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Australian OK Dinghy Championships 2001

Adelaide, South Australia

1st - 8th January 2001

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Victorian Rob Davis won his first Australian title at the 39th Australian OK Dinghy Championship sailed at Adelaide Sailing Club. Held in early January, the Regatta was sailed in generally light conditions with the hot weather producing offshore breezes, the typical Adelaide sea breeze making only brief appearances. The regatta was also a World Championship selection regatta with the top 10 places securing berths at the 2001 Worlds in Sweden in August and the 2002 Worlds in New Zealand next January.

John Gibson led the points table early winning 3 of the first 4 races. Rob Davis was consistent with 2 seconds but carded 2 fifths putting his title aspirations under some pressure. Davis won Race 5 and with growing confidence won Race 6 sailed in a 15-18 knot sea breeze. Gibson with 2 seconds in Races 5 and 6 consolidated his position and led Davis into the final race by 4 points.

Race 7 was delayed, the southerly breeze switching 30 degrees and making course setting for the crucial race difficult. Three general recalls added to the tension. While Gibson tailed Davis through each of the previous aborted starts, Davis escaped from the fourth start to the favored left hand side. Gibson with an average start headed right. At the first mark Davis led with Gibson buried. With the title in his grasp Davis went on to win Race 7 with Gibson mid fleet. Mark Jackson finished strongly with a 2nd in Race 7 to gain 3rd overall from previous World Champion Mark Fisher 4th. Victorians Paul Richards and Justin Graham enjoyed the lighter conditions finishing 5th and 6th. Graham was the only other race winner, winning Race 3. NSW's John Mackenzie and Peter Burton finishing 7th and 9th respectively. The host club was represented in the top 10 with Peter Neilsen 8th and David Clancy 10th.

James McAllister from NSW, the current World Junior Champion finished 14th overall and defended his Australian Junior title. Mark Fisher won the veterans title for over 40's. Bill Tyler from NSW successfully defended his Masters title for the over 55's.

Six of the top 10 used hulls from the Comfort and Taylor design, the top 3 new hulls from builder Jim French in Melbourne. Nine of the top 10 used UK Needlespar masts, Mackenzie used a Goldspar section with a fibreglass tip. All used sails from Gale & Rimington Sails, Melbourne.

Peter Burton
National President