2025/26 Season Results
Sunday December 14 -Oborns Nautical Series - Race 3
A fleet of 8 for the Long Harbour race of the Oborn’s Nautical Series. The race started in brisk Northerlies which persisted throughout although they shifted a bit to the NE as the race proceeded. Course 23, which is almost entirely on the far side of the harbour was chosen so there is little I can report from the start box. Despite the length of the race (about 15 nautical miles) there was some tight racing. Whistler 3 was first across the line in 2.16.22, exactly 6 minutes ahead of Transition then 25 seconds back to Shibbeen, another ½ minute to Full Circle who was 10 seconds ahead of One Way with Penzance less then a minute further back, 20 seconds ahead of Raging Hormones. Lightly Oiled withdrew with gear failure.
With such a close finish handicaps changed the corrected times significantly. Whistler 3 was still first in 1.41.52 but after that everything changed. Penzance was second then Full Circle, One Way, Raging Hormones, Shibbeen and Transition. For times and series points click the link to the full results.
Next Sunday the series concludes with 3 sprint races and, as the boats can drop their worst result after 5 races have been completed, the series is still very much alive and virtually every boat has (at least a mathematical) chance of winning.
Thank you to our sponsors Oborn Nautical. Please support them whenever you are purchasing sailing equipment or supplies.
See the final results HERE
Saturday December 13 - The Common Café and Garden Bar - Lady Skippers Race
This year the Committee decided to schedule the Lady Skippers race much earlier in the season and on the day of the Christmas party. This paid off with a great fleet of 7 Boats and some really competitive sailing. Line honours went to Full Circle, skippered by Ayla Unsted, over 5 minutes ahead of Whistler 3 (Sarah Gluyas) with Raging Hormones (Ali Booth) a further 2 ½ minutes back. Hyperactive (Pam Bone) was next ahead of Shibbeen (Natalie Miller), Escapade (Rebecca McGregor) and Penzance (Wendy Risden).
As always Handicaps are all important and the results on corrected time were
Full Circle Ayla Unsted
Raging Hormones Ali Booth
Whistler 3 Sarah Gluyas
Hyperactive Pam Bone
Escapade Rebecca McGregor
Penzance Wendy Risden
Shibbeen Natalie Miller
Congratulations to Ayla Unsted our 2025/26 Lady Skippers Champion. Thanks to The Common Café and Garden Bar for your sponsorship of this important event
See the final results HERE
Sunday November 23 - Oborn’s Nautical Series – Race 1
Six boats in the fleet for the first race in the Oborn’s Nautical Series started in light SW conditions on a nice day for sailing. Course 10 was chosen and most of the fleet got off to a solid start. Transition was first round the mark at Green point ahead of Whistler 3 and Shibbeen, who had a tight battle as they went across the harbour to Lusingtons, then Full Circle, Escapade and Infiltrator. From there they sailed to the Paua Farm and when they came back into sight on the way to Children’s Bay Transition had established a lead over Shibbeen ane Whistler who were side by side around the mark and Full Circle not far behind and then Escapade.
Transition maintained her lead as they sailed to Green Point, Children’s Bay and then home finishing in 1.43.24. Whistler and Shibbeen kept up their duel with Whistler just pulling away on the final leg to finish a minute ahead of Shibbeen. Full Circle was next a further 3 and ¼ minutes back. Escapade, sailing 2 handed, finished about 15 minutes later. Infiltrator showed real commitment and and finished in 2.54.28. Click the link for the full results.
The next race in the Oborn’s series is on December 7 as next week sees the first of the MyITmamager Coastal Series, the Peraki race, starting at 1200. Thank you to our series sponsor – Oborn’s Nautical. Please show your support when you are purchasing for your boat or for sailing items.
See the final results HERE
Saturday November 22 - Saunders Robinson Brown Law – Two Handed Series Race 1
A fleet of 5 for the first of the two handed races for the 2025/26 season competed on Course 50 with variable NE Winds. Shibbeen (Shawn and Finn Valpy) won the start with the rest of the fleet closely packed behind. Meltdown (Gil Smith and Bill McSweeney) led around the first mark at Childrens Bay ahead of Hyperactive (Brian and Pamela Bone), Full Circle (Jak O’Connell and Ayla Unsted), Penzance (Al Bradford and Peter Suckling) and then Shibbeen with some close sailing as they headed to Green Point.
As they headed off to Lushingtons for the first time they had spread out a little with Hyperactive now ahead of Meltdown, Full Circle, Shibbeen and Penzance. During the next two legs there were some some different tactics employed which sas Meltdown and Hyperactive appear to change position several times but the overall order remained as they headed to Lushingtons the second time.
On the way back to Green Point Meltdown , who used their spinnaker, took the lead fromHyperactive, Shibbeen (also with spinnaker), Full Circle and Penzance. From there it was a sprint home with Meltdown first in 1.36.32 a minute ahead of Hyperactive with Full Circle a further 90 seconds back and then a further 5 minutes to Penzance (who suffered from decreasing winds).
The next race in the 2 handed series is on Saturday 10 January. Fortunately there were no protests today but if there had been Sanunders Robinson Bown would be the Lawyers of choice.
See the final results HERE
Sunday November 16 - Black Cat Cruises Series – 3 Sprint Races
A fantastic day for sailing with fresh north easterlies. A big welcome to Jak O’Connell and his crew on Full Circle to the fleet.
The first two races were on Course 33 Start/Childrens Bay/Green Point/ Childrens Bay// Green Point Home. Transition led from the start and was first across the line in 32.13 just over 50 seconds ahead of Whistler 3. Meltdown and Hyperactive were so close on the final leg with Meltdown prevailing by the smallest of margins. Raging Hormones was a further 20 seconds back and then Shibbeen, One Way, Full Circle and Future One.
In the second race Whistler 3 took line honours over Meltdown, Transition, One Way, Shibbeen, Hyperactive, Raging Hormones, Full Circle and Future One.
For the final race in the series course 53 was used – Start/ Childrens Bay/ Green Point/Lushingtons/ Green Point/ Home. Transition came through the fleet to build a good lead by the time they went around the second mark at Green Point ahead of the Young 88s who basically sailed their own race from there. Transition crossed first in 50.32 almost 3 minutes ahead of Meltdown with Shibbeen a further 20 seconds back. Hyperactive were a further 2 minutes back Then a really tight battle between Raging Hormones (59.16) Full Circle (59.19) and Whistler 3 (59.43). Future One was next and unfortunately One Way had to withdraw following gear failure in the testing conditions.
With such close racing the corrected handicap times make all the difference and, on top of that, boats could discard their worst series performance. The series winner was Transition with 10 Points. Meltdown was second with 14 and then Whistler 3 and Raging Hormones both have 17 points. However Whistler 3 is 3rd on countback. Hyperacticve (21), One Way (24), Shibbeen (25), Future One (42), Infiltrator (44), /full Circle (47) and Sneaky Heat (55) were the other competitors in the series.
Next week we start the Saunders Robinson Brown Law Two Handed series on Saturday 22 November and the following day, Sunday 23rd, we start our second full crew series which is sponsored by Oborn’s Nautical. Both races start at 1400. We particularly thank our series sponsor, Black Cat Cruises. It was good to see them at the pin end of the line for our first race today.
See the final results HERE
Sunday November 9 - Black Cat Series Race 3
A fleet of 9 lines up for the third race of the season. A steady Southerly was blowing across the harbour with some visable white caps down the middle. The start was out of charactor and done on the water by Future One as our regular valued starter was not available due to injury. The boats took off down to the kaik and mark 8. Transition revelled in the conditions and obtained an early lead over the fleet. Followed closely by Shibbeen, One Way, Whistler 3 and Meltdown. This pack of Young88’s traded positions throghout the beat up to the first mark, The Tussle continued round the mark and downwind under spinnaker to lushingtons. Transition maintained their commanding lead, followed by Meltdown, Shibbeen, Whistler 3 and One Way still in a tight bunch. The beat up to the paua farm opened up the fleet, Transition oblivious to the tussle behind them rounded uninterupted followed by Whistler 3 followed by Meltdown, Shibbeen and One Way. Further back Future One, Hyperactive, Ragaing Hormones and Infiltrator were having a good fight further back in the pack. The order remained much the same as the boats sailed across the harbour to mark 9 and then into the inner harbour to mark 2 and past the main wharf to the finish line.
With 3 sprint races coming up next week at 13:00 and one drop to be had, the series is wide open!
Have a look at the Race results HERE
Sunday November 2 – Black Cat Series Race 2
A fleet of 7 lined up for the second race of the season which started with light winds from the southerly quarter. The start was somewhat conservative with Hyperactive and Infiltrator past the line first ahead of Shibbeen, Raging Hormones, Meltdown, One Way and the recently returned Whistler 3. Course 46 was chosen and a range of very different tactics were applied on the trip to the first mark at Green Point. This paid off for Hyperactive who established a good lead around mark ahead of Raging Hormones, Shibbeen, One Way, Meltdown, Whistler and Infiltrator as they sailed across the harbour to Lushingtons.
As it was a fairly hazy day on the Harbour it is difficult to distinguish between the Young 88s even with Good Glasses but as they returned to Green point for the first time Hyperactive had maintained her lead ahead of the rest of the fleet who were still in the same order. As they headed back across to Lushingtons under spinnaker there appeared to be some tactical racing with some positional changes which continued as the fleet returned to GreenPoint and then home.
Whistler 3 had a really good second half of the raceto cross the line first in 1.53.14, a couple of minutes ahead of Meltdown who had a real tussle with Raging Hormones finishing just 3 seconds ahead. In another close finish, again about 2 minutes back Hyperactive was 15 seconds ahead of One Way with Shibbeen a further 2 minutes back. Infiltrator, the only non Young 88 in the fleet and on a much slower handicap finished 5 minutes further back. With the close finishes handicap ratings will determine the overall results and you can find these, and the series update, by clicking the link below.
Next week is the 3rd race in the Black Cat Series and our first long harbour race of the season scheduled to start at 1300. Once again we thank our sonsors – Black Cat Cruises – it was good to see them very busy today and know that their clients get to enjoy our fantastic harbour – the only was to improve the experience would be to be on a yacht.
Sunday December 7 - Oborn’s Nautical Series – Race 2
A warm Sunday with blustery NE winds looked good for sailing and a fleet of 6 started in the second harbour race of the Oborn’s Nautical Series. Course 17 was chosen and following a somewhat scrappy start Whistler 3 was first round the mark at Childrens Bay followed by Full Circle, Transition, Shibbeen, Penzance and One Way. From there it was off to Green Point and then Lushingtons where the order remained much the same except Penzance had got ahead of Shibbeen. As the fleet sailed toward the Kaik for the first time Whistler 3 had established a good lead over Transition and Full Circle and the remaining 3 boats. The next part of the race (Kaik – Green Point – Kaik) was out of sight from the start box until the boats came back into view on the way to Childrens Bay.
Some time later ……. The wind had built significantly and gone round towards the NW when Whistler 3 was the first boat to appear with a good lead over Transition and then Full Circle. Shortly later Transition withdrew with gear issues. Shibbeen was the next boat then One Way and Penzance. From Childrens Bay it was back to Green Point and then home. Whistler 3 was first across the line in 1.55.00, then Full Circle (1.59.36), Shibbeen (2.07.37), One Way (2.10.08) and Penzance (2.11.47).
Check out the full results for the corrected times and series update. Thanks as always to our sponsor – Oborn’s Nautical. By the end of the race conditions had become quite challenging and I’m sure the boats that get their equipment from Oborn’s Nautical were pleased they did.
Next week is very busy here at Akaroa Yacht Club. On Saturday we have the Common Café and Garden Bar Lady Skippers Race starting at 1pm. This is always a tightly fought race. At 6pm we have the Christmas Party at the Clubhouse – see the newsletter for the full details. On Sunday we have the third race in the Oborn’s Nautical Series – a long harbour race – starting at 1pm.
See the final results HERE