DENNIS FUJIMOTO - TGI Staff Writer
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NAWILIWILI — A special regatta honoring one of Kaua‘i’s boatmakers, Gene Wells, provided spectators with an opportunity to check out some of the finest sailing yachts in campaign on a spectator-friendly course at the Nawiliwili Yacht Harbor on Saturday morning.

The blustery weather conditions of the morning not only added to the excitement of the race, it also was the reason for a delayed start, the race held back for 30 minutes due to a deluge as yachts prepared for the morning’s race under the auspices of race officials from the hosting Nawiliwili Yacht Club.

Spectators dodged wave action on the jetty sea wall as the yachts got into position, and Malia, mis-timing the starting alignment, pulled a hard turn at the can as the horn signalled the start of the Gene Wells Regatta, Mapuana taking advantage of the Malia mis-alignment to slip out first.

Using the gusty trades to advantage, Malia the 31-foot yawl was first at the outside turn with Mapuana, a 35.5-foot cutter/sloop hard on her tail, sails billowing and flapping in the winds.

Katie Beer had her video gear under inclement weather gear to protect it from the wind, showers, and sometimes ocean spray, and Nawiliwili Yacht Club charter member Teri Tico worked through the crowd, some of whom had come over from the visiting cruise ship moored across the harbor, with her camera to capture moments of the regatta that showcased the boats designed and built by Wells.

Working to the inside turn in the harbor, Mapuana’s size saw Malia again cut tight to maintain the slim lead as the leading pair of boats worked upwind for the second outside turn.

With Malia working to maintain its lead coming out of the final outside turn, the crew unfurled a spinnacker that caught the wind and exploded in a burst of color just as Malia made the jetty wall turn, the extra sail being the insurance Malia need to capture the regatta, finishing at 22 minuets, 46 seconds.

Mapuana crossed the line a full minute back followed by Whitecap, a 25-foot sloop at 25 minutes, 21 seconds, Reina Moana, a 40-foot cutter/sloop, at 26 minutes, 40 seconds, Fidelia, another 40-foot sloop, tripping the clock at 29 minutes, 4 seconds.

Rebel, a 26-foot sloop, and Ooaa, an 18-foot sailing dingy, rounded out the field, Rebel crossing at 32 minutes, 6 seconds, and Ooaa finishing at 32 minutes, 59 seconds.

Three generations of the Wells family were on two of the competing race yachts, and greeted fans to an open house and potluck at the Nawiliwili Yacht Clubhouse following the race.

A special trophy was presented to each participating yacht in honor of the regatta, and race fans were able to purchase special commemorative tee-shirts celebrating the work of Gene Wells.

For more information on the yacht club, or Wells, people may log on to the yacht club’s web site located at http://www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.