The Opua Cruising Club Car Park

The Opua Cruising Club car park is for the use of members, guests & visitors to the club. Please note, overnight parking is not encouraged.

If you must leave your vehicle overnight because it would be unsafe for you to drive home. You must collect your vehicle as soon as possible the next day.

Any vehicle left in the car park long term may be towed away at the owner’s expense.

The Dinghy Dock

If you are tying your dinghy to the OCC Dock please be respectful of other users. If you are chaining your dinghy to the dock, please leave line long enough so others can get in. We want everyone to be able to use dock safely.

Thank you and Seasons Greetings to everyone from the OCC Committee.

Martin first started his sailing career at Bay of Islands College and I first raced against him sailing Cherubs at BOI Yacht Club in the mid 70’s.

We crossed paths again when he owned a farm west of Moerewa, where we went gathering a truck load of volcanic rocks. From there he went to manage the Averil Court Motel in Paihia and reacquainted himself with sailing. Firstly, crewing on Dave Krebs’s “Black Magic” and Ray Lemon’s “Gambler” in two Coastal Classics.

Martin then bought the Ross 780 “Screw Loose” and racing at Opua was never the same again. On “Screw Loose’’ he competed in two more Coastal Classics with his brother Peter, when in one race, they won the “Cockle Shell” Trophy for the smallest finisher.

The other race was affected by a severe overnight storm, when he took shelter at Kauwau Island only to venture out at the height of the blow. I heard a Pan Pan call go out in the middle of the night and immediately thought it was him… but no it was the OCC Commodore at the time, up on Mangawhai Beach!

Other accomplishments on “Screw Loose” were winning the Russell Cup.

His next boat was a classic, Peter Burling’s Elliot 5.9 “Icebreaker” which Martin, David Krebs and I raced against in the E5.9 NZ Champs in “Frivolous Fish”. “Ice Breaker” was very competitive with Martin’s daughter, Tanya and Mike Levings crewing.

Martin Clark 1955 – 2025

The following boat Martin owned was the green machine “Vertigo”, a tricky yacht to sail but Martin made it look easy, always competitive. At this stage, he was driving up from Whangarei every Wednesday to race, along with his support crew Karen and Lucie.

Martin was a real expert on yacht racing rules… most of which, he made up as required, but he delivered them with such confidence, no one ever argued.

He was a great Club member, a two year stint as treasurer and lots of meals from The Galley and rum across the bar.

We miss him dearly and know he is on a perfect reach to the next mark in a twenty knot breeze!

Andy Vanasche
Vice Commodore