International OK Dinghy at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show
by Mike Edwards 27 Feb 2014 07:03 GMT
Stand E16, 1-2 March 2014
Nick Craig to make special appearance
Visit stand E16 in the West Hall
The International OK Class Association will be displaying two OK Dinghies at this weekend's RYA Dinghy Show (Alexandra Palace, London 1-2 March). OK legend Nick Craig will be on the stand on Saturday morning between 10.00am and midday, so come along to stand E16 and talk to probably the best amateur sailor in the UK about how great the OK is to sail.
The first boat on display will be Simon Cox's new GBR 2165 built by Simon at Synergy Marine. The boat has the latest Synergy carbon mast which is currently being developed to meet demand for masts built in the UK. The boat also features a continuous control line system with elastic take away, ensuring that there is no longer control lines wrapped around the traveller resulting in a very tidy cockpit. The boat is already proving successful in the Alton Water Frostbite Series.
"I am delighted that the UK Class Association will be exhibiting the latest Synergy OK Dinghy to be built. This boat is a result of several years of development and I am confident it will compete at both national and international events" explained Simon.
For the OK Class, 2014 is shaping up to be a big year with a fantastic fixtures list and plans for a bumper National Championships (16 – 19 August 2014) at class favourite venue, Dabchicks Sailing Club. The club is a hotbed of OK activity and the team there is putting together a fantastic programme on and off the water.
The class committee is working very hard to achieve a 50 boat championships with plenty of interest from existing and potentially new OK sailors. There are already a number of sailors looking for boats to borrow/charter, so if you own an OK but can't make the event we'd like to hear from you. Alternatively, if you're keen to attend the nationals but need a boat or help getting to the event, then please visit us at the show on stand E16 (West Hall) or email simon@synergymarine.co.uk.
You can enter the OK National Championships at the Dinghy Show. All paid entries taken at the Show will be included in a draw to win a new Synergy Marine OK fixed rudder (more prizes to be announced shortly).
The Class Association will also be promoting this year's Noble Marine sponsored OK Youth & Junior Championships hosted by Burghfield SC on Saturday 24th May. If you sail another class, fancy your chances in an OK Dinghy and need to borrow a boat, come along to stand E16 where you can find out more and enter. There are great prizes to be won! To qualify as a youth you need to be under 20 years of age on the 1st January 2014. Juniors under 18 on the 1st January 2014 and cadets under 16 on the 1st January 2014.
The second boat on display will be the latest Idol Composites Icebreaker design from builder Alex Scoles in Norfolk. Idol produce two different OK hull designs, the Rushworth and Icebreaker, with both proven on the domestic and international scene winning world, national and inland championships.
"During 2013 new Idol Composite OK's have been purchased by Nick Craig, Andre Budzien and Jim Hunt who between them have won six out of the last ten world championships. At the last Worlds Idol OK's also won more races than any other boat" explained Alex.
Idol will be building their 50th OK dinghy this year and are available to buy from direct from Idol Composites and Pinnell and Bax.