods to move into third. The last beat proved very tricky with the wind shifting often. Craig took the gun to finally win a race. Curtis and Burt picked up a big right shift allowing them both to move ahead of Bourne who held on for fourth.

As the fleet congregated at the committee boat to prepare for the next race, the news around the course was that Robert Deaves had done enough to win the 2013 International OK National Championships for a second time and with a race to spare – well done Robert! Curtis had also secured second overall with a race to spare.

Robert Deaves said after the racing, "Going into race 7 I had to be no more than two boats behind Terry to win with a race to spare. It was really shifty upwind, and from 10-15 knots, and I rounded the top mark about seventh, just after Terry, but then he got a boat between us fairly fast while I got blanketed by a group going high. I made a real mess of the reach and dropped to around 15th while Terry moved up to fifth. It was looking pretty bad and I had a bit on to recover from there."

"Then the wind picked up and became slightly more predictable with large black clouds coming through on the right making the decisions a little easier. On the second beat I took about 6-7 boats playing the right, a few more offwind and finally rounded the last top mark in sixth with Terry in fifth. I thought I was safe now but it wasn't over yet. On the fast final two reaches, Terry gave it everything and took two more places to move to third, and then took another on the final beat. I was still a distant sixth and in trouble again."

"Luckily there was a 30 degree right shift on the final beat that I got spot on, while one boat gambled on the left and lost. The shift lasted until I crossed him about 100 metres from the finish. I was up to fifth and Terry had run out of boats to overtake as Nick had a safe lead. I had won but it was a bit too close for comfort."

Race 8 – The wind remained very shifty for the last race with clouds pulling the wind from side to side, but yet again it settled and built to a lovely force 4 and more sunshine. A big left shift up the first beat caught many out but Dave Bourne got it spot on to lead at the windward mark by a large margin, with Tony Woods and Simon Davies next to round. Bourne extended down the reaches to open up a large gap on the pack. Terry Curtis got in phase and found that left shift again on the second beat and was fast downwind to move through. On the final beat there were some sizeable shifts which must have put Bourne under pressure but he held on well for his second race win and with it secure third overall from rising star Richard (Burp/Burt) Burton who is also chairman of the 'Dave Bourne Appreciation Society'. Curtis sailed home in second, with Nick Craig coming through to take third from Woods on the finish line.

At the prize giving the wonderful array of OK silverware was handed out by Class Chairman Tony Rich, along with prizes from HD Sails and P&B.

Robert Deaves was last to come up to be presented with the trophy and prize and become the International OK Dinghy National Champion for 2013. Robert thanked his fellow competitors and everyone at the club for making this a championships to remember.

So, a really wonderful four days sailing and social was at an end. Two of the youth had managed to break into the top six for the first time in years, so well done to Burt and Ed Bradburn. A couple of veterans had also cut the mustard placing in the top ten and the title returned to a very worthy Champion.

Thanks must go Brixham's excellent Race Officer Sean Semmens and his brilliant team of volunteers. With extremely difficult conditions to deal with Sean was calm, communicated well and made the right call practically every time using his knowledge of the area and his expertise. His team were slick, helpful and made everything easy and enjoyable.

The clubs catering and bar staff kept us fed and watered to a very high standard and nothing was too much trouble. If you want to know how to run a championship, go and see how Brixham Yacht Club does it.

Finally, many thanks must go to our sponsors for their support; Hook Norton Brewery Co Ltd and their excellent Lion Beer, pint pots and championship t-shirts, HD Sails and P&B.

Overall Results:
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