The final OK Dinghy World Ranking List before next week's OK Dinghy World
Championships in Kalmar, Sweden, reveals few changes from the previous
issue. In fact the top four stay the same with Karl Purdie (NZL), the 2008
World Champion, still holding onto the number one slot over fellow Kiwi Mark
Perrow, even though neither have sailed any additional ranking regattas
since February.
The European circuit has however been in full swing with events at
Medemblik, Kiel, Warnemünde and Steinhude (the German Nationals) counting
points towards this release.
Greg Wilcox (NZL) is back into the top ten after wins at Kiel Week and
Warnemünde Week, while former world champion Nick Craig (GBR) drops further
down the list after a period of inactivity in the class since last year's
worlds. However he started his 2009 campaign well with a win at the German
nationals over Wilcox. Finally, former double world champion Karsten Hitz
(GER) makes his first appearance in the top 5 after good results so far this
year, including a win at the Spring Cup in Medemblik.
This issue of the World Ranking List includes 411 sailors from 14 nations
and three continents, proof perhaps that OK Dinghy sailing continues to
increase, with several new nations joining the class for the first time in
the past year.
The next release will be after the Polish nationals in September and will
include points from the all important world championship.
Top 10 (out of 411) – full list attached
1 Karl Purdie NZL 940.33
2 Mark Perrow NZL 920.11
3 Jørgen Lindhardtsen DEN 909.08
4 Gunter Arndt GER 866.67
5 Karsten Hitz GER 848.28
6 Christian Olesen DEN 847.49
7 Martin von Zimmermann GER 845.39
8 Terry Curtis GBR 835.80
9 Greg Wilcox NZL 824.40
10 Nick Craig GBR 804.61
11 Oliver Gronholz GER 799.83
12 Luke O'Connell NZL 790.19
13 Pawel Pawlaczyk POL 766.44
14 Andre Blasse AUS 759.24
15 Steve McDowell NZL 758.58
16 Thomas Glas GER 757.12
17 Thomas Hanson-Mild SWE 753.91
18 Jørgen Holm DEN 707.82
19 Hans Elkjaer SWE 702.43
20 Robert Deaves GBR 674.74
– Robert Deaves, OKDIA
