Papa‘au wins Junior race

LIHU‘E — Red flags flying at the start of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Junior Series, Race No. 2, Thursday, created a shakeup in the finishes.

Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper, said the offending boat took penalty turns, so no formal protest was filed in the second race of the series, which required having a crew member under 18 years of age on each of the participating boats.

OZone took an early lead in 6-12 knot east-northeasterly trades with Malihini putting on a strong challenge.

That showing put the 35-foot catamaran into the lead at the end of the first lap, effectively holding off any takers to the lead for the remainder of the race.

But the differential was not enough for Malihini to correct out and she finished third following the 59:36 PHRF adjustment (58:08 elapsed).

The NYC Race Committee plotted out one long and two short courses to the delight of a good-sized audience at the jetty wall, and the resulting course kept the fleet tight, Gibson said.

Papa‘au, finishing sixth at 1:01.14 elapsed, corrected out to first place on a 58:37 PHRF sail, almost a minute ahead of OZone that took the No. 2 berth on a 59:08 PHRF (59:03 elapsed) followed by Malihini.

Lelele (59:40 PHRF), Fast Company (1:00.10 PHRF), Speedy (1:05.38 PHRF), Bonjolea (1:06.30 PHRF), Coyote (1:07.05 PHRF), and Trinity (1:07.26 PHRF) rounded out the nine-boat flotilla.

The race series continues on Thursday and the NYC Race Committee invites the public to view the competition at no admission charge from the jetty wall.

First flags fly at 5 p.m.

Gibson reminded people that NYC will be hosting its annual Father’s Day fishing contest on June 21 for all keiki on the island. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. with fishing to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, visit the NYC Web site at www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.