Three races, three winners at OK Dinghy Europeans in Palma

Charlie Cumbley, from Britain, leads the OK Dinghy European Championship in Palma after the first three races were sailed on Thursday in Palma Bay. Luke Deegan, from New Zealand, is second, on equal points with Britain’s Matt Howard. All three took a race win each.

After the opening day was lost, the forecast came good with a very shifty north-easterly 8-15 knots, which kept everyone on their toes. The race management from the Real Club Nàutico de Palma was slick, with fast turnarounds and just one general recall.

Defending Champion, Cumbley, won the opening race after leading all the way by a comfortable margin. Deegan recovered from around sixth at the top to cross second with Howard third. Cumbley also led the next race, but Deegan passed him at the top of the second upwind and extended downwind for the win. Sweden’s Niklas Edlar was also making a charge and just got the overlap on Cumbley at the last leeward mark to take second.

Howard then dominated the final race leading all the way round. Behind him there was an intense scrap with Cumbley climbing up to second and Britain’s Andy Davis just pipping Tim Petetin, from France, for third on the finish line.

Matt Howard, “Really tricky day actually, with a north easterly, three races and the last one was an upwind finish, so plenty of upwind, plenty of shifts plenty of pressure. All run really smoothly by the race committee. It was real snake sand ladders today.

“I did all right. The middle race was a bit ropey but the other two were good.”

Cumbley, “Really nice breeze, more than I was expecting, so all day hiking which the legs are finding hard. But I won the first race. I kind of got away and there was a group fighting behind me which kept them at bay, which was nice, so nice to start with a race win.

“Then I got a third and a second, so really pleased with that. I was quite lucky as my compass died on the way out, but luckily the shifts were big enough that you could see them with the compass.

“Really good day, great racing, and everyone is competitive, with some new guys that are really quick, Luke in particular, so plenty to look forward to in the next days.”

Both Cumbley and Howard have put in a lot of hours in Palma Bay in the Finn in years past. How much of the old Palma knowledge is kicking in? Howard laughed, “Absolutely none at all. I’ve never raced on that part of Palma Bay, and not much in a north easterly, and it’s a lot different watching it than doing it yourself.”

Cumbley said, “I came here last month for the J70 Worlds and I was coaching. I did a couple of days in the boat beforehand and we did have a day at the worlds in these conditions. So, I haven’t done loads, but at least it’s not my first day out there.

“The Finn racing was in a different part of the bay, though still the same geographical features. You had to be relatively punchy to get to the left-hand side, which generally paid, but there was always a right shift that people could get back on so plenty on.”

Racing is scheduled to continue at 12.00 on Friday, though racing is currently in the balance with an orange weather alert in place in Palma. A decision will be made in the morning. The event concludes on Sunday 3 November

HOW TO FOLLOW THE 2024 OK DINGHY EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2024 OK Dinghy European Championship is being held at in Palma, Mallorca, hosted by tee al Club Nautico de Palma. Ten races are scheduled from 30 October to 3 November June. The fleet consists of 80 sailors from 14 nations.