2004 – Interdominion & National Championships

 

Four years ago we had an idea to sail at some other venue; we were all tired of sailing at the same places - we decided on Airlie Beach Queensland.

 

Easter 2004 arrived with 34 Ok sailors turning up for the regatta, not a bad turnout, considering the travel required to get there. Most people either turned up a few days before the regatta, and had a break with their family or stayed a few days after.

 

Most had have arrived by Friday, with the three containers being unpacked in the warm, and sometimes wet conditions. The New Zealander’s made a great effort to get to Airlie with Mark Perrow, Trent Price, Philip Rzepecky, Grant Pederson, Daren Hunt and Campbell Scott making the trip. It cost these guys more to get the boats from Brisbane to Airlie than from NZ to Australia. There was also a container from NSW with six boats, and one form Melbourne with twelve, which included two boats from Tasmania. The remaining boats drove up, with two coming from South Australia.

 

 

The Racing

 

Everyone was most probably expecting the series to be light, but a little investigation prior to the event suggested that this was not going to be the case, as April is the windiest month. Some big smiles could be seen on the fat boys’ faces on the Saturday morning as we processed everyone entries had a quick General meeting, and got ready to go sailing in the afternoon for the Practice Race. As it was to turn out the average wind speed for the series was 17.5 knots.

 

 

The fresh conditions providing a solid test for our first international contest with the new carbon masts. Roger Blasse dominated the event from the opening practice race through to heat 6 with convincing victories in all races, Mark Fischer crossing first in Heat 7 to round off the series.

 

Roger sailing with a new C-Tech mast and perfectly matched Gale and Rimmington sail looked superb on AUS678 and together with his unmatched skills on the water, proved to be an unbeatable combination at this event. For heat 7 Roger used his old aluminium mast to provide some comparison for the other rigs but unfortunately broke some gear and finished back in the fleet. Overall this was a very impressive performance which showed that Roger has lost none of his well proven ability in the OK despite little time in the boat over the past couple of years whilst campaigning his 14ft skiff.

 

Runner-up and first Kiwi was Mark Perrow, a former laser sailor who finished 4th in the 2004 New Zealand OK Nationals. Mark sailed an excellent series and counted four seconds in his results. Defending National and Interdominion Champion, Mark Jackson placed third. This was a very good result as Mark has not sailed an OK since last year’s contest which he won sailing Roger’s boat. He recently acquired a new C-Tech mast and Port Nicholson sail and borrowed the ex Peter Milne AUS674 for this event.  Previous National Champions, Andre Blasse and Mark Fisher using aluminium masts finished 4th and 5th to show that they too have lost none of their outstanding OK skills. Mike Williams made a welcome return to the OK fleet and sailed a great series to finish in 6th position. Peter Burton was the first NSW placed competitor finishing 7th  sailing with an English Superspar carbon rig, Trent Pryce, NZ was 8th, Chris Visick, Vic. was 9th and Phillip Rzepecky from NZ rounded out the top 10.

 

Good performances from David Ketteridge - easier going with the carbon rig. Eddie O'Donnell and Peter Wallace - big improvers in the fleet with their new rigs. "Stumpy", Peter Lynch, a stand out performance as "Rookie of the Year" both on and off the water.

 

Mark Fisher won the Veterans title and Bill Tyler battled on to the end to take out the Masters title. Trent Pryce won the Handicap series whilst James McAllister was awarded the Patrick Whittington Trophy for the first Australian competitor in the Handicap series.

 

Putting together such a fine event so far from home takes a great deal of effort and forward planning. Our very special thanks to:

 

·        Mark Jackson - For doing all the work with the Yacht Club, organizing the Notice of Race, Sailing instructions and everything to do with the Regatta.

·        John Graham “The Starter”, for just being there and liaising between the Class and the Club.

·        Whitsunday Sailing Club for their great hospitality.

·        Russell Stewart & Tom Fisher for coming to Queensland for a holiday, and to help lay the courses.

·        Tracy Jackson for organizing the families while we were sailing, I think this I is part of a great regatta, keeping everyone happy, and for organizing entries and the money side of things.

·        Lara Blasse for doing the T-Shirts.

·        Roger Blasse for getting us a great deal on the freight for the containers.

·        Michael Walker for arranging the NSW Freight.

·        Philip Rzepecky for getting the Kiwi container to Queensland,

·        Bill & Ann Bell for accommodation at "Whitsunday Vista Resort" and to Chad & Rose for their help for those of us who stayed there

·        Billy wants to pass on a special thanks to my "OK Hero" Tom Fisher for the much appreciated rescue in Heat 1.

·        The various partners and children for once again supporting the sailors’ playing boats - Thanks guys.

 

And of course everyone who made it to the regatta.

 

Lastly, an observation, the OK senior citizens continue to turn up, leave the hot water bottles ashore and go boat racing - pushing the younger sailors and displaying excellent boat handling skills. From all reports they enjoyed their competition with each other in every race at the event and they insist that they will be around for a few more years yet. Let’s hope so.

 

Series Results [Class ET] for OkDinghy up to Race 7 (Drops = 1)

Place

Ties

Sail No

Boat Name

Skipper

From

Agg Score

Race 7

Race 6

Race 5

Race 4

Race 3

Race 2

Race 1

1

 

AUS678

SLIME

ROGER BLASSE

BRYC

6

[18.00]

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

 

NZL521

PERROW

MARK PERROW

WAKATERE B.C. NZ

18

2

[35.00F]

2

6

4

2

2

3

 

AUS674

MAGIC

MARK JACKSON

BRYC

22

4

2

[17.00]

4

2

7

3

4

 

AUS698

THE BEAST

ANDRE BLASSE

BRYC

23

3

[8.00]

4

2

6

3

5

5

 

1

FISHER

MARK FISHER

BRYC

26

1

[11.00]

5

3

3

10

4

6

3.0S

AUS642

THE HOUND

MIKE WILLIAMS

ORCV

48

7

[19.00]

3

5

9

13

11

7

 

AUS610

CORSAIR

PETER BURTON

BAULKHAM HILLS NSW

48

5

[15.00]

8

9

5

9

12

8

 

NZL490

PRYCE

TRENT PRYCE

NAPIER S.C.NZ

50

6

3

10

10

7

14

[18.00]

9

 

AUS708

ANOTHER FASHION LABE

CHRISTOPHER VISICK

BRYC

53

[21.00]

10

9

8

12

6

8

10

 

NZL500

BOOTLEG

PHILLIP RZEPECKY

WBC

55

13

4

12

15

[27.00]

5

6

11

 

AUS680

FREE RADICAL

NICK GRAY

BONNET BAY NSW

61

9

13

13

12

[13.00]

4

10

12

 

AUS660

BEAVER FEVER

PAUL FOSTER

WALLSEND NSW

62

[12.00]

9

11

11

11

11

9

13

5.0S

AUS693

PALE RIDER

EDDIE O'DONNELL

FISHING POINT NSW

63

10

5

[22.00]

7

10

16

15

14

 

AUS696

BEAST OF BURDEN

JAMES MCALLISTER

WANGI WANGI NSW

63

8

7

7

13

21

[35.00F]

7

15

 

AUS689

GEE WHY?

GLENN YATES

WANGI WANGI NSW

78

11

6

19

16

18

8

[20.00]

16

 

NZL510

SUPERTRAMP

GRANT PEDERSON

NAPIER S.C. NZ

83

14

12

21

[21.00]

8

15

13

17

6.0S

AUS672

JOANS BANE

DAVID KETTERIDGE

LOCKLEYS SA

92

20

[23.00]

6

20

15

12

19

18

 

NZL498

CRUSHER

DARREN HUNT

NAPIER NZ

92

16

14

15

19

14

[20.00]

14

19

 

AUS631

PENGUIN GOES WHOOSH

PETER WALLACE

CREMORNE PT NSW

108

15

17

[24.00]

17

20

23

16

20

 

AUS640

DANISH BLUE

PETER NIELSEN

ADELAIDE S.C.

110

19

16

14

[35.00C]

19

25

17

21

 

AUS688

SHAKEY KNEES

MICHAEL JOHNSON

BRYC

125