OK Dinghy World Championship at Circolo Vela Arco - Day 4
by Robert Deaves 19 Sep 11:40 NZST
12-19 September 2025
Two more race wins from Britain's Andrew Mills places him within one race of clinching the 2025 OK Dinghy world title on Friday. He took two more emphatic race wins on Thursday on Lake Garda in the windiest conditions so far with the Ora building to around 16-20 knots.
Nick Craig, now four points back, fought hard but was no match for Mills, who was devastatingly quick upwind and downwind. Sweden's Niklas Edler is now up to third, a further eight points back. Two races remain on Friday.
It was a hard day for some with some high scores alongside some high winds. But Mills and Craig were on a mission and while Mills led both gold fleet races all the way, Craig applied some pressure in the second race only to be taken wide, spat out and then left behind. He said, "there was no way he was going to let me past!"
In the silver fleet, Australia's David Meehan and Spain's Mark Branagh took the race wins, while in the bronze fleet victory went to Germany's Mathis Vorndran in both races,
Nick Craig said, "Another fabulous day on Garda. We've been blessed with the conditions this week for mid-September. We've had 15-20 knots every day. Great racing. really nice waves. Downwind has been fantastic as well. But pretty tough.
"Today this is the probably the hardest OK fleet I've ever sailed in. The quality is amazing. I came away with two seconds which normally I'd be absolutely delighted with. But Millsy came away with two firsts. He's a strong lad who's quick upwind but also very good downwind. And starting well and tactically good.
"Hopefully he'll make a mistake tomorrow. But it's not looking that way. I'll try and keep the pressure on. Doing all I can."
On the organisation, "Absolutely spot on. We've got three fleets on outer and inner loops. Recipe for chaos but there's been none at all. Been absolutely spot on. Timing of the fleets is perfect. Courses are perfect. Length of races are races spot on. Getting it all in the 3-4 hour Ora window. Couldn't be better. And the pasta and beer is good as well."
Steve McDowell, from New Zealand added, "Another great day's sailing. Pretty tough in the gold fleet. Everyone who didn't come will be feeling they missed out. Another beautiful day forecast tomorrow. Rash top sailing, it's just brilliant."
While Juliane Hofmann, from Germany, looks set to win the Women's prize, the event has been a revelation for Sofie Boel, from Denmark.
"This is the best day of my life. Monday has nothing on today. I think I've started to realise why people go to regattas and have fun. It's just been crazy.
"I've never been in a field of this many people, usually 7, 8 maybe 5 people around me and here was 25. I cried a little bit when I came down. I cried a bit on the way back as I was so proud of myself. I've never been so proud of myself. I think I have to make something of this. Can't' be a Danish laggard anymore. Maybe I have to start training.
"Best day of my life."
Two races remain on Friday to determine the 2025 OK Dinghy World Champion; the champion of the biggest OK Dinghy fleet of all time. It will be some accomplishment.
Results after 8 races:
1 GBR 94 Andrew Mills 7
2 GBR 2295 Nick Craig 11
3 SWE 71 Niklas Edler 19
4 GBR 6 Charlie Cumbley 20
5 DEN 21 Bo Petersen 23
6 GBR 2298 Matthew Howard 24
7 CAN 26 Ben Flower 24
8 GER 886 Stefan Hoffmann 30
9 GER 19 Ulli Kurfeld 31
10 GER 71 André Budzien 32