2022 Membership Drive and Status

2022 USOKDRA Full and Associate Invoices will be sent out in the next few days. It is my hope that those of you who have already joined and are supporting the USOKDRA will renew your memberships for 2022. [Please note we are asking that renewals be done by February 15 for the OKDIA submissions] Associate Memberships are $50, Full Memberships for boat owners are $75. Register your OK with the USOKDRA for $50. US OK Dinghies with hull/ racing numbers are grandfathered, but are still required to register their owner ship and use of the hull numbers.
Donations are encouraged and welcome. We can set up direct deposits into USOKDRA account for small monthly gifts if you choose.
We have accumulated a small fund that will cover our subscription to the OKDIA and postage to the membership. My duties as Executive Secretary have contributed over 200 hours in correspondence, organization, subscriptions, registrations, accounting, incorporation, IRS and State tax relations, webmaster, social media and marketing communications. USOKDRA has a separate, registered business account under the Association Name at Wells Fargo Bank. Thank you all for your support.
If you’d like, please send your subscription or donations through Paypal.com – paypal.me/jfbland
Donations above membership may receive a premium as quantities last.
We have a good number of Completely OK class guide for sale – $25. The book is highly recommended.
I also have OK Dinghy Class plans dated 1961 in 11MB files size that can be printed out at 36 x 48 inches [approx 900 x 1200mm] available for $25. NB – these plans are not valid for current construction, but would make an excellent resource for any restorations or hanging in your boat cave 🙂.

I distributed 20 copies of “Completely OK” to the 2021 Members at the end of the year.  COVID hasn’t diminished the popularity of the OK Dinghy and in some respects is driving the Class growth internationally.  The website is run for the membership to communicate with each other.  I am looking for volunteers to be involved and generate content to drive growth for 2022 and going forward, many hand make light work.

There will soon be a small fleet in Oklahoma and Florida continues to promote and grow for the OK dinghy and in support of Finn Sailors and Star Sailors.

I’m nearing completion of a learning project, building a Pelican Dory Pram, but there are several OK Dinghy flat pack Dan Leech boats being built and I will try to get updates.

Kind regards,

James Bland, USOKDRA Executive Secretary.

2021 Membership letters / invoices

2021 USOKDRA Full and Associate Invoices will be sent out in the next few days. It is my hope that those of you who have already joined and are supporting the USOKDRA will renew your memberships for 2021. [Please note we are asking that renewals be done by February 15 for the OKDIA submissions] Associate Memberships are $50, Full Memberships for boat owners are $75. Register your OK with the USOKDRA for $50. US OK Dinghies with hull/ racing numbers are grandfathered, but are still required to register their owner ship and use of the hull numbers.
Donations are encouraged and welcome. We can set up direct deposits into USOKDRA account for small monthly gifts if you choose.
We have accumulated a small fund that will cover our subscription to the OKDIA and postage to the membership. My duties as Executive Secretary have contributed over 200 hours in correspondence, organization, subscriptions, registrations, accounting, incorporation, IRS and State tax relations, webmaster, social media and marketing communications. USOKDRA has a separate, registered business account under the Association Name at Wells Fargo Bank. Thank you all for your support.
If you’d like, please send your subscription or donations through Paypal.com – paypal.me/jfbland
Donations above membership may receive a premium as quantities last.
We have a good number of Completely OK class guide for sale – $25. The book is highly recommended.
I also have OK Dinghy Class plans dated 1961 in 11MB files size that can be printed out at 36 x 48 inches [approx 900 x 1200mm] available for $25. NB – these plans are not valid for current construction, but would make an excellent resource for any restorations or hanging in your boat cave 🙂.

FOUND ! USA 235 – Restored, Alive and Well – living in Seattle

I’m going to reprint a note and images from Matt Rowley:

 

James,
Thanks for your kind words about my work on the OK Dinghy.
When I shared the photos with Richard I knew WHERE the hull number was, I just couldn’t remember WHAT it was.
A quick look under the cover is all it took to confirm what I thought it was: #235
As far as the mast being a Bruder, you’d definitely know more about that than me. I will say that it’s not a homebuilt mast.The glue joints look like they are resorcinol – which is too difficult for most home builders to use – the taper is smooth, and the
material is flawless. It looks like it could be old growth VG spruce? Is there any definitive way to tell if it is indeed a Bruder?
My interest in this boat is mainly as a recreational sailor. But as I was rebuilding/restoring it I discovered the class’s history and resurgence, and was fascinated. I shared my findings with my good friend who raced this very boat as a kid, but he wasn’t aware of any of it. This discovery led him to place a craigslist ad – just like you- looking for other OK sailors in the area. The only reply he got was me trolling him. That was probably about a year ago.  When I saw Richards ad, it piqued my curiosity so I reached out hoping to find some racing buddies for MY buddy.
You don’t need to convince me, or my buddy, about what a great boat the OK is. We’re already there. ( My buddy has been lurking around your website for a while now) The boats’ good looks has also attracted the attention of his teenage son. It seems to me.it‘s the younger sailors that will sustain the class. To that point, there is a sailing school here in Seattle that may help you spread the word. It’s called Sail Sand Point (sailsandpoint.org). They teach kids, adults, and even train collegiate sailors I believe. I don’t live too far from there and wouldn’t mind showing off the boat if no one has heard of an OK Dinghy. Sand Point may even be able to direct you to other clubs/schools in the PNW.
 I may not be the racer you were hoping to connect with, but I am a fan of the boat and willing to help spread the word. I’ve shared these emails with my friend who races keel boats, and is dialed into the sailing community here. He’s enthusiastic about it ( It was his OK that I restored ) and I’m sure he’ll start a few conversations.
Kudos to you and your organization.
Matt

 

On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 7:45 AM James Bland <jfbland@me.com> wrote:

Matt:

Richard shared the pictures of your restoration.  You might have an old Bruder mast which are highly prized !  Congratulations on an excellent job.  Your hull number should be on your sail and hopefully engraved into your keel in the cockpit.
I would appreciate your membership in the OK Dinghy association.  You can be a part of something special.
Find us:
Facebook @USOKDRA
Website with class rules and USOKDRA rules – usa.okdinghy.org
The international website – OKDIA.org
US Sailing one design portal
World Sailing One Design Classes.
Craigslist
If you join, you’ll have access to our membership list.  Dennis Clark is not sailing, but is a supporting member in your area and would be happy to help you with your boat.  If you decide to race it nationally, you may want to weigh it and do a few check measurements on the hull, but you would have lots of time to do that.
In the past, the largest concentration of OK dinghies was in Seattle, Oregon, California and Florida.
Thank you for preserving / restoring your OK.  Once we get the hull number figured out, I’d like to post pictures of your fine work on our websites.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience.  I’m here to help you.  Membership has many benefits, we are opening the 2021 membership in a couple of weeks
James

 

James Bland
USOKDRA Executive. Director
4612 Finley Drive
Austin TX 78731
865 406 9572

Excerpt from OKDIA November Update

Robert Deaves writing to the National Secretaries – Well done USOKDRA members, 2021 renewal / membership invoices will be published in December:

“8. Despite the restrictions and cancelations caused by COVID-19, 2020 has been a very successful year for the class. More boats have been built than in any year since 1980, and a huge number of masts and sails have been made. As you probably saw, Jesper Strandberg has sent his old mould to the USA and hopefully they will be building soon. Seven other boats also went in the same container and are being sailed. The membership in the USA is now at his highest level since the 1970s and is increasing all the time, and full credit to James Bland for all his work to achieve this. Many countries continue to attract new members, and we hope to welcome many new members to OKDIA in the coming months. Everyone is looking forward to getting back to normal racing.”

USA – 8 wins AYC 2020 Fall Fling with 5 bullets – 11 Oct 2020

AYC has had a very conservative program this year with very little organized racing.  We cancelled the Finn Masters Regatta and the Texas Centerboard regatta.
The Fall Fling Intramural regatta was created up to give club members of all stripes some racing before the cold weather and Holidays. It was also kind of a test case to see how we could do things safely.  A Club Fall Series is now being considered.
Attached are images of a small but mighty Dinghy Handicapped fleet, there was one other boat not shown. OK Dinghy, USA- 8/1008/Secretariat ended up winning boat for boat and on time against a Contender [Dpn 90.1] and a Harpoon 5.3 [Dpn 96].  The OK is rated at Dpn 96.5 being the smallest, lightest and least sail area.
The OK, USA 8, was tuned up using the “Completely OK” book guidance and looking at Nick Craig’s tuning guide on the British OK web site.  I felt like I was very fast in the the light air.  2020 Greg Wilcox Turtle Sail.  Dan Leech Mk1 plywood boat. [On weight, Measurement Certificate, measured by the OKDIA Chief Measurer, built by Rob Coutts]
USA 8 didn’t sail races 7 and 8 – due to heat exhaustion.  The temperatures were near 100˚F.  Wind from the South 12 with gusts to 22 mph.  Typical course length was around 2 miles, W2, T2 courses.  Photos by Bill Records

CB Regatta
 ScoreMethod=Portsmouth  Results

Sail Skipper Total Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8
1 1008 Bland,James 12 1 1 1 1 1 2 5*DNS 5 DNS
2 777 Loehlin,Jennifer 14 5*OCS 2 2 2 2 3 1 2
3 185 Mashl,Mike 16 5*OCS 3 3 3 3 1 2 1
4 355 Brown,Matt 35 5*OCS 5 DNF 5 DNF 5 DNS 5 DNS 5 DNS 5 DNS 5 DNS

Clark USA 753 c.1970

Gil Greenwood is a USOKDRA member and is in the process of buying two OK dinghies to restore.  USA 753 was a Clark Hull with one of the fast Bruder wood masts.  Gil is a US Sailing  Judge and Race officer, living in Oklahoma these days.  Part of the USOKDRA success story.

 

Gil Greenwood, USA 753, 1970

Class Management / Measuring / Corinthian Sportsmanship

Racing of all classes of sailing boat under the Racing Rules for Sailing (RRS) and Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) is based on the assumption that each boat complies with its Class Rules, the class rules complementing the RRS- ERS by defining the boat and equipment that may be used. Normally it is necessary to measure the physical dimensions of a boat, its equipment and sails to establish if it complies with the class rules and this is the principal role of the `measurer’.

Measurers therefore play a fundamental role in the organisation of sailboat racing, and their ability to apply the class rules correctly and accurately is essential. Equipment must be measured for certification before being used for racing, but it is normally inspected at events as well. Techniques vary in general as certification requires derivation of actual dimensions and inspection means comparison with known minimum / maximum limits. The latter is one of the roles the WS International Measurer is expected to perform.

USOKDRA has established a Code of Conduct in its rules.  We like the Culture of the International OK Dinghy Class [OKDIA.org] and the serious, but fun atmosphere at the Championships.  We saw two boats not measure in at the Worlds.  There was no argument, the matter was turned over to the race committee.  The  violations were serious enough that they couldn’t be corrected and the competitors were sent home.  On the race course, 112 boats of all manner of expertise raced together in virtual silence, without protest.  The parking lot was full of comity and tales of valor and tragedy, but all in good spirits.

Why Not Try an OK Dinghy

The unique characteristics of the International OK-Dinghy:
a light, responsive sailing dinghy that may be raced in fair and equal competition all over the world, without getting into cut-throat Olympic competition, and with the freedom to appeal to the individual that is in each of us. 😁. usa.okdinghy.org