NAWILIWILI — Just how many weeks could Papa‘au secure first place? Following three first places, all secured through the PHRF corrections, Papa‘au lost its grip on the lead, settling for third place after the two challengers, Fast Company and OZone,
NAWILIWILI — Just how many weeks could Papa‘au secure first place?
Following three first places, all secured through the PHRF corrections, Papa‘au lost its grip on the lead, settling for third place after the two challengers, Fast Company and OZone, managed to out-sail the Express 27, Thursday during the fourth race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Gene Wells Memorial Series at Nawiliwili Harbor.
With one throw-out allowed, Papa‘au continues to lead the standings with its three first place finishes.
Sliding off the start, Fast Company slipped ahead of Papa‘au in light wind of 5 to 10 knots out of the northeast and with relatively quiet seas, had built up a sizable lead heading into the Red Kalapaki Bay turn.
“We gave them a long and a short, but with the light winds, we may have to shorten the course,” said Ken Dorland of the NYC Race Committee.
With the decision to cut the course due to the setting sun, Fast Company secured enough of a lead to cross on a 43:34 elapsed sail, almost seven minutes ahead of Papa‘au, and corrected to 43:38 PHRF for top honors.
She was followed by OZone, getting strong shore support in the form of the pau hana G.N. Wilcox Hospital crew as well as the group of ladies headed by Carol Pratt who were celebrating their final “summer” picnic series by watching the races, and extending the picnics into October so they could experience the yacht races.
“Originally, those ladies met on Wednesday afternoons, but later changed to Thursday so they could watch the races,” said Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper. “I believe today is the final day for their summer series.”
OZone slipped across the finish line on a 46:49 elapsed sail and corrected to 46:53 PHRF before Papa‘au triggered the finish horn on a 50:20 elapsed sail and corrected to 48:11 PHRF.
Weatherly, the new Olson 30 addition to the NYC fleet, had its crew’s Carl Andersson celebrating a birthday, gifting him with an elapsed sail of 53:04 and correcting to 53:09 PHRF for fourth place.
Bonjolea, with Bonnie Tiffany at the wheel, filled in the No. 5 spot on a 55:35 elapsed sail and corrected to 53:27 PHRF, just 18 seconds behind Papa‘au. She further corrected to 46:26 Club for top honors in that class.
Speedy, with Liz Olsen doing NYC photo duties and recruiting new members from the picnic crew, followed Bonjolea on a 55:19 elapsed sail, actually beating Bonjolea across the line, but correcting to 55:24 PHRF.
Lelele, a Wells 30 which is almost a Gene Wells boat, followed on a 56:51 elapsed sail, correcting to 56:41 PHRF followed by Malolo, a Hobie 33 who brought out its spectacular jib to match its mainsail which debuted in last week’s race, crossing the line on a 56:55 elapsed sail and correcting to 57:16 PHRF.
Coyote, a C&C 38, rounded out the fleet on a 1:08:10 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:03:51 PHRF.
Mapuana, a Wells 35, and a true Gene Wells boat, did not finish as its crew headed by Tony LeHoven were heading to the NYC Clubhouse at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor for a Italian pasta spectacular.
“The clubhouse party was fantastic,” Gibson said. “Mapuana cooked and treated us to an Italian feast with about 50 members in attendance. Carl Andersson of Weatherly brought dessert in celebration of his birthday.”
The seven-race Gene Wells Memorial Series continues Thursday with Race No. 5 and the public is invited to view the competition at no charge when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
