Our Activities

OBC SAILING AND FISHING ACTIVITIES

SAILING

We currently have about 20 yacht owners in the Club, some of whom prefer to cruise rather than race. Of that number about half come and enjoy the laid back racing which encourages fun and safety, not flat out sailing at all costs.

The Club fosters safe sailing and the enjoyment of our beautiful harbour.

LEARN TO SAIL

The ‘learn to sail group’ comprises approximately 50 families and it regularly has up to 30 children at summer lessons, which run from October to April. The Club has 6 Optimist dinghies for beginners, four sunbursts and two Vikings. Our trainers and juniors maintain these. We also have an inflatable dinghy as well as the Club’s major rescue craft, which is available for the Fire Brigade to use if required for quick access to Matakana Island and as a back-up for the Coastguard service.

The Club also involves other youth groups in its sailing programme and the annual mid- winter rowing races. We have been fortunate to have three wins in the ‘Trustpower Empowering Volunteers’ awards for 2005, 2007 and 2009. We are dedicated to encouraging the safe, responsible use of vessels on our harbour and passing those skills on to our young people.

FISHING

The Club holds two open fishing competitions each year, one for adults and one for juniors which enables the parents to ‘take a kid fishing’ for a day. Most of the prizes for the winners are generously sponsored by many local businesses.

OPEN FISHING LADDER

In addition the Club holds an annual Fishing Ladder Contest for the heaviest fish caught in the five main fish species.

The fish can be caught anywhere in Tauranga harbour but must be by a Club member and weighed and verified on the Club scales by a committee member. This always raises a lot of interest and challenges, with the winners receiving trophies presented by the Club.

The Clubrooms are available for hire at the discretion of the committee, for further details please contact the Club Secretary.