NAWILIWILI The catamaran “Malihini” was in her element as spectators were treated to a yacht race in easterly trades that blew in at about 10 mph Thursday afternoon. The brisk trades gave Doug Gibson and his crew a strong lead
NAWILIWILI The catamaran “Malihini” was in her element as spectators were treated to a yacht race in easterly trades that blew in at about 10 mph Thursday afternoon.
The brisk trades gave Doug Gibson and his crew a strong lead for the multi-hulled craft as the Malihini pulled in from the outside leg of the race well ahead of the pack.
Thursday, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club celebrated the final race of the rain-beseiged Ron Sailor Memorial Series in the brisk afternoon wind.
“Look at the sky,” NYC scorekeeper Sharon Gibson said, pointing at the blue afternoon sky punctuated with clouds. “It hasn’t been like this for awhile.” The long bout with rainstorms in March forced postponements of the races, and despite hectic re-scheduling, the week before’s makeup race had to be scrubbed due to the inclement weather.
Gibson noted that Thurs day’s race was the final one in the Ron Sailor Memorial Series because next Thursday the Nawiliwili Yacht Club will kick off its Rum Series.
“They enjoy their entry fee,” Gibson said. “The entry fee is a bottle of rum. and following the race, everyone gets to enjoy the fees at the clubhouse. It should be a lot of fun.” First flag for the Rum Series race goes up at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 13, and the public is invited to view the races from the jetty sea wall.
There is no admission.
In Thursday’s race the Malihini built up such a lead into the second leg that they met up with “Papa’au,” the last-place boat in the race, at the breakwater point as the catamaran headed out for its second and final leg.
Malihini topped the race with an adjusted time of 49:11 followed by “Mapuana” crossing on an adjusted time of 54:37.
“Whitecap” (55:38) and Papa’au (59:44) rounded out the pack.
The brisk trades were expected to ease off for the NYC Beach Party Play Day and Sand Sculpting Contest yestederay at Kalapaki Beach.
But that wasn’t the case.
Registration for the sand sculpting started at 9:45 a.m., with a brisk tradewind already blowing. Sculptors had from 10 a.m. until noon to complete their creations which were judged by a committee from the NYC.
Additionally, there was a variety of other activities including the Yacht Dawgs lunch which was had for a small donation.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
