The OK class had its second qualifier for the World Championships in Denmark next year at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club with 24 entrants travelling from all over the country. It was also a good warm up for the big events next month – the National & World Championship at Parkstone.

The opening day saw near perfect conditions for OK sailing with force 3-4 and rolling waves making for great downwind sailing. Dave Carroll used his local knowledge to the full to go hard left up the 1st beat and pick up some favourable tide. Jim Hunt steadily closed the gap until Carroll again judged the tide just right on the run to open up the gap but Hunt showed new found downwind speed on the reeches to take the win from Carroll. Terry Curtis was not far behind in 3rd with Nick Craig just ahead of close finshiing Dave Rose and Andy Rushworth.

Hunt made no mistake in race 2 leading from start to finish. Curtis showed good speed to finish 2nd ahead of Carroll. Craig and Rushworth were OCS giving Rose 4th, sailing fast with a metal mast, ahead of Jon Fish showing his best performance so far in the OK with a 5th.

The fleet were happy to see slightly less wind & sunshine on Sunday, a ripping tide again and tricky sailing as the wind was very unstable. Carroll again used his local knowledge seemingly heading out to sea on the 1st beat with the tide against but he knew something as he opened up a large lead with Julian Burnham, Alex Scoles and Paul Pike also picking up on this to enjoy a taste of the front of the fleet. Hunt led from the right side and picked up a huge band of new wind on the 2nd beat to take the lead and the event with a race to spare. Carroll held a comfortable 2nd while Craig pulled through to 3rd with Andy Turner and Mike Edwards sniffing the shifts well to hold on to 4th and 5th.

Race 4 was a race officers mare with the wind shifting all over the place but after a competitive generall recall the fleet got away with some excellent waves building. Hunt took an early lead but Craig showed good downwind speed to take the lead and just hold it after an exciting match race into the finish. Curtis and Carroll had an equally close tussle for 3rd which Curtis won. Fish again showed his windier weather pace to take 5th so just beating Rushworth for 5th overall.

Overall

1st, Jim Hunt, 3 points

2nd, Dave Carroll, 7 points

3rd, Boatracer.co.uk/Sola, Nick Craig, 8

4th, Another Brick, Terry Curtis, 8

5th, The Grim Reaper, Jon Fish, 18

6th, Nicely finished boat, Andrew Rushworth, 18

7th, Malcolm, Dave Rose, 19

8th, Dunrekin, Robert Deaves, 21

9th, John Ball, 25

10th, Elk, Gav Waldron, 25