NAWILIWILI — Fast Company claimed a nice clean start with Kato, Thursday when the Nawiliwili Yacht Club hosted the opening race of the Shoreline Wahine Series under light winds and humid conditions.
But coming in on the first of three legs in the course spanning 5.8 miles, Bonnie Tiffany piloted Bonjolea II to the lead of the nine-boat fleet, the position being protected through the remainder of the race in winds blowing eight to 10 knots out of the north.
Those light winds were costly to the Sydney 36 who sounded the finish horn first overall on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, 08 minutes, and 15 seconds, nearly a minute ahead of Fast Company who sounded the horn at 1:08:58.
“Due to her handicap, and very light winds, she couldn’t translate a small lead into a better race,” said Doug
Tiffany, the NYC interim vice commodore. “The race went to Fast Company who corrected to 1:09:24 PHRF followed by Weatherly (1:09:42 elapsed, 1:10:08 PHRF), and Kato (1:10:28 elapsed, 1:11:14 PHRF).
Bonjolea II finished fifth after correcting to 1:12:44 PHRF), settling below OZone who crossed the line at 1:11:36 elapsed and corrected to 1:12:03 PHRF for the No. 4 spot.
Speedy, who crossed the line on a 1:15:16 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:15:44 PHRF for sixth place, additionally corrected to 1:05:51 Club for top honors in that class followed by Bonjolea II (1:08:21 Club) and OZone (1:09:28 Club).
The NYC Wahine series Race No. 2 takes place Thursday, and the NYC Race Committee invites people to view the competition which requires at least one wahine aboard qualifying boats. First flags fly at 5 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.