With just days to go before entries close, we’re excited to share some incredible news — the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge will feature a record-breaking fleet of EIGHTEEN skippers!

This makes the upcoming event the largest in the race’s proud history, surpassing the previous record of seventeen boats set way back in 1986. Nearly forty years ago, Bullfrog Sunblock skippered by Ian Johnston took line honours in six days and eight hours, while Alby Burgin’s Alstar claimed the fastest monohull in eight days and eleven hours.

Now, the challenge continues with a new course, new faces, and a new record waiting to be written — and Opua will be at the heart of it all. With sixteen monohulls and two multihulls on the start line, the 2026 fleet promises close racing, diverse designs, and plenty of stories to unfold.

This is a major event for Opua Cruising Club and our local community, bringing international attention and visiting sailors from across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. It’s a chance for us all to celebrate ocean racing, showcase our beautiful Bay of Islands, and get involved in something truly special.

Richard Grant fresh from the two-handed Melbourne Osaka race one of the Australians who has entered for his next short handed sailing challenge.

Race Entrants (as of 21 October 2025):

With several Opua Cruising Club members among the entrants, this truly is our race — a chance to cheer on our sailors and show off the warmth and hospitality that make Opua special.

Get involved

The 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge will bring a full week of celebrations, visiting yachts, and events to the Bay of Islands. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved — from helping with race operations to volunteering during the race village week.

If you’d like to be part of this historic event, get in touch with the Race Management Team to find out how you can help.

And there could still be more to come.  Entries close 25 October 2025, with late entries accepted until the end of March 2026.

Let’s make this one to remember — Opua, the home of the biggest Solo Trans-Tasman fleet ever!

Keep up with the race news on the event website – www.solo-tasman.co.nz
Contact race management race@transtasmanchallenge.org

At last, we have Pomare buoy back in the water. Many thanks to Gary Ardern for much help and supply of chain and shackles.  We also moved Oyster buoy a bit closer to where it originally was before Kantime took it on a little cruise. At half tide both are in 4.5mtrs of water so anything above that will be ok for A Division.

Happy Sailing!

6.30pm Saturday 1st November – join us for an evening of tasting local cheeses, wines, beer and sausages.

There will be a range of New Zealand wines from amongst others Villa Maria, Beers from Phat House, Cheeses from Mahoe and handmade sausages from our very own Galley Bistro. The focus will be on tasting locally produced artisan products. Join us for a fun evening of food, entertainment, games and prizes.

Tickets are just $10 per person. Places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Our first BBQ in the Bay is fast approaching on Sunday 19^th of October.  The destination will be chosen hopefully by Wednesday 15^th and it will be posted on the OCC Racing WhatsApp Page and on the blackboard outside OCC.

If the weather is suitable Long Beach at Russell is a likely destination, as people can get there by car if their boats are not yet ready for action. The Club BBQ will be fired up by 1pm and with low water at 1.48pm there will be plenty of space on the beach for fun and games, and the incoming tide will return us to Opua later in the afternoon – what could possibly go wrong 🙂

Any queries, please don’t hesitate to call me on 0277126898. Hope to see you there.

Cheers, Ian Templeman

The Opua Cruising Club’s Open Day on Sunday couldn’t have asked for better weather – warm, sunny, and just right for being out on the water! The clubhouse was buzzing from the start of the morning, with everyone tucking into delicious breakfasts and catching up with friends old and new. A highlight on shore was the official blessing of the club’s brand-new flagpole, with glasses of ice-cold champagne raised high to mark the occasion and set the tone for a season full of good sailing and good company.

Out on the water, the racing brought plenty of energy and laughter. For our ‘have a go’ guests who had never sailed before, it was an unforgettable introduction to the sport – the mix of sunshine, sea breeze, and the thrill of the race left plenty of wide smiles.

The combination of fun competition, friendly hospitality, and the beautiful Bay of Islands setting made the open day a true celebration of what the Opua Cruising Club is all about.

The OutFit North Fundraiser quiz night at Opua Cruising Club was a resounding success, drawing in a full house of supporters eager to rally behind a worthy cause.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of the organisers (with special thanks to Nadine and her team and Dan the quizmaster) and everyone who took part, over $10,000 was raised in one evening.

The funds will go directly to support three of the club’s much-loved members who are currently battling cancer, offering them practical help and a powerful reminder that they are not facing their fight alone. It was more than just a quiz night – it was an inspiring show of community strength, compassion, and hope.

Spring is finally here and with it comes the highly anticipated Opening Day of the 2025-26 sailing season at Opua Cruising Club.

The Commodore invites you to celebrate the start of the new sailing season on Sunday the 28th September 2025. There will be a full day of activities, including a special Race Day breakfast, opening of the new flagpole, champagne on deck, first race of the season, live music and more. This event is open to everyone, whether you’re a sailor or not. Come along, bring the family and spend some time looking out over the water from our beautiful clubhouse.

There will be a chance for anyone wanting to experience the thrill of being part of a yacht race to tag along as a passenger. We still have a few crew spots if you’d like to “Have a Go”. Just bring a hat, sunscreen, a warm top and flat shoes such as trainers. We’ll provide everything else you need.*

If that sounds too much like hard work, you can just sit back and relax, enjoy watching the racing and have a bite to eat. Food and drinks will be available from the club’s bistro, The Galley, throughout the day.

Remember, this event is open to everyone, so please tell your friends and family!

* Please note that booking ahead is advised. Please call Terry on 021 152 7584 for more information.

A winner has been chosen for the dinner for 2 at The Galley. We’ve reached out to them and we can now announce Jodi Campbell as our lucky winner!

Congratulations Jodi, we hope you have a lovely evening.

And to everyone else, we’ll be running more giveaways soon, so watch this space 🙂

There was a great turnout of Members for our Annual Draw on Saturday.  Adele Earnshaw was one of 12 lucky Members to win one of an impressive array of prizes.  She also won the auction for a very nice OCC Jacket that had been won by Brian Cripps and generously gifted back to the Club by him, thank you Brian!

As always, the Club social programme would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, Opua Boatyard, who provided the top prize for boatyard services, which was won by Mark Boyle.

Photos taken by Paulette Smith.