Testing conditions

Robert Deaves reports from the first day of the OK Australian and Interdomin Championships

The 2006 OK Dinghy Australian and Interdominion Championships got underway at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club on Lake Macquarie, Australia today with two testing races sailed in 20-25 knots. The previous day's sea breeze and blue skies had vanished overnight with the arrival of a 40 knots southerly that sent several OKs sailing round the dinghy park on their own, but by the time the racing had started, it had moderated to a gusty 20 knots. The entry includes 77 sailors from six nations.

Race one saw a good win for Russell Wood (NZL). Rounding the first mark behind fellow kiwi Mark Perrow, he showed superior upwind speed to win, followed by Roger Blasse (AUS) and the current world champion Nick Craig (GBR).

The second race was similar with a large shift at the start favouring those out of the pin. Wood led round the first mark followed by Craig and Perrow. Eventually Craig and Perrow were battling for the lead with Perrow leading most of the way. At the end though, there was barely a boatlength in it with Craig taking the bullet. Karl Purdie (NZL) sailed a great race to finish third.

The championships continue until Friday, before the Toshiba World Championship starts next Monday.

Results:

Race one

1-NZL526, R Wood
2-AUS678, R Blasse
3-GBR2116, N Craig
4-NZL521, M Perrow
5-NZL502, K Purdie
6-NZL504, Mannering
7-AUS719, A Blasse
8-AUS716, P Horne
9-AUS720, M Williams
10-NZL522, G Wilcox
11-DEN1348, J Lindhardtsen
12-AUS722, P Foster
13-NZL525, S McDowell
14-AUS703, M McQueen
15-NZL497, T Pryce
16-NZL523, J Porebski
17-GBR2081, R Deaves
18-SWE99, H Elkjaer
19-AUS681, M Gleeson
20-AUS718, P Burton

Race two

1-GBR2116, N Craig
2-NZL521, M Perrow
3-NZL502, K Purdie
4-AUS678, R Blasse
5-DEN1348, J Lindhardtsen
6-NZL525, S McDowell
7-AUS720, M Williams
8-NZL526, R Wood
9-DEN1340, J Petersen
10-AUS716, P Horne
11-NZL523, J Porebski
12-AUS719, A Blasse
13-NZL472, A Deaves
14-SWE99, H Elkjaer
15-NZL497, T Pryce
16-NZL504, A Mannering
17-AUS676, T Davies
18-GBR2081, R Deaves
19-AUS703, M McQueen
20-AUS668, P Wallace