The 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship commenced on Lake Garda with two races held in excellent conditions, drawing smiles from competitors despite tired legs. Defending champion Nick Craig and fellow Brit Andrew Mills both secured two race wins, while Canada’s Ben Flower and Sweden’s Niklas Edler also claimed victories in the event featuring 212 OK Dinghies from 15 nations. This championship is poised to be one of the most competitive in the class’s history, with approximately 37 of the top 40 sailors from the current world rankings participating.
Hosted by Circolo Vela Arco, the event promises a challenging week ahead, with a total of ten races scheduled over five days. With a unique scoring system where each point gained or lost translates to three points, the competition is intense. After the first day, four sailors lead the rankings after winning races; however, this is likely to change as races continue.
In Race 1, wins were claimed by Flower, Mills, and Craig, while Race 2 saw Edler take victory after a close contest with Denmark’s Bo Petersen, followed by Mills and Craig. The day’s racing was marked by both dominant performances and fiercely contested battles.
Among the competitors is Sofie Boel from Denmark, participating in her first world championship. She expressed her excitement, stating, “I think I’ve had one of the best days of my life. It’s really amazing you know. Some super great fights. I wasn’t completely at the bottom of the field, but I was moving up a little bit. It’s been really amazing. Super hard.”
Chris Turner from Britain noted the day’s challenges and the competitive spirit, while past world champion Charlie Cumbley highlighted the enjoyment of the racing and the camaraderie among competitors.
Racing resumes on Tuesday at 13:00, with a six-race opening series followed by a finals series.
For those interested, a full gallery of images is available at Flickr.
Report by Robert Deaves
Notice board and results here: https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/documents/10764/event
Event website: https://2025.okworlds.org
#OKDinghy #SailingNews #LakeGarda #SailingChampionships #SailingEvent #AustralianSailing #OKDIA #SailorsLife
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
