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Kiwi Luke Deegan has become the first non-European to be crowned OK Dinghy European champion.
Deegan won the 2024 OK Dinghy European championships in Palma overnight after a shortened week of challenging conditions with only four races completed. Britain’s Charlie Cumbley took silver while Niklas Edler, from Sweden, took the bronze. Eighty-two sailors from 14 countries participated in Spain's first-ever OK Dinghy international championship.
Despite the best efforts of the race committee, no more races were possible on the final day. The fleet spent the day drifting around with the wind shifting from northeast to south, but there was never enough for a race. After many starts, some with black flags, one race got as far as the wing mark and one near the top mark before being abandoned.
The conditions during the week were quite unusual. The practice race was sailed in high winds, two days were lost with no wind, one day was lost with a severe weather alert, and only one and a half days had enough wind to complete any races.
Greg Wilcox, also from New Zealand, said, “To be fair they tried to start us, which was OK, but every time they tried the wind died completely and we had almost nothing and then it died out, so two starts abandoned, and that’s it.”
Deegan praised organisers in what were challenging conditions.
“A really tough day, again trick on the head, but I’m happy with the result from yesterday. I really love Palma as an island and for sure we haven’t seen the best of what it can offer," he said.
"But the regatta has been really well organised, and everyone is super friendly in the fleet, congratulating me and helping me out where I need it, and so all good.”
It was a big week of firsts with the first Swiss sailor at an event for a quarter century, as well as the first Argentinian and Brazilian sailors to compete in an international championship in written records. The fleet in Palma is booming and many of those visiting this week mentioned training there over the winter, so it will only get bigger and bigger, and perhaps a return will be on the cards before too long.
As the fleet departs, it is already looking forward to next year’s championships, with large fleets expected at both events. The 2025 European championships will be in Warnemunde, Germany - one of the class's all-time favourite venues for its big waves and clean winds.
At least 150 boats are expected. Then the 2025 world championship will be in Arco, on Lake Garda, Italy. There are already 180 pre-entries.
Full results here. - OK Dinghy International Association
