2022 OK National Championship at Herne Bay Sailing Club - Preview
by Paul Childs 6 Jul 2022 11:27 BST
14-17 July 2022
OK Nationals at Herne Bay © Nick Champion /
www.championmarinephotography.co.uk
With just over a week to go until the 2022 OK National Championship at Herne Bay SC eyes are being nervously cast towards the early forecast and last-minute practice is being sneakily undertaken.
The OK's were last in Herne Bay in 2017 where the host club could not do more for the fleet. Their welcome and hospitality set a high bar for all events and the club aim to repeat this in 2022. The fleet cannot wait to get back there and out on the water.
If rumours are to be believed Richard Burton has been making tweaks to his sail wardrobe and developing a new design. Will it be fast through the range? Who knows, but we can be sure if the wind blows hard Burt and Ernie (His loving steed) will be at the front of the fleet giving it some beans. If it is light, Burt will probably be found at the front of the queue for the bar - also giving it beans!
In other development news, we are set to be treated to Jim Hunt making an appearance back in the OK, with his new home build -with help from Andy Rushworth. Rumours on this are that it is a little experimental... Only snippets of photos have been shared amongst the fleet as he doesn't want to give away his secrets just yet! One thing for certain is that whatever Jim sails, he will be tricky to beat. The multiple World champion is gearing up for the Lyme Regis worlds and his legendary status precedes him!
While little has been seen of Jim's boat, we have seen pictures of Karen Robertson's new build and you certainly will not miss it! The green hull rivals local Dave Bourne's green beauty and Dave will be leading the east coast charge and hoping to keep the trophies in Herne Bay where his local knowledge may just pay off.
Although there are some notable attendees, there are a few top sailors missing from the line-up, giving the rest of us mortals a chance... Current champ Henry Wetherall, OK legend Nick Craig, North Sails Supremo Charlie Cumbley and Euro Cup winner Andy Davis are all absent which although a dent to numbers, will be a welcome relief to some.
Author Paul Childs will be glad to see the back of Henry and Charlie, having followed them around in the Solent all last weekend at the J70 Nationals (Which Henry and team Jelvis won - Well done Team). Childs will be hoping for some breeze and that he can 'Sail 4 Bronze' in Herne Bay.
Alex Scoles is rumoured to be making a late entry and will be hoping for lighter winds, in which he will certainly be a contender for the win as he has shown consistently in the UK circuit. Russ Clark is also ominous in his absence, but I have a feeling he will arrive as he always seems to be in the right place at the right time and must surely be a contender for the top slot.
Making the short hop across the channel or 'La Manche' as it is known in his homeland Yann Vilein will look to show the form which has made him a contender in the European circuit and we look forward to seeing him and hearing how the UK fleet compare to the strong French fleet.
There are lots of unknowns at this point, but one thing that is for sure is the OK fleet will enjoy their time on and off the water whatever the weather - Bring it on!