Well, a busy month at the club and last week really topped it off. Friday had 30 for lunch from Kerikeri Retirement Village, on the Saturday a great visit from Tumeke Riders Club with around 100  motorbike riders calling into the club for an afternoon beer. This was followed by an awesome ‘non-Commodores party’ with music and entertainment by Mike Preece that got everyone dancing. Sunday we hosted the Northland National  Party Xmas luncheon with 60 guests having a superb meal from Peini in The Galley.

Many, many thanks to those who helped, especially Andy as vice Commodore, who, I am told, happily put his credit card on the bar just as I would have. There was a lot going on, unfortunately, I missed all of it as I am down in SubAntarctic islands with Finn Topzend, checking out the Penguins and Sea Lions.

It’s a windy, wild part of the world, 350 miles south of Stewart Island. When the trees only grow 6 feet high and are all bent one way, it’s a sign of something !!!

We are dropping off DOC workers at The Auckland Islands, then head to Campbell Islands tomorrow to drop off the last lot, then hopefully back to Invercargill for Xmas.

Paulette’s kids’ fishing competition on 28th December is the next big event, we have booked the Opua wharf and have lots of prizes, but again need lots of helpers. Please call Sheila in the office if you can help out.

Remember to please get your entry into Bay of Islands Sailing week so we can plan for the numbers. Xmas wishes to everyone and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Cheers
Terry Dunn – OCC Commodore

Southern Royal Albatross and New Zealand Fur Seals at the Auckland Islands

It’s great to see our racing fleet steadily growing, with several new boats joining in and bringing fantastic enthusiasm to the club. A big thank you to Andy and the Sailing Committee for their work streamlining the handicap system; the racing now runs more smoothly than ever.

This year we’ll be sharing the calendar with a new three-day regatta at Kawau Island, organised by Ponsonby Yacht Club, will overlap the final day of Bay Week. While this may influence numbers, it’s still too early to know the impact. Our Notices of Race have recently been released, and we’re looking forward to registrations building over the coming weeks.

Youth Sailing
Our relationship with the Bay of Islands Yacht Club, encouraging the older kids to come sail at Opua, is proving very successful. Last Friday, a group of young sailors and their parents enjoyed an evening aboard Vixen and they are all keen to get involved with our Pied Piper Youth Sailing Programme.

The Pied Piper is currently being painted at Waitangi in preparation for launching. Encouraging younger sailors and families has long been a priority for the club, and this initiative is shaping up to be a promising pathway forward.

Trans-Tasman Challenge Race
Momentum continues to grow with 21 entries already confirmed. We’ll soon be setting up a notice board in the club with entry updates and information to keep members and visitors informed and engaged.

The Galley Bistro
The Galley’s new menu is receiving great feedback; the new relaxed snack-style options alongside the top-end selection are going well. A new Race Night menu has also been introduced, providing simple, tasty choices for those enjoying or competing in Wednesday and Friday night racing.

Click here to see the new menu and if you haven’t tried it yet, come down and enjoy a delicious meal!

Club Promotion
Our new PR team has been doing an excellent job spreading the word about club events. We’ve seen some wonderfully busy evenings recently, no doubt thanks to increased visibility on social media.

We now have promotional rack cards ready for distribution across local accommodation providers and businesses. This should help to raise awareness of everything the club offers for both visitors and locals.