Excitement blew in with the 10-15 knot winds Thursday night as OZone and Speedy finished just 14 seconds apart in elapsed time. Taking part in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Junior Series, Race No 2, three Olson 30s and Papa‘au, an
Excitement blew in with the 10-15 knot winds Thursday night as OZone and Speedy finished just 14 seconds apart in elapsed time.
Taking part in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Junior Series, Race No 2, three Olson 30s and Papa‘au, an Express 27, battled each other and the wind chop through the 3.71-mile course that spanned Nawiliwili Harbor out to the Ninini Point Lighthouse.
OZone, one of the three Olson 30s, lost little time establishing its lead over Fast Company, another Olson 30. Coming in from the first lighthouse leg of the race, a slight tacking slipup saw Fast Company chip out a small lead only to have OZone regain the lead after recovering from its outside line at the buoy.
Heading into the second lap, Fast Company tacked to round the can, sending OZone into the buoy to avoid the tacking craft, said Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper.
OZone protested Fast Company.
That led to the display board being pulled out following the race, and armed with rule books, the crews tried to settle the incident.
Rather than proceed to a formal protest hearing, Fast Company withdrew from the race resulting in a “RAF,” or retire-after-finish, for the winner of last week’s Junior Series opener.
Following PHRF adjustments, Papa‘au, trailing through most of the race, topped the fleet of four ships with a corrected time of 45:16 followed by OZone at 45:58, and Speedy closing at 46:12.
This sets the stage for Father’s Day when NYC hosts its annual fishing contest for keiki.
Registration takes place from 10:30 to 11 a.m. with fishing allowed until 1 p.m.
Keiki are asked to bring their own fishing gear, bait and bucket as well as an adult to accompany them while they fish in the various areas at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harber.
There is a $5 entry fee per angler which earns the fisherman a hot dog and drink.
Prizes will be awarded starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Junior Series, third of four races, resumes next Thursday with the public being invited to view the competition from the jetty wall.
First flag flies at 5 p.m.
