OK class prepare for Ovington Multiclass open meeting 2024
by Gavin Poulloin 2 Oct 12:02 PDT
5-6 October 2024
Chris Turner - PRO-SET Epoxy OK class UK National Championships at Brixham © Tom Wild
Another weekend and another OK event. Yep, us OK sailors just love being on the water. This time the OK class are heading to Portland for the Ovington Multiclass open at the WPNSA over the weekend of 5th and 6th October.
The class owe a lot of its current success to Ovingtons. Since the introduction of the Phil Morrison design, Ovington made hull shape back in 2017, the class as seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of the boat both at home and abroad. This has contributed to 143 boats attending the 2023 worlds championship in Lyme Regis, 112 boats, the biggest ever OK dinghy event held in Australia, in 2024, and now nearly 200 boats registering an interest in the 2025 world championship at Circolo Vela Arco, Lake Garda, next September. Not bad for a 68-year-old class.
Enough nostalgia and self-promotion. What about the event. This inaugural multiclass event comes off the back of the successful Ovington Inlands held every March up at Grafham. However, this one come with a few added extra bonuses. Not only will we be sailing in the great waters of Portland Harbour, a two-course meal included in the entry, and a promise that the bar at the academy will stay open.
There will also be not one, but two world class coaches watching everything we do on the water. Adam Bowers and Sam Pascoe will be there help us improve our sailing, by offering advice, passing on their vast experiences, and providing a great and unique debrief in the bar after sailing on the Saturday evening.
This event isn't about who will win, it's about the opportunity to get some good coaching, whilst also hopefully some good close racing. Though I'm sure Chris Turner, Matt Howard, and Terry Curtis would still like to take overall honours for the weekend. The forecast keeps getting better on every update, and with it being SSE there should be a bit of shelter in the lee of Portland even if the worst of the models are correct.
So get your entries in ASAP at wpnsa.ourclubadmin.com/event/38
If you are under 25 and fancy sailing an OK the class has a Youth Nationals at South Staffs SC on Saturday 12th October. Boats may be available. For more information, please contact
If you are interested in trying an OK, there are demo boats available, potentially at the class end of season championships at Northampton SC on the 16th and 17th November. Please contact