2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde - Day 3
by Robert Deaves 9 Jul 09:41 NZST
4-13 July 2025
Canada's Ben Flower and Britain's Charlie Cumbley will go into Wednesday's final day at the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, on equal points with two more races to sail. While Germany's Andre Budzien moved up to third place, the 2024 world champion Nick Craig finally found some form on Tuesday to win the day with a 2,1 in the toughest conditions of the event so far.
The westerly winds of 14-16 knots had built a huge sea overnight, which is why the class loves to return to Warnemunde. Big surfs downwind and huge lumps of water upwind made for a challenging but fun day. It was a great sailing day with sunshine early on and only a brief shower as the fleet headed home. Today there were no recalls, but there were still some significant starting penalties in the final race, including three in the top 10.
With the 110 boat fleet split now in gold and silver groups the interest was mainly on the gold fleet. In Race 5, Budzien led Craig at the top mark but after a challenging downwind, Flower passed Budzien and rounded the opposite gate to Craig. At the next top mark, Flower was in the lead and went on win his second race from Craig and Denmark's Bo Petersen. Craig then dominated Race 6, leading off the line and never in danger. Flower rounded around fifth, moved up to second and then dropped back on the last legs. Budzien ended up second with Cumbley third after both Petersen and Jens Eckardt, also from Denmark were scored UFD.
In the silver fleet, the first race was dominated by Germany's Michael Nissen, while in the second race after several leaders, Germany's Ralf Tietje led down the final run to take the win, and now leads the silver fleet.
Craig said, "A fantastic day's sailing in Warnemunde and this is why we keep coming back. It was force 3-4, sunny and just huge waves. The waves were way bigger than the wind strength and the downwind rides were fantastic.
"It was a good day for me. I have been sailing the Finn for the last year or so and just got back in the OK and it's taking me a little while to find the gears, find the groove. I kind of know what I am meant to be doing but it's not easy to get that feel back. Today was much better, so very pleased. A fantastic day's racing.
"I think I am probably a bit of an outsider for tomorrow. I think Ben and Charlie are well ahead and there will be a few others in the mix, but hopefully I'll be on the back of the pack with a shout if I have another really good day."
The 2025 European Championship is going down to the wire. Flower has barely put a foot wrong and is sailing very fast. Cumbley had a few starting problems today that cost him points, but with only five points separating third placed Budzien and sixth place, it is going to be a close finish in Warnemunde.
Results after Day 3: (top ten, 6 races)
1 CAN 26 Ben FLOWER 9pts
2 GBR 6 Charlie CUMBLEY 9pts
3 GER 71 Andrè BUDZIEN 17pts
4 SWE 24 Daniel BJÖRNDAHL 17pts
5 GBR 2261 Nick CRAIG 19.5pts
6 DEN 12 Jens ECKARDT 22pts
7 DEN 3 Jørgen SVENDSEN 26pts
8 GBR 11 Andy DAVIS 28pts
9 SWE 100 Thomas HANSSON-MILD 32pts
10 NOR 428 Lars Johan BRODTKORB 34pts
Event website including results and notice board