NAWILIWILI — There were three new sails in the water, and the addition of the newcomers added some spice to the ideal sailing conditions. “Fast Company” just got here from the Big Island and was one of three new boats
NAWILIWILI — There were three new sails in the water, and the addition of the newcomers added some spice to the ideal sailing conditions.
“Fast Company” just got here from the Big Island and was one of three new boats seen on the waters of Nawiliwili Harbor as the Nawiliwili Yacht Club opened its Rum Series of races Thursday.
“It’s an Olson 30,” said Sharon Gibson. “Now, there are three Olson 30s in the field.”
The similar boats were able to provide race spectators an exciting show as the battle between the newcomer and consistent race leader “OZone” was won by less than a minute’s difference by “Fast Company.”
“This should be very competitive,” said Marty Ellis, an NYC member who was celebrating her birthday. “I don’t think we’ve ever had 10 boats in the field. This is definitely exciting.”
Racing under sunny conditions in winds ranging from 5 to 15 knots out of the northeast, skippers took different tack approaches and as the horn sounded on the start, “Windspan” slipped by the jetty wall on a left tack, a different approach utilized by the field.
Bobbing and jockeying through the waters leading to Kalapaki Bay, “Fast Company” used a tack line differing from the field and made the first turn ahead of the pack, closely pursued by “OZone.”
By the end of the second turn, the order was reversed as “OZone” took the lead heading out to the Ninini Point turnaround. “Fast Company,” again opening the tack book to a different page, used the left tack approach to open water.
This jockeying and skippering skills gave “Fast Company” its first finish on a PHRF corrected time of 46:31 over “OZone’s” 46.50 for the 1-2 finish.
In the Club class, “Mapuana,” a Gene Wells 35, topped the finish on a 48:16 Club corrected time. Overall, “Mapuana” crossed in fifth place.
“Speedy,” the third Olson 30 in the pack, took a
“DNF” after confusion at the finish line, according to Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper and starter.
Gibson said the crew aboard “Speedy” mistook the horn for another boat and turned back to the harbor just seconds short of finishing.
“Trinity,” an F28R Trimaran, was the third new boat that made its appearance at the races.
The sleek trimaran slipped through the water with ease, but appeared to use the race to familiarize its crew with the waters and conditions as it finished 8th in the Club class on a 59:45 PHRF corrected time.
With the new boats added to the fleet, excitement should continue as NYC hosts the Rum Series Race No. 2 next Thursday at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
Spectators are invited to view the races from the jetty wall and enjoy the fellowship of NYC members who are on hand to officiate the races.
For more information, visit the NYC Web site at www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.
