OK UK Nationals Attendance, by Mike Edwards, class chairman

Over the years our Nationals attendance has been up and down to say the least. In recent years we have reached a low of 22, with a high of 75 in 2004. The high was partly due to the UK hosting the Worlds at Parkstone and a number of our foreign colleagues arriving early for some practice. However, history tells us that home grown OK sailors tend to come out of the woodwork when we host a World Championship.

Some say that the venue is all important and maybe it is. But, we have to seek out new venues and it is not always possible to suit everyone. If you look back in the history books, UK National Championships were in all kinds of weird and wonderful places and did require people to travel.

There are now real signs of growth within the OK Class in this country. We have an encouraging number of juniors for the first time in a few years. With a lot of them competing at open meetings and championships. This does not go unnoticed in the sailing world and can only encourage more young sailors to consider the OK. We must support them and give them as much help and backing as they need, as they are the future of the class (god help us!! Ahhhh!!)

Another good sign is there are a number of clubs with fleets springing up from nowhere. Some with no OK history, others with OKs for the first time in many years, plus the traditional strongholds where numbers are growing.

As you will see from the attached National Championship Attendance Table of all dinghy classes, we lay a very respectable 40th based on last years number of 43 boats at the Nationals. This is a whopping 21 more boats than we had the previous year.

I think what I am really trying to say is that the class needs to maintain this momentum and I see no reason why we shouldn't achieve more than 50 boats every year. Wouldn't it be great to see us continuing to climb that table? There is some stiff competition with some terrific dinghies above us, but let's be honest, the OK is one of the greatest dinghies on the list.

The committee always attempts to deliver National venues that are accessible, with good facilities, organization, sailing and that are family friendly. But, we need you guys and girls to support them. The more numbers we get the more weight we have when approaching potential venues. This should result in quality clubs wanting to host an OK National Championships.

We now have a foothold in the North of England again, with numbers growing at South Windermere, Etherow SC near Stockport have a handful and Keith regaining the bug in Morecombe. It would be great to return to the North for a Nationals, but we would need those in the South and East to travel. It's not that far North of Watford..... honest!

I would be very pleased to receive suggestions from anyone as to how we could maintain and grow attendance. Not only at the Nationals, but also for open meetings. I would also be delighted for people to recommend potential National Championship venues. I am sure there are some wonderful places that we have not even considered. Please send me an email at the address below, or call me if you prefer.

Well the season has kicked off in fine style at Burton SC last weekend, with a great turnout of 19 boats. Considering the forecast this was terrific! I hope to see all the regulars at many of the events on the calendar, but hopefully some newcomers as well. If you're tempted, come along. You will be most welcome.

(This table was hoisted straight off the Yachts and Yachting website, (best Yachting Mag in the world*) so don't expect the links to work!

Pos	Class Name sort	1998 sort	1999 sort	2000 sort	2001 sort	2002 sort	2003 sort	2004 sort	2005 sort	2006 sort	2007 sort	07/06 comparison	98-07 average
1	Optimist	255	270	298	270	294	302	294	335	361	379	+18	305
2	Topper	137	167	120	188	218	229	246	278	289	289	+0	216
3	Cadet	99	107	114	119	122	129	112	106	118	162	+44	118
4	Laser Radial	74	116	81	84	110	116	130	197	121	142	+21	117
5	RS200	55	88	80	86	80	101	91	101	130	126	-4	93
6	Squib	53	70	98	56	85	81	59	82	89	97	+8	77
7	Solo	50	60	50	63	76	72	63	79	79	90	+11	68
8	Laser	96	91	86	80	92	85	108	104	86	88	+2	91
9	Merlin Rocket	47	59	71	72	54	63	65	82	62	79	+17	65
10	420		65	70	54	72	65	86	96	49	77	+28	70
11	Mirror	48	39	124	58	72	83	69	91	112	71	-41	76
12	XOD	75	75	75	74	72	69	79	79	73	71	-2	74
13	Phantom	27	28	37	51	53	65	73	72	78	70	-8	55
14	Laser Pico									44	66	+22	55
15	RS Feva						50	24	66	85	65	-20	58
16	Salcombe Yawl					55	51	47	53	58	64	+6	54
17	Dart 18	84	88	60	144	74	70	39	73	71	61	-10	76
18	RS400	118	128	118	106	86	62	72	57	60	59	-1	86
19	Lark	52	52	44	35	42	51	48	63	60	58	-2	50
20	Laser SB3					14	32	33	52	58	57	-1	41
21	One Metre	69	59	54	66	71	73	68	44	57	56	-1	61
22	Scorpion	58	53	61	62	62	66	66	63	63	56	-7	61
23	Enterprise	55	99	97	85	61	56	67	72	107	56	-51	75
24	Firefly	56	68	33	40	71	58	52	53	107	55	-52	59
25	29er		17	36	48	43	50	40	31	81	55	-26	44
26	Sprint 15	37	55	34	53	66	86	56	34	63	54	-9	53
27	International 14	72	64	114	34	43	62	45	31	30	53	+23	54
28	Streaker	33	31	22	31	26	24	45	54	60	53	-7	37
29	RS700				18	33	48	34	28	50	51	+1	37
30	Laser 4.7				27	37	40	61	59	35	51	+16	44
31	Contender	50	50	60	52	50	41	50	56	50	50	+0	50
32	RS800			45	67	62	50	70	51	53	50	-3	56
33	Laser 2000		13	24	42	52	59	34	43	34	49	+15	38
34	RC Laser				25	26	31	41	19	44	49	+5	33
35	Fireball	68	55	59	46	68	72	74	84	55	47	-8	62
36	GP14	71	73	51	73	43	142	86	64	62	47	-15	71
37	RS Vareo					18	21	23	24	12	47	+35	24
38	Tasar		46	39	27	25	24	35	32	44	46	+2	35
39	Blaze	18	15	15	15	13	18	43	53	48	44	-4	28
40	OK	26	43	58	35	36	40	75	27	22	43	+21	40
41	Musto Skiff				11	16	21	29	28	47	43	-4	27
42	Finn	36	30	80	15	35	40	32	41	59	41	-18	40
43	Laser 4000			63	70	51	51	41	57	41	41	+0	51
44	British Moth	29	35	33	25	32	31	32	31	29	40	+11	31
45	Sharpie							28	27	15	39	+24	27
46	Flying Fifteen	66	44	61	43	72	23	46	55	62	36	-26	50
47	National 12	77	51	52	54	47	59	59	45	45	36	-9	52
48	RS600	75	59	68	62	47	41	35	21	25	33	+8	46
49	Albacore	57	26	41	70	28	30	20	74	33	33	+0	41
50	Formula 18	36	26	40	28	45	36	33	43	38	33	-5	35
51	National 18	21	30	31	28	23	32	30	31	19	33	+14	27
52	International Canoe	43	27	23	25	26	28	33	21	35	32	-3	29
53	Kestrel	22	23	23	27	24	21	19	20	23	31	+8	23
54	Supernova	29	33	38	33	47	58	53	38	30	31	+1	39
55	RS300	22	28	21	18	15	21	21	29	25	31	+6	23
56	Miracle	59	55	30	35	27	54	44	39	31	31	+0	40
57	505	63	60	67	34	24	27	27	25	48	30	-18	40
58	RS500										30	N/A	30
59	Sprint 15 Sport	32	28	33	43	46	37	43	39	43	29	-14	37
60	Tideway			12	15	21	14	13	16	10	29	+19	16
61	Illusion								21	26	28	+2	25
62	Osprey	46	60	37	39	26	51	34	28	35	28	-7	38
63	J/24	25	39	41	43	40	43	40	41	25	27	+2	36
64	Cherub	12	15	9	16	19	9	17	19	19	27	+8	16
65	B14	50	43	37	34	23	43	30	23	20	26	+6	32
66	49er	38	29	20	39	40	26	31	36	33	26	-7	31
67	Comet Trio	13			15	13	17	24	19	24	26	+2	18
68	Wayfarer	35	22	75	60	39	39	46	27	27	25	-2	39
69	Catapult	15	11	8	11	9	10	10	12	9	24	+15	11
70	Dragon	40		30	42	47	26	35	36	36	24	-12	35
71	Spitfire					11	18	21	25	28	24	-4	21
72	Yachting World Dayboat			17	20	16	18	27	20	22	24	+2	20
73	RS K6					18	23	21	20	19	23	+4	20
74	Sandhopper					18	20	16	23	14	23	+9	19
75	Hurricane 5.9 SX									22	23	+1	22
76	Hunter 707	37	49	35	51	46	37	29	24	19	23	+4	35
77	Europe	29	150	24	23	15	14	12	21	28	23	-5	33
78	Hornet		26	30	50	47	36	34	21	30	22	-8	32
79	Tornado	7	3			16	21	34	32	26	22	-4	20
80	Marblehead	39	35	32	34	28	24	21	22	21	22	+1	27
81	RS Elite								16	19	21	+2	18
82	Challenger	35	23	38	26	30	22	23	24	19	20	+1	26
83	International Moth	21	21	17	20	19	18	32	24	11	20	+9	20
84	Lightning 368	9	38	27	18	24	23	20	27	24	19	-5	22
85	Wanderer	24	24	24	29	24	21	19	18	12	19	+7	21
86	Vortex			31	31	29	32	21	30	23	19	-4	27
87	Rooster 8.1										19	N/A	19
88	Norfolk Punt				24	22	24	21	24	20	18	-2	21
89	J80				10	14	15	9	25	19	18	-1	15
90	MOCRA			13	18	24	15	12	15	8	18	+10	15
91	Shearwater	18	19	19	22	20	21	21	22	22	17	-5	20
92	ISO	48	50	29	24	23	28	34	20	27	17	-10	30
93	Swallow	26	25	19	19	20	15		15	23	17	-6	19
94	J109									26	17	-9	21
95	Ajax	17	13	22	14	19	14	24	16	24	17	-7	18
96	Solution										17	N/A	17
97	3000		25	19	16	15	12	19	15	11	16	+5	16
98	Contessa 32	19		23	22	21	23	20	17	16	16	+0	19
99	Thames A Rater	12	12	13	15	13	13	11	12	14	16	+2	13
100	Splash	29	25	25	39	22	41	57	58	14	16	+2	32
101	Byte	27	29	25	20	29	20	14	18	14	15	+1	21
102	2.4m	13	18	13	13		23	20	21	21	15	-6	17
103	Signet	24	13	20	15	16		14	15	8	15	+7	15
104	Hobie 16						18	20	18		15	N/A	17
105	Shadow								8		14	N/A	11
106	Sonata	26	22	23	34	19	24	27	19	27	14	-13	23
107	Javelin	22	13	20	13	17	14	17	15	14	14	+0	15
108	Redwing	18	17	24	16	16	15	13	19		14	N/A	16
109	Melges 24		25		25	21	25	24	22	9	13	+4	20
110	Buzz	48	34	29	23	29	15	22	19	16	13	-3	24
111	Laser 2	73	38	28	92	37	34	22	15	16	12	-4	36
112	Unicorn			13	9		11	5	9	9	11	+2	9
113	405	22		24	23	17	16	16	11		11	N/A	17
114	Graduate	11	14	19	21		14	12	13	7	11	+4	13
115	Laser EPS		17	9							10	N/A	12
116	J105				8	8		8	5	13	10	-3	8
117	Hunter Formula One						15	13	16	18	10	-8	14
118	Sigma 38	28	10	26	10	25		19	8	8	9	+1	15
119	18ft Skiff		7	12	14	18	11	9	14	14	9	-5	12
120	J92				10		10			10	9	-1	9
121	Folkboat				16	19	27	37	9		9	N/A	19
122	Farr 45						7				8	N/A	7
123	X-35										8	N/A	8
124	Hobie Dragoon								10		7	N/A	8
125	Hurricane 5.9	45	30	22	35	50	36	29	50	21	6	-15	32
126	Flying Dutchman	15	18	14	11	8	13	8	10	7	6	-1	11
127	Laser 5000		24	15	20	16	16	16	9	3	5	+2	13
135	Mumm 30					11	14	8	5			N/A	9
137	1720			21		20	26	28	26	19		N/A	23
138	Soling	19			12	11	15	14	14	9		N/A	13
147	Nacra						8					N/A	8
148	X-332				20	29	26	14	15	8		N/A	18
149	Dart 16				14	24	18	21		11		N/A	17
154	Formula 20				11		5					N/A	8
157	International Six Metre	18			14	10		7		17		N/A	13
160	Comet	51	24	34	40	49	40	46	31	43		N/A	39
161	Boss		17	10	14	10	6	4		2		N/A	9
162	470	20	15			7	3	14	14	19		N/A	13
163	Bosun		31	20	18	21						N/A	22
164	Gull	12	15	11	15							N/A	13
165	Heron	30	24	20	20	22	26	23	24			N/A	23
166	Snipe		26	21	31		16	13	19	15		N/A	20
168	Leader		13	17	6		8	6	6	6		N/A	8
169	Pacer	9			9			7	8	9		N/A	8
172	Prima 38		9		12	15	8	10	13	9		N/A	10
175	1DL		20									N/A	20
181	Pandora		12	14	16	15	15	14				N/A	14
185	Sonar									15		N/A	15
188	Etchells		31	27	37	25	23	25	31	36		N/A	29
189	Bull 7000				6							N/A	6
190	Impala 28				7	8	17	13	8			N/A	10
227	HOD35						8	7				N/A	7
232	Yeoman/Kinsman							35		20		N/A	27
238	Devon Yawl	60	38	41	43	22	19	29	16	20		N/A	32
239	Comet Duo	12			12			8				N/A	10
240	Swordfish	10	9	12		8	5	10				N/A	9
241	Ker 11.3				6		5	5				N/A	5
243	Hobie Tiger								2			N/A	2
244	Tempest			18	22	12	16	14	14	14		N/A	15
246	Wineglass				6			12		16		N/A	11
247	Laser Stratos				15	5	11	15	13			N/A	11
250	St Mawes One Design	13	12	12	9	15	16					N/A	12
251	Martin 16							10	6			N/A	8
255	Loch Long One Design						40			21		N/A	30
258	59er							5				N/A	5
259	Foxer			18	21		19	14	18	14		N/A	17
262	Formula 16								6	12		N/A	9
Totals		3820	4181	4390	4710	4697	5050	5062	5158	5203	5005

N.B.There isn't any explanation of how the rankings are worked out..... Duh! They are ranked on 2007 turnout
The original is at http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/classes/?s=44
*Please don't sue us!