NAWILIWILI — OZone repeated her performance from last week to take the lead of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Pete Peterson Memorial Rum Series, Thursday. With one race remaining in the series, OZone’s win puts her in the lead by a
NAWILIWILI — OZone repeated her performance from last week to take the lead of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Pete Peterson Memorial Rum Series, Thursday.
With one race remaining in the series, OZone’s win puts her in the lead by a scant three points.
Sailing, or more accurately, roller-coasting in 15-20 knot winds whipping the ocean from the East-Northeast, OZone was not among the leaders at the starting horn.
Instead, Speedy repeated her showing from last week, jumping off the line and plowing through the wind chop to claim the lead.
Around the Ninini Point turn, Speedy kept Fast Company and OZone at bay until the second of three laps when OZone overtook the pack heading back into the wind.
The hard-fought lead stood and increased in the final leg, until OZone slipped across the finish with a 1:04:01 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:04:07 PHRF for top honors.
But the battle for second raged between Fast Company and Speedy through the final turns.
Coming around the Ninini Point turn during the final leg, the lead had swapped several times, but Speedy was in control heading to the harbor.
Fast Company’s spinnaker bloomed off the can and as Speedy opted to keep her balloon decked, the gap for second place closed.
Spray flying and wind blowing, Fast Company overtook Speedy at the harbor entrance and crossed on a 1:06:34 elapsed sail, correcting to 1:06:40 PHRF for second place.
Speedy crossed at 1:07:12 elapsed and corrected to 1:07:18 PHRF for third place.
Windspan, with Jerry McKenna at the wheel, slipped across on a 1:10:54 elapsed and corrected to 1:09:06 PHRF for fourth place.
She also corrected to 1:01:02 Club for top honors in that class.
Coyote (1:15:43 elapsed, 1:10:55 PHRF), Bonjolea (1:14:24 elapsed, 1:11:32 PHRF), Papa‘au (1:15:09 elapsed, 1:11:56 PHRF) and Malihini (1:12:02 elapsed, 1:13:51 PHRF) rounded out the field.
One more race remains in the NYC Pete Peterson Series and with OZone holding just a three-point series lead, the final race should be an exciting one among the three Olson 30s.
The public is invited to view the competition from the jetty wall vantage point at no charge.
First flags fly at 5 p.m.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information.
