Small fleet for race one of the the Liquor King twilight series, but some good close racing was had. Crusader was a little late getting across the start line otherwise we could of quite likely all finished within the same minute on corrected time. Many thanks to Denise & John for operating the start tower, and to our sponsor Liquor King,(especially from the crew of Pandemodium.). This is a five race series, with only four races to count, so it's not too late to get out there, and compete. Next twilight race is scheduled for Wednesday 8th November at 18:00, appreciate seeing a few more boats on the water.
 

Reminder:  "Guano Rock Race" sponsored by Donovans Trade Supplies is on Saturday 4th November with a 10:00 Am start at S3-S4. The Calibre Sails 50 miler (Calibre 50) is on Saturday 25th November with a 10:00 am start at No:9 Buoy. Please note: The "Calibre 50" race has been classified by the OYC committee as a modified CAT 4/B race, as opposed to the original CAT 3/A. Both of these races form part of the Summer series, of which  Calibre Sails have gratefully sponsored this year. See you on the water.
 

Eighteen yachts competed in the Donovan's NSK Guano rock yacht race on Saturday. This is the first time that this race has been organised by the Onerahi Yacht club, after been forfeited by the Marsden yacht club last year. The race was run in near perfect sailing weather, with a 10 Knot northeasterly wind prevailing.  However, the direction of the wind caused challenges near the headlands of Bream Head, and the Frenchman Island, with several competitors making major losses, or gains in these two locations.
Line honours went to Boyd Smith's 53 foot 'Bare Essentials',  with 'Vilda
Hilda' skippered by Pele Petersson securing second place, and Peter Dawson's ''Kosmic'' third. Handicap, and Donovan's NSK Trophy win  went to Brett Taylor's 30 foot 'Pandemonium',  with "Abel Tasman' skippered by Tom Van Oudgaarden second, and Noel Douglas's new boat ''Rebound' a  further 23 second back.
This is the first race of the Calibre Sails summer series,  with the
"Calibre 50" miler scheduled for Saturday 25th of November being the next race in this series.

Photo attached Line winner, ''Bare Essentials'', and Handicap winner
''Pandemonium''.
 

Note from the race officer:  Thanks to everyone that competed in the Guano Rock Race, the day was a total success from the point of view that we had one new boat on the race course and most of the skippers with some crew came back to the club for a prize giving.  Being a reverse grid the boats that took the longest to get around the course were  the first to pick the prize of their choice,  with almost everyone that was present in the club house winning a prize of some sort, a very big thank you must go out to Donovon Trade Supplies and NSK Bearings for their effort and support to Yachting in the Whangarei area.  It looks like they will be back to sponsor this race again next season. Also a thank you to Steven Smith for the use of his fine vessel Goose and his willingness to help out as the committee boat.  And lastly, before it starts to sound like an award speech Noel Douglas in helping to get the boats out on the water.  As a combined club effort we can only hope for bigger and better numbers of boats to come out for these races as the season progresses.  Eighteen boats now have their first race in the Calibre Sails Summer Series, two more races to be in the draw with $1000 of goods and services up for grabs.  Cheers