2000 Australian Championship, Metung, Australia

Metung Yacht Club

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Defending champion and 1998 World Champion Roger Blasse narrowly retained the Australian International OK Dinghy Championships sailed at Metung on Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes. Held in early January, the regatta was held in strong to very strong wind conditions and attracted the strongest fleet for many years. The standard and competition for Australian OK Dinghies has continued to rise with Australians winning the last two World Championships.

Roger Blasse sailed consistently to win by just one point from his elder brother Andre, with Laser convert John Gibson just one point further behind in third. While Roger Blasse was only able to win one heat, his consistency with three seconds and two thirds proved just enough to win. Andre Blasse crossed the line first in four heats, only to be OCS in the first heat. John Gibson also won two heats and any of the top three could have taken the title going into the final heat.

Andre Blasse led the final heat in a 25 knot easterly from the start and was clearly faster upwind in very strong breeze, but Roger Blasse showed excellent heavy air skill to cross the line in second place. Gibson finished third which pushed him to third overall. A simple switch in the last race between Roger Blasse and Gibson would have seen Andre Blasse 1st, Gibson 2nd and Roger Blasse 3rd overall.

The closeness of the racing was not confined to the top three. Current World Champion Peter Milne finished in 4th place overall, just two points in front of Mark Jackson and Rob Davis on equal points in 5th and 6th respectively. The fleet also included former World Champion Mark Fisher finishing in 7th place and last years junior champion David Clancy in 8th.

James McAllister from Wangi on Lake Macquarie was the first junior and 11th overall. A fantastic achievement at 17 and after less than 12 months sailing OKs in a very high standard fleet. Current World Champion Peter Milne didn’t leave the prize-giving empty handed, placing as first veteran for over 40s. Bill Tyler from Mosman, NSW claimed the super veteran over 55s prize.

Three of the top six used new hulls from Jim French in Melbourne. Roger Blasse uses a hull he built and designed himself and Andre Blasse uses an imported Swedish ‘Delfs’. Peter Milne used a Kulmar hull from NSW. All the top boats used either a Goldspar or Needlespar (UK) mast and all use sails from Gale and Rimington Sails, Melbourne.

Mark Jackson
National Secretary

C=DNC, S=DNS, O=OCS, F=DNF, R=RET, Q=DSQ, D=DND, Z=ZPG, U=DUT, Y=YPG, G=RDG, P=PROTEST, V=AVERAGE