“Lelele,” a Wells 30, appears to have the Dick Becker Memorial Series wrapped up. According to Sharon Gibson, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club scorekeeper, “Lelele” appears to have wrapped up first place following a tight, eventful race Thursday. But “OZone” and
“Lelele,” a Wells 30, appears to have the Dick Becker Memorial Series wrapped up.
According to Sharon Gibson, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club scorekeeper, “Lelele” appears to have wrapped up first place following a tight, eventful race Thursday. But “OZone” and “Fast Company,” both Olson 30s, are tied for second place, to set the stage for this Thursday’s final race of the series.
With the wind blowing between 12 to 16 knots combining with the east swell that entered Kalapaki Bay, the yachters had their hands full at the start.
“The start was a heart-stopper,” Gibson wrote in an e-mail. “The entire fleet was running down the line on starboard tack as the clock ticked down the
final seconds.”
Fast Company was at the head of pack, but when the buzzer sounded, she was too close to the jetty wall to make the corner so had to tack onto port.
OZone was on Fast Company’s tail and on starboard with right-of-way, forcing Fast Company to call for sea room.
OZone held her course, forcing Fast Company to tack back onto starboard to avoid a foul.
In the confusion, Lelele captured the lead at the start and held on until challenged by OZone rounding the inside of the No. 11 can on the first of three legs.
A tack decision by OZone gave her the lead with Fast Company right behind, the two Olson 30s shooting out ahead of Lelele.
But Lelele recovered, and following a strong run to the next mark, the red can at the harbor entrance, was able to regain the lead and hold on for an elapsed time of 50:47, the first boat to finish.
Corrected for the PHRF rating, Lelele topped the raced at 50:38 over OZone (51:48 PHRF) and Fast Company (52:05 PHRF).
“Coyote,” a C&C 38, filled in fourth place at 53:56 PHRF, chased by “Bonjolea,” an X-342, at 55:40 PHRF.
“Papa‘au,” an Express 27 and the victim of a total knockdown with her spinnaker up in the second lap heading for the red can, finished at 56:49 PHRF.
According to Gibson, who learned of the knockdown at the post-race gathering at the NYC clubhouse, Papa‘au was completely on her side for about 10 seconds before recovering.
With a tight race for second place, the finale of the NYC Dick Becker Memorial series promises more excitement. The public is invited to view it for free from the Nawiliwili jetty wall.
First flags fly at 4:45 p.m.
