Stefan de Vries has won the 2024 Dutch OK Dinghy Championship at the Zeilvereniging Zuidlaardermeer, finishing on equal points with Fabian Rossbacher. Third place went to Ralf Tietje.
There were 34 entries to this year’s event, with great sailing and social events on shore. The forecast was for generally windy weather and that was true with 5-20 knots on bthe first day and then 8-15 on the Sunday.
Saturday started light and sunny, and then the breeze arrived with a bang and stayed around 15-20 for the rest of the day. Johannes Jensen won the opening race before Rossbacher won the next two in style. The decimated fleet was sent back to shore, with the final race abandoned.
Overnight Rossbacher led from Tietje, with Stephan Veldman in third. In the evening, the fleet were treated to a huge Chinese food buffet and a magnificent storm outside.
Sunday dawned colder, and five races were sailed. After suffering damage on Saturday, local favourite de Vries had been given redress for the two races he missed, so it was all on. He won the first four races with ease, but then a mistake in the final race let Rossbacher take another race win.
No one knew who had won, but with both de Vries and Rossbacher on 11 points, de Vries took the title on countback, having won one more race.
All competitors went home with Groningen nut bread and a huge slab of Dutch cheese.
Results here: https://zvzuidlaardermeer.nl/onk-ok-jollen/
Full low res gallery here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/okdia/albums/72177720319758484/
Hi res gallery for prints and downloads here: https://robertdeaves.smugmug.com/OK-Dinghy/2024/2024-OK-Dinghy-Dutch-Open (all photos tagged for searching)
