OK Dinghy World Championship at Circolo Vela Arco - Day 1
by Robert Deaves 16 Sep 17:22 NZST
12-19 September 2025
Nick Craig starts title defence with two solid race wins
The 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship began on Lake Garda on Monday with two races in sublime conditions that left everyone with smiles from ear to ear, albeit with sore legs and tired bodies. With three groups, two races and six starts, there were two standout performances with defending champion Nick Craig taking two race wins and fellow Brit Andrew Mills also taking two wins. The two other race wins went to Canada's Ben Flower and Sweden's Niklas Edler.
It has heralded the start of what is lining up to be a tough week on Lake Garda. 212 OK Dinghies from 15 countries are taking part in a 10 race, 5-day series that will become a standout moment for the class. To add to the competitive level, around 37 sailors out of the top 40 sailors from the current OK Dinghy World Ranking List are taking part, making this probably the most competitive OK Dinghy event ever held. The winner will be a true World Champion.
Circolo Vela Arco is the perfect host with after race pasta and beer parties, huge on shore organisation and some great new facilities for sailors.
With three groups, every point gained or lost is the equivalent to three points. After the opening day, four sailors won at least one race and lead the rankings, but after Tuesday's races this will surely change. In Race 1 the wins went to Flower, Mills and Craig. In Race 2, the wins went to Edler, after a tight battle with Denmark's Bo Petersen, Mills and Craig. While some were dominant, there were many tight battles and hard fought mark roundings. But also, there was a euphoria in the fleet that only venues like Garda can bring.
Both Mills, a former top Finn sailor, and Craig, a six-time OK Dinghy world champion won races by a significant margin, while the other wins were close fought. It will be a fascinating series with more top ranked sailors than ever seen before at a world championship.
Sofie Boel, from Denmark is one of four women taking part this week and is sailing her first world championship. "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, said of the day, "It was great. Fantastic. Good day on the water. Bit of pin bias in the second race that a lot of us missed. Got a sixth and maybe an early teens."
Past world champion, Charlie Cumbley, from Britain, "Great first day to the world championship. The Ora came in, three fleets. We were in the last fleet. Good bit of Brit racing actually. Nick [Craig] won both races. I got a second and a third. Matt got a fifth and a second. James Downer was up in the first race. Now I am looking forward to a bit of a sit down. My legs hurt turns out when the Ora comes in. But all good. Nice first day."
Racing continues Tuesday at 13.00. A six race/three day opening series will be followed by a four race/two day finals series.