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Great Britain, Rooster International British OK Dinghy National Championships 2008

Parkstone Yacht Club

23-25 August

Pictures at sailingscenes.co.uk

Report by Dan Ager

After being runner up on too many occasions, Terry Curtis from Upper Thames SC finally went one place better and won the OK nationals, sponsored by Rooster Sailing and hosted by Parkstone Yacht Club over the 23rd, 24th and 25th August.

Although pushed hard by both Jim Hunt and initially Jonathon Fish he always had enough to keep ahead and counting 5 first places, 2 second places and discarding a sixth gave a comfortable lead on the scoreboard if not always on the water.

The event was preceded by a training session led by Nick Craig. A dozen or so sailors had classroom lecture followed by a good session out on the water and then watched themselves on film afterwards. It must have been good as the top 3 in the nationals were all in attendance!

The eight race series was held out in Poole Bay in generally breezy conditions with enough waves to make going downwind fun.

Day 1

Was a long day, the fleet leaving shore at 11am getting back at 7pm. Jon Fish had a good day, leading for much of first two races only to be taken by Curtis in the later stages, this combined with a 4th place in race three left him in second spot overnight. Jim Hunt having scored 3,2,4 in third. Andy Turner performed well with a 4 and 5 in the first two races only to be black flagged in race three. Tony Rich also started well with a 5,6 but followed that with a 12. Julian Burnham sailed well to land 5th in the last race. But it was Curtis who sailed home happiest having a perfect scoreline of 1,1,1.

Day 2

Racing began in lighter winds with Curtis followed by Alex Scoles in the leading positions. They were both caught out by the shifty conditions and at the finish Keith Byers on his 52nd birthday took the gun followed by Hunt, the Fish, Ager and Scoles. Curtis back in 6th. This was Byers first nationals race win, after coming close a few times over the years and a popular win with the fleet.

A big shift in the next race could have shuffled up the places more than it did. Those on the left hand side of the beat watched those on the right benefiting. Curtis in the middle and far enough ahead managed to maintain his lead. Hunt who was in 2nd and Dan Ager in 3rd and on the left were also far enough ahead not to come out too badly. Ager also had the presence of mind to tack across on a big header to secure 2nd spot. Chris Arnell getting a comfortable 3rd proving not everyone needs a carbon mast to be at the front. Fish who was on the right being taken from mid fleet back to 4th. Hunt ended up 5th. So far Fish was having a consistent series with all top 4 finishes.

Fish used his discard in the third race of the day when he was black flagged. Curtis won with Scoles again near the front getting 2nd and Mike Edwards beginning a late charge for a good overall position with a 3rd. Hunt finished in 4th with Keith Dutton well up in 5th. With the discard now being used Curtis was counting five 1sts and a 10 point lead from Hunt and Fish in 2nd and 3rd.

Day 3

The final day brought with it the most wind. Fish having until this point been unusually consistent managed to return to usual form by capsizing, losing his glasses and finishing 16th. Curtis was content to sail round in 2nd place behind Hunt to secure the championship and Edwards again in 3rd. Ager again sailing well into 4th and Rich 5th even after snapping his tiller extension in two. Ager now only counting one result out of the top 4 moved into 3rd place overall with a comfortable points cushion on Fish. The final race of the Championship had some real breeze making for excellent reaches and runs. Hunt again winning from Curtis, Fish and Ager with Andy Turner in 5th place.

All four juniors competing sailed well in the testing conditions during the Championship, with Ed Dutton from South Staffs SC taking the junior title from Richard Burton, West Oxford. Ben Steel and the very young and light Sam Woods from Etherow SC also deserve congratulating for sailing well. South Staffs SC won the Thorpe Trophy for the top team of the Championship. The Vintage boat title was won by Tim O’Leary and Jon Fish won the ‘Brixham Bonnet’ (a rather embarrassing hat) for his usual and entertaining antics on the water.

The racing was slick and well run by Brian Drake and his team and as always the facilities provided by Parkstone YC were excellent, so thanks to all concerned. Thanks must also go to Rooster sailing for generously providing the prizes to go with the many OK trophies that were up for grabs.

Next year the class heads back to Dabchicks SC for the National Championships, which will no doubt prove to be just as competitive as this year.

Results

Pos	Sailno.	Age	Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Tot	Tot-1
1	2118	Vet.	Terry Curtis	Upper Thames SC	1	1	1	6	1	1	2	2	15	9
2	2116	Vet.	Jim Hunt	Sutton SC	3	2	4	2	5	4	1	1	22	17
3	2120		Dan Ager	Waldringfield SC	9	3	3	4	2	8	4	4	37	28
4	2122		Jon Fish	Waldringfield SC	2	4	2	3	4	BFD	16	3	68	34
5	2126		Mike Edwards	South Staffs SC	11	8	BFD	7	6	3	3	6	78	44
6	2117		Alex Scoles	Overy Staithe SC	16	10	8	5	7	2	7	8	63	47
7	2084	Mas.	Keith Byers	Morcombe & Heysham YC	8	9	6	1	10	7	8	10	59	49
8	2123	Mas.	Andy Turner	Overy Staithe SC	4	5	BFD	21	8	9	6	5	92	58
9	2124	Vet.	David Rose	Bawdsey Haven YC	7	7	7	14	11	6	9	11	72	58
10	1944		Julian Burnham	Upper Thames SC	12	20	5	8	13	11	10	9	88	68
11	2085	Vet.	Gaven Waldron	South Staffs SC	6	11	11	22	9	13	12	7	91	69
12	2121		Anthony Rich	Oxford SC	5	6	12	17	14	16	5	15	90	73
13	2127	Vet.	Keith Dutton	South Staffs SC	10	12	14	13	12	5	11	12	89	75
14	2064	Vet.	Chris Arnell	Christchurch SC	17	13	9	10	3	12	13	DNS	111	77
15	2112	Vet.	J.P. Williams	West Oxfordshire SC	14	17	13	9	17	14	17	18	119	101
16	2125		Neil Goodhead	South Staffs SC	15	14	10	18	18	20	15	13	123	103
17	2128	Jun.	Ed Dutton	South Staffs SC	13	22	15	11	15	23	14	14	127	104
18	1968		Jack Grogan	Ardleigh SC	20	18	18	12	16	10	DNS	DNS	162	128
19	2102	Vet.	Andrew Day	West Oxfordshire SC	23	21	20	19	19	21	18	16	157	134
20	2065	Mas.	Simon Shaw	Deben YC	22	19	16	23	26	18	20	DNS	178	144
21	2131		Nigel Grogan	Ardleigh SC	21	16	BFD	15	21	15	DNS	DNS	190	156
22	2059		Peter Turner	Overy Staithe SC	19	15	DNS	16	22	17	DNF	DNS	191	157
23	2092	Mas.	W. Bradburn	South Staffs SC	25	23	17	25	23	24	21	DNS	192	158
24	2031	Mas.	Dave Cooper	Overy Staithe SC	28	26	19	26	20	22	DSQ	DSQ	209	175
25	2104	Mas.	Paul Pike	Covenham SC	29	29	22	29	28	27	24	17	205	176
26	1966	Vet.	Tim O'Leary	Felixstowe Ferry SC	24	25	BFD	27	25	19	22	DNS	210	176
27	2129	Mas.	Alan Atkin	Burghfield SC	18	28	BFD	20	24	25	DNS	DNS	217	183
28	1774	Jun.	Richard Burton	West Oxfordshire SC	27	27	21	DNS	27	26	23	DNS	219	185
29	2068	Vet.	Tony Woods	Etherow Country Park SC	26	24	DNS	24	DNF	DNS	19	DNS	229	195
30	2058	F/Mas.	Mary Reddyhoff	Parkstone YC	31	30	DNS	28	29	DNS	25	DNS	245	211
31	2049	Jun.	Ben Steel	Etherow Country Park SC	32	31	23	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	256	222
32	2083	Vet.	Chris Biscomb	Fishers Green SC	30	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	268	234
33	1998	Jun.	Sam Woods	Etherow Country Park SC	33	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	271	237