PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham Yacht Club - Overall

39 OKs from around the country (and from Sweden) gathered at Brixham YC on the 18th July for the National Championship sponsored by Pro-set Resins. With two recent OK World champions in the fleet and several other sailors who could win if their skills and luck coincided on the day it was setting up to be a classic contest on what can be tricky racing waters.

Day 1 saw a delayed start due to light winds, but the sunshine kept the fleet ashore happy and allowed last minute adjustments to be made before the fleet were released to head out into Torbay. When the breeze arrived it was still light, but brought with it a small confused chop to make getting upwind taxing even for the best, but after several general recalls, Ed Bradburn from South Staffs worked his way through what turned out to be a long, long race it to win convincingly from current World Champ Nick Craig with Charlie Cumbley taking third. Race 2 saw slightly more wind, and saw Charlie take the win, with Grand Master Roger Tushingham showing he still has the winning edge close behind in 2nd. After returning ashore later than planned, the daily prize-giving saw handing out of goodies to Charlie (top of fleet prize), Gavin Poullion (middle fleet prize) and Simon Deeks (back of fleet prize). Continuing the OK tradition of awarding the Yellow Suit for outstanding service to the fleet by making them laugh (otherwise known as Dick of the Day), Kieran Bowsher donned the suit for his exploits in getting to the event with less than the optimum number of wheels on his combi trailer.

Nick Craig, overall winner - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild

Day 2 say the fleet launch into a light breeze that immediately died to nothing and left the OKs scattered around Torbay until the sea breeze eventually arrived. After a relocation of the course, the fleet started in light airs with Nick winning his first race from the consistent Ed Bradburn with Adam Savage from Elton SC sailing a blinder to take 3rd, closely followed by Grand Master Chris Rhodes (who last won the Nationals in 1971 & 1976!) and Keith Byers from Morecombe. The second race of the day saw a building sea breeze which saw Jim Downer in his new Ovington boat find a surge of boat speed to hold off Nick and Charlie with Herne Bay's Dave Bourne sailing his own design taking 4th. The Yellow suit went to Bernard Clark for death rolling coming into the slip - in no wind!

Charlie Cumbley - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild

Day 3 broke with cold, windy, rainy and with limited visibility and was forecast to get worse for the remainder of the day. The committee boat headed out early to ensure there was adequate visibility to race in, and with conditions confirmed as being suitable, the fleet launched into a breezy run out of the harbour. With the southerly breeze bringing in decent sized waves, the fleet got away under the U flag on a race which taxed the legs as hard as the brain with Jim Downer who was obviously relishing the conditions leading, until he was passed by Charlie, who took the win, and Nick. The second race of the day started with visibility so reduced that the windward mark, positioned just off Brixham harbour could not be seen from the start line, but as the visibility improved the fleet hammered around the course with multiple capsizes until just before the last leg, the wind swung right and left the fleet virtually fetching the finish line with Nick taking the win from Jim, Charlie following up in 3rd and Ben Flower in his first OK event relishing the strong conditions to take 4th from heavy weather aficionado Richard Burton.

Kieran Bowsher - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild

With the Class Dinner planned for the Saturday evening, the class AGM was held immediately before hand with long time class secretary Mary Reddyhoff stepping down after 10 years in the role with Simon Davis picking up the reins from her. Brixham YC chefs put on a splendid class dinner for the sailors, partners and friends and a special presentation of a half model of an OK and flowers was made to Mary for the service she has given to the class over many years. The final Yellow Suit presentation of the event was made gain to Kieran, who is quickly building up the repertoire of funny tales that all the great OK sailors seemed to have. Having 'forgot' to bring a tent (and this not being allowed to use the campsite that was booked), he opted for the traditional dinghy sailors repose of sleeping in his car - whereupon he received a parking ticket while still asleep! Keiran - long may you keep sailing with the OKs!

Day 4 opened with Nick just a few points clear overall of Charlie with two races still to go. With the wind comiing off the norther shore of Torbay, it was always going to be tricky and Charlie led round the first mark from Gavin Poullion in his Dave Bourne designed boat and Jim Downer in third. Nick was chased around the mark hard by top Swede Patric Mure and the remainder of the pack. With his work cut out if he wanted to seal the title with a race to go, Nick moved into second behind Charlie, with Ben Flower moving up to 4th behind Jim Downer and Gavin dropping to fifth. With Charlie winning, it was all to play for in the final race and eventually it ca edown to a classic tacking duel on the final beat to the finish, with Nick just holding off Charlie to take the title.

Roger Tushingham - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild

The Overall Results saw Nick with 11 points and Charlie on 14, with third placed Ed Bradburn on 30 points. Kieran Bowsher won the Junior Trophy and Classic boat trophy, Patric Mure, top overseas boat. Mary Reddyhoff was a deserving winner of the Ladies prize and Roger Tushingham took the Grand Master prize with a very credible eleventh overall. South Staffs won the team prize.

Special mention must be made of Ben Flower, who borrowing a boat from Nick sailed his first OK event with gusto, finishing in fourth overall. We hope we will see some more of him in the OK fleet where he will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in years to come.

Ed Bradburn - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild

Overall Results:
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Jim Downer - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham - photo © Tom Wild