Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 TOP

International OK Dinghy christening in Thailand - Boat bailer blocked by Ice???

by Morten Jakobsen 4 Feb 20:48 NZDT
Admiring the elegant OK dinghy © Stefaan de Vos

After having been the only International OK dinghy in Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand for many years, the sailor of THA444 decided it was time for a change. So he naturally bought a container full of almost new OK dinghies after the 2023 Worlds sailed in Lyme Regis in the UK and brought them all to Thailand.

To help re-introduce the class in RVYC, an OK Dinghy open day was arrange on 3 February. The day saw 10 sailors mostly new to the class on the water, where they received tips from Varuna head coach K. Lim, who is an olympian and formed medal winner in OK dinghy in the Asian games. Judging from the participants huge smiles, the day was an unqualified success.

The onwater activites were followed up with a boat christening in full accondance with the class traditions. K. Dao Schoeniche held a traditional speech and ensured the boat was wetted with a splash of champagne. Her wishes of luck should ensure that Hanuman XXXXI should have a successful racing career.

The christening was attended by 30-40 members and guests, and all knew afterwards what the "New" class was, the history in Thailand, and why the class is growing at an almost unprecedented rate worldwide. The key attributes are of course the ability to handle crew from 73-110 kg and compete on equal terms with careful selection of mast and sails. It also does no harm that all test pilots found it more comfortable to sail than the dinghy most had grown up with, and knowing they could continue to race with their old mates, as the OK is equal speed to an ILCA7.

The main problem on the day was that one OK's were struggling with having the bailers blocked by ice. This is perhaps also a club first, but with help of the members this problem was also sorted out.

Related Articles

P&B OK Dinghy End of Season Championships
20 boats gathered at Northampton SC, and avoided the rain somehow 20 boats gathered at Northampton Sailing Club over the weekend of 16th - 17th November to see off the season in style at the Pinnell and Bax OK Dinghy End of Season Championships. The fleet was blessed with some perfect Autumnal weather. Posted on 21 Nov
A new OK Dinghy World No. 1
Former World Champion Roger Blasse from Australia For the first time ever the former two time OK Dinghy world champion, Roger Blasse, from Australia, is the OK Dinghy World No.1. He moves up seven places in the final World Ranking List of 2024 to take the top spot for the first time. Posted on 19 Nov
New British OK Dinghy Ranking System
With a view to maximising attendance at key event for the 2025 season With the OK End of Season Championships (kindly sponsored by P&B) coming up, the British Class Association has been putting plans together with a view to maximising attendance at key event for the 2025 season. Posted on 12 Nov
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma overall
Luke Deegan becomes first non-European OK Dinghy European Champion Luke Deegan, from New Zealand has won the 2024 OK Dinghy European Championship in Palma after a shortened week of challenging conditions with only four races completed. Posted on 4 Nov
Affordable Precision: How Atto Changes the Game
Weighing just 75g and capable of measuring 250 kg working load Digitalisation has changed sailing. Technologies once reserved for Grand-Prix are permeating every level of the sport, giving sailors the ability to adopt elite racing and training practices - elevating the game across the board. Posted on 4 Nov
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma Day 4
Luke Deegan takes lead after one more race held on Saturday Luke Deegan, from New Zealand has taken the lead at the 2024 OK Dinghy European Championship in Palma after just one more race was sailed on Saturday. Overall, Britain's Charlie Cumbley dropped to second while Sweden's Niklas Edler climbed to third. Posted on 2 Nov
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma Day 3
With an orange weather alert in place, no racing was possible With an orange weather alert in place, no racing was possible on the third day of the OK Dinghy Europeans in Palma. Posted on 2 Nov
Single Handed Regatta at Big River Sailing Club
The regatta at Clarence River at Harwood attracted 62 entrants Tucked away in the cane fields on the northern bank of the Clarence River at Harwood, Northern NSW, lies the beautifully groomed parkland and grounds of the Big River Sailing Club. Posted on 1 Nov
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma Day 2
Three races, three winners Charlie Cumbley, from Britain, leads the OK Dinghy European Championship in Palma after the first three races were sailed on Thursday in Palma Bay. Luke Deegan, from New Zealand, is second, on equal points with Britain's Matt Howard. Posted on 1 Nov
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma Day 1
Get set, ready... wait Despite a forecast for good wind, the first day of the OK Dinghy European Championship in Palma was abandoned late afternoon with not enough wind to run racing. Posted on 31 Oct
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMYoumans Studio Critical 1456x180 BOTTOMHALLSPARS_BANNER_SW_660X82-EVAI BOTTOM