NAWILIWILI — Malihini, a 35-foot catamaran, zipped across the entrance to the Nawiliwili Harbor en route to a first overall finish, Thursday at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shakedown Series. But that did not guarantee a win as Bonjolea, an X-342,
NAWILIWILI — Malihini, a 35-foot catamaran, zipped across the entrance to the Nawiliwili Harbor en route to a first overall finish, Thursday at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shakedown Series.
But that did not guarantee a win as Bonjolea, an X-342, had been challenging from the top end of the first leg, eventually crossing 48 seconds behind the catamaran, stopping the clock at 1:00:58.
That was enough to boost the yacht skippered by Bonnie Tiffany to first overall following the PHRF correcting out to 58:37.
Malihini, crossing on an elapsed 1:00:10, corrected to a PHRF 1:01:41 for third place below OZone, one of two Olson 30s in the race. OZone tapped an elapsed sail of 1:01:12 for third overall finish, but then corrected to PHRF 1:01:18 for second place.
“The winds were really fluky,” said Sharon Gibson, the NYC Race Committee starter and scorekeeper. “They were light, then they would pick up, and then go light, again. Plus, they came from all different directions. It was pretty crazy and very entertaining.”
That “fluky” wind caused the Race Committee to adjust the course from its original three legs to two legs in light of the dark clouds that threatened overhead and the rapidly approaching nightfall.
“Bonjolea has a great race,” Gibson said. “She just kept right in there, close to the lead, and in the end, her handicap put her in first place.”
The NYC Shakedown Series marks the opening of its 2011 shoreline series calendar following a break during the holidays.
A three-race series with lots of spectators opened the calendar, Saturday, that series being taken by OZone capturing two of three first places, just seconds ahead of Fast Company, which edged out OZone by 26 seconds for first place in the opening race.
Following the top three finishers, Fast Company, the second Olson 30 in the Thursday race, filled in fourth on a 1:02:54, correcting to 1:03:00 PHRF.
Papa‘au, an Express 27, (1:14:00 elapsed, 1:10:50 PHRF) finished second in the club class on a CLUB corrected 1:05:27 below Trinity (1:08:10 elapsed, 1:17:36 PHRF), who corrected to 1:02:56 CLUB for top honors in that class.
Coyote, a C&C 38, rounded out the fleet at 1:27:50 elapsed and corrected to 1:22:16 PHRF and 1:11:22 CLUB.
The Shakedown Series continues on Thursday and the public is invited to view the competition at no charge from the jetty wall vantage point where the NYC Race Committee sets up its command.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information.
