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OKDIA Hall of Fame

Since 2007, the 50th Birthday of the class, the OK Dinghy International Association (OKDIA) honours it's outstanding members with the OKDIA Hall Of Fame.
This might be outstanding sailors as well as outstanding contributors to the class.
The rules to include someone are as follows:

Nominations to the OKDIA Hall of Fame may be submitted to the OKDIA Committee by the Secretary of a National Association or a member of the OKDIA Committee. A short report justifying the nomination shall be submitted with the name. A Hall of Fame plaque will be presented to the successful nominee. The final decision on successful entry to the OKDIA Hall of Fame will lie with the current OKDIA Committee.

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Last name | First name | Country | Year of introduction

Göran Andersson,
Sweden,
2020
In May 2020 Göran Andersson was inducted at his home on the island of Tjörn, near to Marstrand, Sweden

Göran Andersson was World Champion in 1965 and 1966 after previously representing Sweden in the 1960 Olympic Games in the Finn class. But perhaps his greatest legacy was creating the Marinex brand in Marstrand, where he moved with his family at the age of 10.

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Bo-Staffan Andersson,
Sweden,
2009
Bo-Staffan Andersson was inducted during the World Championship 2009 in Kalmar, Sweden

He was inducted in recognition of being the most successful OK Dinghy sailor ever - he won four World Championship titles in the late 80s and early 90s, as well as one European title and three Swedish titles.

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Brenda and Don Andrews,
United Kingdom,
2023
Brenda and Don Andrews were introduced into the Hall of Fame at Lyme Regis during the opening ceremony of the World Championship in the UK 2023

Following around 10 years as secretary of the British Class Association, Brenda Andrews took over as Secretary of OKDIA from 1990 to 2002.

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Leith Armit,
New Zealand,
2007
Leith Armit was inducted at the New Zealand class association's 50th Anniversary celebrations in October 2007.

Leith Armit was the first sailor winning 4 World Championships, winning in the years 1983, 1985, 1990 and 1994

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Bill Bell,
Australia,
2014
Bill Bell was inducted at the 2014 Worlds in Melbourne for his long term support and committment to the class.

Bill has been sailing for ever. He has won the nationals several times, gone to many worlds, been a member here at Black Rock and been a keen OK Dinghy sailor. He has helped the class forever.

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Roger Blasse,
Australia,
2014
Roger Blasse was inducted for his lifelong commitment to the OK class in Victoria and Australia and for his outstanding success at all levels of competition.

Roger started sailing the OK Dinghy in 1986. He won his first Australian National title in 1988. World Champion in 1998 and then again in 2013. He acted for many years as Class Measurer.

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Andre Blasse,
Australia,
2014
Andre Blasse was inducted for his lifelong commitment to the OK class in Victoria and Australia.

Andre started sailing OK Dinghies at 15 years old. The 2014 worlds will be his 19th since then. He has been OKDIA president, Australian treasurer, and also important, he was instrumental in the resurgence of the class in Australia.

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Nick Craig,
Great Britain,
2012
Nick Craig was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark

Four time world champion in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011.

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Basil Crosby,
Great Britain,
2009
Basil Crosby was awarded posthumous during the World Championship 2009 in Kalmar, Sweden for his work for the class.

Crosby's role in the establishment and ultimate success of the OK Dinghy as an international class cannot be overstated. He was one of the founders of OKDIA in 1962 and was also secretary of the British OK Dinghy Class Association at the same time.

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Axel Damgaard,
Denmark later USA,
2012
Axel Damgaard was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark.

Co-designer and early promoter of the OK Dinghy.

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Paul Elvstrøm,
Denmark,
2012
Paul Elvstrøm was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark.

Big influence in design of OK Dinghy rig and encouraging growth of class.

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Thomas Hansson-Mild,
Sweden,
2022
Thomas was introduced into the Hall of Fame at the Carlsten Fortress in Marstrand during the opening ceremony of the World Championship in Sweden

Thomas began sailing OK Dinghies in the late 1980s in Luleå in northern Sweden.

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Karsten Hitz,
Germany,
2018
Karsten Hitz was inducted at the 2018 World Championship in Warnemünde.

With two world championship titles and near countless wins and top placings at other international events, and with his friendly and welcoming ways, he had a great influence on the German OK fleet.

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Svend Jacobsen,
Denmark,
2012
Svend Jacobsen was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark.

First world champion in 1963.

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Marian Jankowski,
Poland,
2008
The late Marian Jankowski was inducted at the 2008 World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany. His daughters Anna and Magda accepted the award on behalf of Marian.

He was among the first OK sailors in Poland and the first National Champion in 1964 and competing untill short before he passed away in 2002

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Jørgen Lindhardtsen,
Denmark,
2007
The first recipient of a OKDIA Hall of Fame Award at the 2007 Worlds.

He has been sailing OK nearly since the class exists. His record of top ten places in the Worlds including one World Championship title and three second places plus ten National titles is amazing.

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Alf Lock,
New Zealand,
2012
Alf Lock was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark

Alf Lock is best known as the designer of the Icebreaker in the mid-1970s. He also did a lot to improve the measurement at world championships

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Knud Olsen,
Denmark,
2012
Knud Olsen was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark.

Designer of the OK-Dinghy.

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Norbert Petrausch,
Germany,
2008
Norbert "Peit" Petrausch was inducted at the 2008 World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany.

Peit has been involved with the OK Dinghy since the early years of the class, building one of the first boats in Germany himself.

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Clive Roberts,
New Zealand,
2007
The late Clive Roberts was inducted at the New Zealand class association's 50th Anniversary celebrations in October 2007.

He was one of the sailors that inducted the OK Dinghy into New Zealand in the mid 1960s. He won 10 New Zealand Nationals, five Interdoms and in 1973 became the first non-European to win the OK Dinghy World Championships.

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Bill Tyler,
Australia,
2008
Bill Tyler was inducted at the 2008 World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany.

Bill has been involved with the OK Dinghy since the early 70's, he is also one of three directors of the Clive Roberts Trust Fund that was established in the 1970s to help with the development of Australian OK Juniors

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Greg Wilcox,
New Zealand,
2012
Greg Wilcox was inducted during the World Championship 2012 in Vallensbæk, Denmark

World champion in 2002, many other titles, past OKDIA President.

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