Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px TOP

OK Dinghy European Championship at Real Club Náutico de Palma - Day 2

by Robert Deaves 1 Nov 16:27 NZDT 30 October - 3 November 2024

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. All three took a race win each.

After the opening day was lost, the forecast came good with a very shifty north-easterly 8-15 knots, which kept everyone on their toes. The race management from the Real Club Nàutico de Palma was slick, with fast turnarounds and just one general recall.

Defending Champion, Cumbley, won the opening race after leading all the way by a comfortable margin. Deegan recovered from around sixth at the top to cross second with Howard third. Cumbley also led the next race, but Deegan passed him at the top of the second upwind and extended downwind for the win. Sweden's Niklas Edlar was also making a charge and just got the overlap on Cumbley at the last leeward mark to take second.

Howard then dominated the final race leading all the way round. Behind him there was an intense scrap with Cumbley climbing up to second and Britain's Andy Davis just pipping Tim Petetin, from France, for third on the finish line.

Matt Howard, "Really tricky day actually, with a north easterly, three races and the last one was an upwind finish, so plenty of upwind, plenty of shifts plenty of pressure. All run really smoothly by the race committee. It was real snake sand ladders today.

"I did all right. The middle race was a bit ropey but the other two were good."

Cumbley, "Really nice breeze, more than I was expecting, so all day hiking which the legs are finding hard. But I won the first race. I kind of got away and there was a group fighting behind me which kept them at bay, which was nice, so nice to start with a race win.

"Then I got a third and a second, so really pleased with that. I was quite lucky as my compass died on the way out, but luckily the shifts were big enough that you could see them with the compass.

"Really good day, great racing, and everyone is competitive, with some new guys that are really quick, Luke in particular, so plenty to look forward to in the next days."

Both Cumbley and Howard have put in a lot of hours in Palma Bay in the Finn in years past. How much of the old Palma knowledge is kicking in? Howard laughed, "Absolutely none at all. I've never raced on that part of Palma Bay, and not much in a north easterly, and it's a lot different watching it than doing it yourself."

Cumbley said, "I came here last month for the J70 Worlds and I was coaching. I did a couple of days in the boat beforehand and we did have a day at the worlds in these conditions. So, I haven't done loads, but at least it's not my first day out there.

"The Finn racing was in a different part of the bay, though still the same geographical features. You had to be relatively punchy to get to the left-hand side, which generally paid, but there was always a right shift that people could get back on so plenty on."

Racing is scheduled to continue at 12.00 on Friday, though racing is currently in the balance with an orange weather alert in place in Palma. A decision will be made in the morning. The event concludes on Sunday 3 November.

Event website including results and notice board: www.regatas.eu/2024-okeuropeans

Related Articles

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 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
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma opened
82 sailors from 14 nations complete registration for the event The OK Dinghy European Championship was opened in Palma Tuesday evening with 82 sailors from 14 nations completing registration. Hosted by the Real Club Nàutico de Palma, it will be the first ever international OK Dinghy championship to be held in Spain. Posted on 29 Oct
2024 OK Dinghy Europeans at Palma preview
The event will mark the first ever international OK Dinghy championship to be held in Spain The OK Dinghy European Championship is being held this coming week at the Real Club Nàutico de Palma. Nearly 80 sailors from 14 countries are expected to arrive in Palma in the coming days. Posted on 28 Oct
No let up for the Australian OK Dinghy Class
2025 has the prospect of the Worlds at Lake Garda! Under normal cycles, you would think coming off the back of a home World Championship in Australia, there might be a lull in the OK dinghy class. But now, there is a carrot being dangled - to sail the next worlds at Riva Del Garda, Italy in 2025. Posted on 22 Oct
37th AC Store 2024-two-728X90 BOTTOMPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMSOUTHERN-SPARS-MISSY-FURLING-BOOMS-728-X-90 Bottom