Steve McDowell wins the 2026 NZ OK Dinghy Nationals from Dave Ridley and Ben Morrison
The 2026 New Zealand OK Dinghy Nationals were hosted over Waitangi weekend, 6-8 March at Wakatere Boating Club in Auckland. The regatta featured three great days of sailing, food, and the renowned camaraderie that has always made the OK dinghy a special class.
OK Dinghy sailors have a unique bond - the ability to quickly tune their small dinghy, with a variety of equipment, and make boat yard banter a quick path to better results. Information has historically been freely shared in the class. It was on display Thursday before racing, with Wakatere’s own Rod Davis hosting a rigging session on the beach where he openly shared his numbers, tips, and his thinking with the entire group of guys he was about to compete against the next day. The session also afforded all of the sailors the chance to see each other and talk about what was coming next... the racing!
Day 1
The weeks preceding the regatta had seen unsettled weather throughout the North Island of New Zealand, including a damaging storm. In the days leading up to the start of racing, an initially light forecast turned into glamour conditions for Day 1. As they made their way out to the race course, it was clear it was going to be 'full hiking' in a stable SSW breeze for the first three races at Wakatere.
The start of Race 1 was clean. There was an early left-hand shift that put boats that had started at the pin on the front foot, but by the top mark, and down the reaches, it was clear that the level was high. Many of the sailors had made performance gains at the recent World Championship in Lake Garda. Steve McDowell won Race 1 from Ben Morrison and Sean Cleary, both former national champions.
Race 2 featured a significant right shift during the starting sequence. This lured a large portion of the fleet towards the boat end. A last-minute left-hand shift right as the race started again rewarded boats at the pin. Dave Ridley won Race 2 from Eric Rone and John Cutler, who had also been at the pin end of the starting line for the shift.
By Race 3, fitness was already coming into play. The pin was the place to be as yet another left-hand shift arrived right on cue. Wakatere regatta organiser Gordon Sims was able to start well at the pin and tacked on the shift to win Race 3 from Steve McDowell and Mark Perrow as well as the first TIKI of the regatta. Two of the three races on Day 1 were over 50 minutes for the leaders. As boats were packed away, some undoubtedly wondered if they had six more of those races in them! But after a catered dinner, cold beverages, and a yarn at the Devonport Yacht Club, everyone looked forward to doing battle again the next day on a similar forecast.
Day 2
As Day 2 dawned, the wind was already up and coming from the same direction. An early morning Annual General Meeting for the class pushed the start of racing to later in the day. Competitors heard a report on the past Worlds, as well as the schedule of upcoming Worlds. It was clear that the majority of sailors in the room were eagerly anticipating Thailand in 2027, as well as Napier in 2029. There was no mistaking the excitement - the fleet was ready for the day’s racing.
With an almost identical wind and tide to the day before, it was no secret that a pin end start could set you up for success starting Race 4, and that was the case for most of the day. Steve McDowell won from Ben Morrison and Sean Cleary. Race 5 was similar, with the winners getting away at the pin end of the line and able to adequately pick the shifts and cover the fleet for three-quarters of an hour. Sean Cleary won from Eric Rone and Ben Morrison. The final race of the day, Race 6, started on script with the pin end sailors starting strong. The status quo of the left being strong and up-tide lasted until the seventh and final beat of the day, where an enduring right-hand shift allowed Mark Perrow to claim the race from Steve McDowell and Dave Ridley and with it the day’s TIKI.
Day 3
On the morning of the final day, it was clear we were in for a different breeze than the preceding days. It was just as clear that the standard of racing was high and that no one was dominating. Steve led going into Day 3, but there was a cohort within striking distance, three of whom were tied on points. The conditions would be a challenge for everyone, including Race Officer Dan Bush and his mark-laying team. After one abandoned race, Dave Ridley eventually won Race 7 from Steve McDowell and Alistair Deaves. Notably, the entire Napier sailing team of Chris Devine, Adrian Coulthard, and Noah Hengst was right behind Alistair.
By Race 8 several contenders were struggling with their maths. Both Ben and Sean were carrying painful results from Race 7 and needed a reset. Ben Morrison delivered exactly that, bouncing back to win Race 8 ahead of Rod Davis and Sean.
There was a long wait after Race 8 - the breeze was unstable and dropped several times below a raceable limit. The RO held his nerve, and Race 9 got away after the pause. Initially, the line seemed even, but soon after the start, it became apparent that the lead boats would come from the pin end yet again. Dave Ridley and Gordon Sims got away cleanly with Simon Probert behind them and were able to cover the fleet on a final beat that had been extremely costly to people the day before, to complete the podium on the last race. Dave Ridley claimed the TIKI and his two bullets on the final day rocketed him from fifth overall to second, in front of Ben Morrison and 2026 National Champion Steve McDowell in the final race, both legends of the class.
Congratulations to the 2026 podium placegetters -
1st Steve McDowell (WBBC)
2nd Dave Ridley (WBC)
3rd Ben Morrison (WBC)
1st Junior Noah Hengst (NSC)
1st Master John Cutler (WBC)
1st Grand Master Rod Davis (WBC)
Clive Roberts Trophy - Dan Bush (WBC)
The Clive Roberts Trophy recognises the NZ OK Dinghy Personality of the Year, and this year Dan Bush was a deserving recipient. A tireless supporter of the fleet, often out on a RIB running racing and keeping the class moving forward. He also stepped up as RO for the Nationals, delivering a superb regatta with his trademark calm, capable style. The NZ fleet also had the privilege of awarding Bushy life membership of the NZ OK Dinghy Association. Congratulations Bushy.
by Eric Rone 15 Feb 2026
