World Number 1 Roger Blassé wins unprecedented 12th title at 2025 OK Australian Nationals

Roger Blassé (L) David Ketteridge (R) Australian OK dinghy President © Andre Blassé

Roger Blassé Powering in 20 knots. 2025 OK Australian Championships © Nik Wallis

Roger Blassé has taken out the Discount Yachting 2025 Australian OK dinghy Championships hosted by Black Rock Yacht Club on Port Phillip Bay.

Scheduled for 8 races over 4 days, the weather was against PRO Kevin Wilson and his experienced team. With a glass out for day 1 on Port Phillip Bay extending from the City to Sorrento, and with a strong easterly forecast for day 4 of the regatta, it was a smart call by Kevin to compress 6 races into days 2 and 3 of the regatta.

Day 2, Race 1: Following a short delay ashore under AP, the fleet left the beach in a light and shifty northerly. Racing got under way for a clean start with New Zealand visitor, Simon Probert getting out fast with Tim Davies and Roger Blassé. The shifty northerly wind had a lot of potholes with the front runners playing the right-hand shore. Blassé finished 1st, followed by Probert and Davies.

Race 2 had similar conditions but positioning on the race course was crucial. The wind threatened to back into the west with a cool change, but stronger pressure was still coming off the shore in the east. 2024 Champion David Clark and Mark Jackson showed that minimising risk and sailing the middle was the way to go finishing 1st and 2nd, with Tim Davies again coming in 3rd.

Race 3 started in still shifty conditions but the backing breeze was now in full play as the change worked hard to fight the northerly. The left-hand side paid big time as everyone tacked at the bottom mark to chase the backing breeze into the west. Those caught on the right-hand side closest to the shore ran out of puff, which made the change in direction a double blow. Confusion reigned as the wind changed from north to south and back again, as the cold front fought to fill in. PRO Kevin Wilson shortened the course at the end of the square run as the fast-finishing fleet came home with the wind. Blassé and Jackson held off the fleet with Mark Freddy Phillips coming home for a 3rd. In what was a high scoring day, ever consistent Jackson lead at the conclusion of day 1 followed by Brett Morris and Davies.

Day 3 Race 4: With a cold southerly weather system now blowing 15-20 knots, the super gusty and shifty conditions gave plenty of opportunities and provided close racing throughout the fleet. Mike Williams and Tim Davies had plenty of pace, rounding together at the top mark with a chasing group of Mark Jackson, Brett Morris and Roger Blassé. Mike Williams held them off until the last run where the chasing group was able to overtake him down the square run, with Adelaide sailor Brent Williams taking the win from Blassé and Williams.

Race 5. With a building breeze consistent at 20 knots, Mike Williams led the fleet to the 1st mark and was never headed, taking out the 2nd race of the day. 2nd to sixth was super close, with Brent Williams 2nd, Roger Blassé 3rd and Brett Morris 4th finding his mojo in the breeze.

Race 6. With the increasing likelihood of racing being cancelled for the following day, it was important for the race management team to get 6 good races away, even though the weather was punishing for both the sailors and the volunteers on the safety boats. Mike Williams continued to sail fast in the breeze with another race win. Roger Blassé 2nd, his consistency now showing, Brett Morris with excellent speed in the breeze, finishing 3rd. The day will be remembered for the famous Port Phillip Bay waves at Black Rock, and the super-fast reaches.

Day 4. With the forecast easterlies hitting the Bay at 25 knots early in the morning and increasing throughout the day, it was clear no more racing would be held for the regatta.

Overall, it was two-time World Champion and current World Number 1, Roger Blassé, who claimed his unprecedented 12th Australian OK Dinghy Championship. Runner up was fellow Black Rock local Mark Jackson with Brett Morris from Sydney rounding out the podium in 3rd, both proving consistency in the difficult conditions on the 1st day was invaluable.

Thanks to PRO Kevin Wilson, and to everyone at Black Rock Yacht Club who ran the regatta seamlessly, and in trying conditions, to give a fair and memorable regatta.

The next major event for the OK Dinghy Class will be the World Championships in Lake Garda Italy, in September 2025, with an expected fleet of over 200 boats. The next Australian Championships will be at Fremantle Sailing Club in Western Australia from 18 to 25 January 2026.

1st Overall and 1st Master: Roger Blassé
2nd Overall: Mark Jackson
3rd Overall: Brett Morris
1st Female: Pam Johnston
1st Veteran: Mike Williams
1st Grand Master: Bob Buchanan
1st Patrick Whittington Memorial (Handicap): Rhys Llewellyn

Overall Results: