Nick Craig has won his sixth OK Dinghy World Championship after a tight week of racing at the 2024 Tan Lines OK Dinghy World Championship, hosted by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane. Despite a tough last day, there was no change in positions, with Andy Davis taking second while Roger Blasse was third.
As Afloat reported earlier, Greystones Harbour ex-pat Sean Cleary, now sailing for New Zealand, ended the championships in 25th place having been as high as ninth.
The final day was sailed in the best conditions of the week, with winds up to 14-16 knots, 30 degrees, blue skies, some nice waves, and fantastic weather.
Craig took a nervous third in race 9, followed by an emphatic second in the final race to secure a record sixth world title in the class. Andy Davis (who was Shane MacCarthy's crew when he sailed to GP14 world Championship success in 2016) placed fifth in the first race and then gave Blasse, with whom he was tied on points, a tough time in the second to hang onto the silver after Blasse had won the first race. However, Blasse picked up a second yellow flag while under a lot of pressure from Davis, and all that was needed was for Craig to finish top nine, which he did with ease as the wind increased to 16 knots. The final race was won by Steve McDowell. It was an incredible end to an awesome week in Brisbane.
Glenn Williams won the silver fleet from Brett Daniel and Oscar Paulich.
The prizegiving was held Saturday evening at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron with a plethora of prizes handed out.
