January 2015 - Opua Cruising Club

January 2015
Happy New Year from OCC!
Tall Ships Race 2015
BOI Sailing Week Ahead
A Whale Tale from SV MONGO
FNC Photo Competition
Page 2 | Tell Tales
IN THIS ISSUE...
Commodores Report
3
OCC News & Reports
4
Social News
7
Russell Tale Ships Race
8
Team Neville Youth Sailing 10
A Whale Tale
12
NRC Photo Competition 15
January Calender
16
On the cover: SV Mongo & Crew Racing in
Cater Marine Spring Series
By going to OCC website opuacruisingclub.co.nz click on
membership page to apply online it's that
easy!
Important dates:
Dec 31st OCC Overnight BBQ & Fireworks Cruise
Jan 7th Brampton Blast1800 Start
Jan 10th Tall Ships Race Russell
Jan 14th Summer Racing Starts
Jan 21-23 BOI Sailing Week
Jan 24th Whangaroa Race
Jan 30th Race 7 of Womens Series
Updated OCC Galley Kitchen Menu - page 14
Tell Tales | Page 3
COMMODORE'S REPORT
Commodores Report for
January 2015 Tell Tales
A Very Happy New Year to all our OCC
members and to your families and friends.
December was a very hectic month for your
Committee with the hugely successful
pantomime ‘Robin Hood’ being the icing on
the cake. Malcolm Shaft’s wizardry in
blending together the youthful enthusiasm of
Opua School with the slightly archaic acting
skills of our OCC cast spiced up by Margaret
Lange’s skills on the keyboard made for a
most enjoyable performance – truly a classic
Christmas Tradition.
Now only a few weeks away is Bay of Islands
Sailing Week which this year also plays host to
the Millennium Cup – a three day regatta for
Super yachts and we will be holding their
daily skippers breakfast briefings at OCC.
Then fast forward to the 1st of February
when we will be holding our YNZ National
Sailing and Boating Day events once more,
making it a very busy start to the year at
OCC.
Wednesday Night Series Racing is restarting
on the 14th with race one of the Opua
Marina Boatyard Summer Series and, just in
case you were wondering, one of my New
Year’s resolution was to start winning trophies
at OCC again!
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you
on the water.
Fair winds.
Ian T.
Page 4 | Tell Tales
OCC NEWS & REPORTS
BOI SAILING WEEK 2015
Let the fun begin. Bay of Islands Sailing Week
2015.
three Island racing divisions, there’s got to be
one there for you.
The 2015 Notice of Race available. And they
are taking entries on line.
www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz
And we can add more divisions if there is
sufficient demand. Any ‘first-timers’ to the
regatta, don’t hesitate to make contact with
Ray for advice on which division would suit
you the best. (09) 407 3092
For 2015 we will be offering ten different
divisions, seven full-on racing divisions, and
Tell Tales | Page 5
OCC NEWS & REPORTS
With the growing numbers and popularity of
52’s in A Division we are introducing the
South Pacific Annual 52 Championship
Trophy held on General Handicap.
Welcome back to the Multi Hull Division.
They’ve had a couple of years away with other
commitments.
We are also holding the 2015 Tornado national
championship.
2015 will see Super Yachts competing in the
NZ Millennium Cup at the Bay Regatta.
There’s been positive interest in this division.
Looking forward to seeing them racing around
the Bay.
Re-printed from Bay of Islands Sailing Week
Online Website printed above.
Page 6 | Tell Tales
OCC NEWS & REPORTS
PICTURES FROM ROBIN HOOD PANTOMNE
Tell Tales | Page 7
OCC NEWS & REPORTS
COMMODORE CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL PARTY
Page 8 | Tell Tales
RUSSELL TALL SHIPS RACE
Tell Tales | Page 9
10TH JANUARY 2015
This is the Southern Hemisphere’s premiere
tall ships race, they come from all over to
participate in this outstanding event.
A spectacle of sail and a light hearted race of
classic vessels organised by the Russell Boat
Club, Bay of Islands.
Followed by a prize giving and traditional
hangi at the Russell Boat Club with bands and
dancing till late.
Page 10 | Tell Tales
TEAM NEVILLE SAILING
A huge congradulations to team Neville sailors!
Horima Neville came 3rd in his Starling at the
Peter Blake Regatta in Auckland which is a
good performance, Monica got a prize also in
green fleet,
Kaea won a spot prize of a rash suit. OCC is
proud of these Opua youth sailors, great
sailing!
Tell Tales | Page 11
SV BLAZING SHADZ
Julie Butler skipper of SV Blazing Shadz the
largest yacht to compete in the ladies races is
proud to announce that there is now a series of
deep water channels making its way round the
bottom marks of course ten in the Waikare
inlet after ploughing her way round the course
single handed at low tide in Friday night’s
ladies race.
Finishing fourth out of five across the line but
fifth on handicap having the same as Ian
Templeman SV U 2, Julie was fourth round
the bottom mark and held her place to the
finish line although SV Blazing Shadz and
Trail A fell into a large hole at the top mark
and finished some way behind the fleet.
Julie hopes to do better in future with a better
handicap and some crew help to poor a glass of
wine or two while making her way round the
course. Just like the crew of Nexus were
enjoying on their way to finish line.
Page 12 | Tell Tales
A WHALE TALE
ORCAS IN THE REGION
The weather was looking good for what was
becoming a tradition of sailing from Opua to
the Paihia Thursday Market for some of the
North Island's choicest produce. With Skipper
Ronnie at the helm we gracefully maneuvered
through the channel inside the marina break
wall under a light southwest breeze. I was busy
pulling in fenders and and dock lines when I
heard a commotion coming from the deck at
the Opua Cruising Club. As we neared I just
made out the words "Fish! Fish!" in an excited
tone and looked up to see a woman pointing
and shrieking towards the water just in front of
s/v MONGO. Being my first time to New
Zealand and not really knowing what lay
beneath the opaque waters of Opua I quickly
tossed the dock lines below and rushed to the
bow not wanting to miss it. Holding tight to
Tell Tales | Page 13
COMES TO OCC DOCK
the forestay and peering over the edge with
my eyes peeled for some kind of "fish" I
suddenly see it. Just one meter off the port
bow the black tip of a dorsal fin slowly
emerges quickly followed by the unmistakable
shiny black and white body of a large Orca.
My brain went into a scramble to register the
massive sight for a second having never seen a
Killer Whale so close. It was surreal and
majestic. Then the second orca appears with a
loud puff of wind and water just to the
starboard bow. We are flanked by a mother
and calf as they head past us right into the
Opua Marina. According to local knowledge
this pair is part of a pod of twelve that are
hunting for sting rays in the area, a dietary
choice that is distinct to Orcas in New Zealand
due to their plentitude. The following day this
same pair completely surprise us as we are
below deck making tea on MONGO and hear
a loud puffing at the stern of the boat. Ronnie
pops his head out to investigate and we get the
below pictures of the pair cruising right behind
MONGO on the break wall and proceeding
through the Marina. This pod of majestic
mammals made for exciting whale tales for us
and many cruisers as they careened thru the
harbor for those two days and I (unlike the
sting rays) hope to see them back again soon.
Aloha,
Rebekah Anderson
SV MONGO
Page 14 | Tell Tales
OCC BAR & GALLEY
OCC is open 6 days a week from Tuesday Sunday evenings (from Dec 9th) 4pm till
close.
Come on down to the club and enjoy the great
value prices, generous portions and warm
hospitality.
Non-members can visit up to three times
(just get a member to sign you in) to
'sample the goods' before you join up.
- Full Members can purchase 'drinks cards'
on presentation of your membership card.
These give you 10 drinks for the price of 9.
ENTREES
Garlic Bread $4
Soup of the day $5
Tempura Prawns $6
Calamari Rings $6
MAINS
TomatoFettucine $12
Mussel Chowder w/ bread
$12
Beef Schnitzel topped with
shrimps in a mornay sauce
served w/salad $15
Chicken Schnitzel rolled in
parmesan w/ fries and salad
$15
Green Thai vegetables $15
Pork chops w/mash potato
and gravy w/ salad or vege
$17
Lucerne Chicken $17
Available on Draught Beers ($40) and Wine
or Spirits ($45).
- Full Members' Happy Hour is from bar
opening til 6pm on Fridays and Sundays.
Present your membership card to get
discounts on Beers, Wines and Spirits.
- House wine - grab a glass of cheap and
cheerful House Wine for just $4 a glass.
All our meals are fantastic value, and there
are a great range of snacks and full-sized
meals to choose from.
In case of queries, you can call the bar
directly on 09 402 6923.
OCC Galley Menu
STEAKS
Scotch $25
Sirloin $20
T-Bone $25
Served with fries, coleslaw
and either mushroom or pepper
sauce
Sticky date puddling
Apple pie w/ cream and ice cream
Cheesecake w/ cream and ice cream
Ice cream sundaes toppings
strawberry, caramel and chocolate.
All w/ cream and nuts
Fish and chips $15
Curried Lamb with rice $15
Thai chicken salad with crispy
noodles $15
Chilli Con Carne $15
Pawn salad $17
Calamari salad $17
DESSERTS
Toasted sandwiches $3 - $4
Potato wedges $10
Burgers ( beef, steak or fish) $12
Fries $5
Salad $5
Meatball skewers $10
Sausages $10
Lasange beef or chicken 412
Seafood basket $12
All desserts are $8 except Sundaes
$6 Kids $4
Chocolate mousse
Chocolate brownie
Nuggets w/ fries $5
Fish and fries $5
Mini hotdogs and fries $5
SNACKS
KIDDEES
Tell Tales | Page 15
PHOTO COMPETITION
Draw the line, and help protect Northland’s
waters from marine pollution.
Untreated boat sewage should be discharged at
a pump-out facility or well outside of any
harbour.
To report marine pollution, call the Northland
Regional Council’s Environmental Hotline on
0800 504 639.
This is a reminder from the Northland
Regional Council that there is to be no
discharge of untreated sewage in the inner bay
or surrounding the outer islands.
For more details see the NRC website at
www.nrc.govt.nz/drawtheline.
Also a reminder to go 5 knots in
the Opua mooring field
Life jackets onboard for each
person
NRC will give a $200 fine