NAWILIWILI — It was the horse and pony show Thursday. Chris Jordan, owner of the OZone and a member of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club, said the first race of the Horse and Pony series kicked off Thursday. In that series
NAWILIWILI — It was the horse and pony show Thursday.
Chris Jordan, owner of the OZone and a member of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club, said the first race of the Horse and Pony series kicked off Thursday.
In that series which continues through Aug. 23, the race involved a big boat, Jordan’s OZone, and a little boat, a Laser. The final result is based on times of the two boats combined.
“The big boat is the horse and the Laser is the pony,” Jordan said while rigging his Laser for action yesterday morning at the NYC Clubhouse.
Attracted by an ongoing call for people interested in taking lessons on sailing Lasers, Tripp Robinson showed up. Robinson is rounding out his month-long stay here from Portland, Ore.
“This is a boat that’s Olympic class,” said Robinson, who has been sailing lasers for about 20 years. “The design of the boat gives races a sailor-versus-sailor aspect. It reinforces the primary principle of wind and water.”
Robinson, who sailed Lasers on a collegiate level, said in a Laser race, it is all about each sailor’s expertise. Lasers are a one design class vessel, meaning all boats are the same.
“Before I got here, I checked on laser.org for listings of Laser fleets, and that’s how I got here,” he said, helping Jordan check on the rigging and rudder before launch.
Jordan said he was working to get a better feel for the new Laser that he’s taken out only a few times.
“This was part of a 30-Laser fleet that took place in a regatta on O‘ahu,” Jordan said. “After the races, they put the Lasers up for sale so I got one, the NYC got one, and another individual from Kaua‘i got one.”
Robinson, who said he had his first Laser before he knew how to drive, said the craft is a great way to get into sailing because Lasers come in three different categories.
“The radial has the smallest sail and is great to kids up to about 190 pounds,” Robinson said. “Then there is the regular Laser, which is what Jordan is working on, and finally, there is the 4.7, which refers to the amount of sail. That series is about the middle of the range.”
Jordan said Lasers once came in 2-person models, but those did not prove to be as popular as the manufacturers had hoped. It was designated by having a mainsail and a jib, Robinson added.
As the Laser — sailed by just one person — was readied for launch from its small trailer, Jordan noted that sailing instructor Tim Perry offers sailing classes on Sundays from 11 a.m.
Once in the water, the Laser’s sails filled with the breeze and the tiny craft sliced through the water.
“My favorite part is going downwind,” Robinson said, noting how well Jordan was handling the craft. “But the winds are shifty today.”
Honored to be given the opportunity to take the Laser for a spin, Robinson’s skill with the craft was evident as he guided the nimble boat through its paces.
“Each time you go out, it’s a great challenge,” Robinson said. “Even big-boat sailors started on Lasers because of its approachability. It’s a great way to learn basic sailing skills.”
Robinson said one of the great things about the Lasers is that one person can do everything in a short amount of time, unlike some of the bigger boats that are anchored because it needs more people to get it ready for sailing.
People are invited to watch the second race of the NYC Horse and Pony Series from the jetty wall on Thursday. First flag flies at 5 p.m.
For more information on the Laser classes, call Perry at 828-2093, or visit the NYC Web site at www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.
