2025 OK Dinghy World Championship – Lake Garda, Italy
Eight Drummoyne sailors attended the 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship at Lake Garda, we wanted to share our thanks and a little of our experience with the Drummoyne Sailing Club and Dinghy Division.
DSC sailors and support team
This event was the culmination of more than a year of planning, including shipping our boats from Sydney to Italy - an ambitious undertaking made possible with the club’s generous support – signing up to DuoLingo and embarking on winter training in consistently sub-5 knots.
The championship, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco in Lake Garda, delivered five days of racing under spectacular conditions. For the first four days, the trademark “Ora” thermal breeze produced 12-17 knot racing in sunny, warm weather; while the final day brought lighter and flukier winds.
Alongside the racing, the event was a true bucket-list experience: we met fellow sailors from across Australia and around the world, enjoyed the camaraderie and international atmosphere, and strengthened our connections within the OK class.
All eight Drummoyne sailors represented the Club proudly in a highly competitive fleet of 212 sailors. While each of our results varied, there was not a single day when any of us came off the water without a smile on our faces. Every time we sailed beneath the cliffs to get to the racecourse, we would look over at each other and grin from ear to ear. Even when Anthony suffered a leg injury that required a trip to the hospital in Arco for a few stitches and an early retirement from racing, he still found reasons to smile and enjoy his time.
• Mark Phillips – 106th
• Grant Wakefield – 122nd
• Peter Robinson – 127th
• Blake Russell – 140th
• Jim Dwyer – 156th
• Anthony Johnston – 191st
• Pam Johnston – 196th
• Tim Alewood – 200th
(Full results: okdia.org/results/2025-worlds)
We have all returned inspired and motivated to apply our learnings to club racing. And two sailors have already brought new boats! We are now talking about planning for the 2027 World Titles to be held in Thailand but before that our boats have left Lake Garda post regatta and are on their way to Fremantle Sailing Club where the Australian Championships will be held from 17 – 23 January, 2026.
We are immensely grateful to Drummoyne Sailing Club for the sponsorship and encouragement that enabled our participation on the world stage, and for the ongoing support throughout the sailing season back home. The Board’s and Dinghy Division Committee’s support ensured the Drummoyne burgee was proudly flown by all of us.
With appreciation, Pam Johnston, Anthony Johnston, Jim Dwyer, Tim Alewood, Grant Wakefield, Peter Robinson, Blake Russell & Mark Phillips
Jim Dwyer - (photo robertsdeaves.uk)
Mark Phillips - (photo robertsdeaves.uk)
Anthony Johnston - (photo robertsdeaves.uk)