OK (dinghy)
The OK Dinghy is an international class sailing dinghy, designed by Knud Olsen in 1956.
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Boat | |
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Crew | 1 |
Hull | |
Hull weight | 72 kg (159 lb) |
LOA | 4.00 m (13.12 ft) |
Beam | 1.42 m (4 ft 8 in) |
Sails | |
Mainsail area | 8.95 m2 (96.3 sq ft) |
Racing | |
D-PN | 96.5[1] |
RYA PN | 1100[2] |
History
In 1956 Axel Damgaard Olsen of Vordingborg, asked the Danish yacht designer Knud Olsen to prepare drawings for a light and fast single-handed sailing dinghy based on conventional plywood construction. The resulting design was named the "OK", using Knud Olsen's initials in reverse.
The OK was intended as a preparation class for the Olympic Finn and it has followed its technical evolution ever since. The rig is identical to a Finn comprising a single sail set on a rotating, un-stayed, bending mast.
OKs are built in plywood, G.R.P and composite construction; all forms enjoy equal racing success. Freedom of choice in hull materials is replicated in choice of rig. The choice of mast, sail and fittings must fit within the class rules but enables all sailors to have a combination suited to their own requirements. Consequently, every OK develops to suit the owner's style of sailing, while the shape of the hull is defined by a comprehensive set of strict one-design rules ensuring a long competitive life span. Old boats often only need a rig update and minor constructional modifications to make them competitive, provided they meet modern buoyancy requirements.
In the 60s and 70s, the OK class enjoyed an explosive success, with the total number of boats exceeding 10,000, and large racing fleets building up. In the 80s, the success of the popular one-design single-handed Laser affected the success of the OK.
In the eastern European countries, the OK was the official youth single hander and after the breakdown of the socialist system, many 'old' sailors came back to the class of their youth, now with their own boats instead of club-owned.
The OK Dinghy was selected as the Open class single hander for the Asian Games 1998.
In 2003 carbon fibre masts were introduced to the class.
In 2005, there was a revival of the OK class with many older boats being restored and updated, new boats being built and participation in club races rising.
The 50th anniversary of the design of the OK dinghy was marked by the largest ever OK Dinghy World Championships held at Łeba on the Polish coast in July 2007.[3]
Events
World Championships
Year |
Gold | Silver | Bronze |
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1963 Maubuisson | ![]() |
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1964 Roskilde | ![]() |
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1965 Hayling Island | ![]() |
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1966 Veerse Meer | ![]() |
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1967 Lake Saint-Louis | ![]() |
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1968 Tønsberg | ![]() |
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1969 Bendor | ![]() |
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1970 Takapuna | ![]() |
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1971 Kiel | ![]() |
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1972 Marstrand | ![]() |
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1973 Falmouth | ![]() |
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1974 Adelaide | ![]() |
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1975 Helsinki | ![]() |
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1976 Nyköping | ![]() |
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1977 Takapuna | ![]() |
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1978 Medemblik | ![]() |
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1979 Tønsberg | ![]() |
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1980 Varberg | ![]() |
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1981 Hyères | ![]() |
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1982 Melbourne | ![]() |
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1983 Torquay | ![]() |
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1984 Sønderborg | ![]() |
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1985 Medemblik | ![]() |
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1986 Takapuna | ![]() |
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1987 Luleå | ![]() |
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1988 Travemünde | ![]() |
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1989 Weymouth | ![]() |
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1990 Melbourne | ![]() |
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1991 Vallensbæk | ![]() |
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1992 Vitrolles | ![]() |
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1993 Puck | ![]() |
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1994 Napier | ![]() |
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1995 Felixstowe | ![]() |
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1996 Varberg | ![]() |
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1997 Sonderborg | ![]() |
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1998 Glenelg | ![]() |
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1999 Neustadt in Holstein | ![]() |
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2000 Łeba | ![]() |
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2001 Båstad | ![]() |
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2002 Napier | ![]() |
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2003 Goa | ![]() |
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2004 Poole | ![]() |
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2005 Skælskør | ![]() |
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2006 Belmont | ![]() |
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2007 Łeba | ![]() |
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2008 Warnemünde | ![]() |
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2009 Kalmar | ![]() |
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2010 Wellington | ![]() |
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2011 Largs | ![]() |
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2012 Vallensbæk | ![]() |
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2013 Pattaya | ![]() |
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2014 Melbourne | ![]() |
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2015 Puck | ![]() |
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2016 Saint-Pierre-Quiberon[4] | ![]() |
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2017 Barbados | ![]() |
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2018 Warnemünde[5] | ![]() |
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2019 Auckland[6] | ![]() |
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See also
References
- "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- "Largest ever OK Dinghy World Championships". Sail World. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- http://2016.okworlds.org/category/results/
- "2018 OK Worlds". Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- "2019 OK Worlds". Retrieved 10 February 2019.