OZone tames wind, chop at NYC series

NAWILIWILI — OZone grabbed the lead from the start and held on for three legs of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Minnesota Fats Series, Race No. 3, Thursday.

The crew of the Olson 30, with its Thursday night win, picked up its second straight win after nosing out a tight leader pack last week by capitalizing on its PHRF correction.

During the Thursday evening outing that was expanded to three legs in 10-18 knot winds out of the Northeast, OZone slipped into the lead as Papa‘au made a tight turn at the start to avoid an ‘early over’ penalty.

Throughout the three-leg race, OZone controlled the lead over Fast Company and Malihini to finish with an elapsed sail of 1:05:43 (21:05:49 PHRF) for top honors.

Fast Company followed in second on a 1:07:03 (1:07:09 PHRF) for second followed by Papa‘au, finishing fourth on an elapsed sail of 1:10:48 but getting third on a PHRF corrected 1:07:47 sail.

Malihini, the 35-foot catamaran, finished third overall on a 1:08:27 elapsed sail, but was relegated to fourth place on its 1:10:11 PHRF correction.

The field was completed by Bonjolea, an X-342, crossing at 1:18:53 (1:15:51 PHRF) for fifth place followed by Coyote (1:21:45 elapsed, 1:16:34 PHRF).

With the Club corrections applied, Coyote picked up first place in the Club class on a 1:03:47 Club sail.

Speedy rounded out the field at a 1:16:55 elapsed sail (1:17:02 PHRF), and Lelele, limping back to the harbor early in the race, did not finish.

Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper, said apparently Lelele was hit by both Fast Company and Coyote at the start. Coyote took her penalty turns, but Fast Company did not. Gibson said that might spark a protest that may affect the standings.

The collision came just minutes after a visiting Oregon couple asked Gibson if the boats ever hit each other.

The NYC Minnesota Fats Series continues Thursday and the public is invited to view the competition at the jetty wall vantage point.

First flags fly at 5 p.m.