A total of 75 boats took part in the recently-held OK national championship at Parkstone Yacht Club. The large entry comprised a strong overseas contingent using the event as a warm-up for this week’s world championship, also at Poole.

Sunday morning saw very little wind with rain but the sun soon came out and after a light first race the second and third were sailed in wind gusting up to 20kts from the south-west. This led to few casualties with broken masts and retirements. Competitors had problems getting used to the change of tide for the second race and there were three general recalls before the fleet finally got away. At total of11 competitors were disqualified for premature starting under the black flag rule.

Monday was fine with a steady southerly wind of 9 to 10kts making pleasent sailing for all. It was the third race this time that caught the unwary with a west going tidal stream and this time five boats were black-flagged. Tuesday morning was sunny but with light winds. After a delay of 55 minutes the fleet set off in a 5kt breeze. Those choosing the left-hand side of the course soon realised that they had been pushed down tide and some of the sailors finished up with indifferent results in this race. The second race had one general recall but at the second attempt everyone was clear of the line and had an extremely close race with only a few minutes separating the first and last boats in a 9kt breeze.

Ovarall Results

1st Nick Craig,Frensham Pond SC

2nd Nitin Mongia , Naval SC, Mumbai, India, also winner of Races 1 and Race 4

3rd Jim Hunt , South Staff SC, also winner of Races 5, 6 and 7

1st LadyMary Reddyhoff, Parkstone YC

Best newcomer and 1st Metal MastHywel Roberts, Parkstone YC