NAWILIWILI — Seven seconds were the difference between first and second place Thursday when Fast Company was able to hold off the OZone challenge at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Ward Hayward Memorial Series, Race No. 3. Racing in biting cold
NAWILIWILI — Seven seconds were the difference between first and second place Thursday when Fast Company was able to hold off the OZone challenge at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Ward Hayward Memorial Series, Race No. 3.
Racing in biting cold north winds in the 15- to 20-knot range, Fast Company slipped across the finish line on a 55:35 elapsed sail and corrected to 55:40 PHRF for top honors in the 4.71-mile, three-lap course.
OZone chased down Fast Company, crossing on a 55:42 elapsed sail and corrected to 55:47 PHRF for the runner-up spot.
This was OZone’s best showing in the three races of the Hayward series. The first race sent OZone to the bottom of the field following a tactical error, and the second race, despite finishing second overall, was sent to fourth place on a PHRF correction.
A similar tactical error was costly to Trinity. After pulling across the line on a 1:03:15 elapsed sail and correcting to 1:12:00 PHRF and 55:38 club, Trinity would have finished second in the club class. Instead, the error pushed the trimaran to the bottom of the eight-boat fleet.
Papa‘au, after finishing with a first and second place in the first two races, settled for third place Thursday, crossing on a 1:01:36 elapsed sail and correction to 58:58 PHRF.
Bonjolea filled in fourth place on a 1:01:25 elapsed sail, 10 seconds ahead of Papa‘au on the course, correcting to 59:03 PHRF. She also corrected to 54:06 Club for top honors in that class.
Rebel (1:16:47 elapsed, 1:03:11 PHRF), Weatherly (1:04:28 elapsed, 1:03:34 PHRF) and Mapuana (1:07:55 elapsed, 1:04:38 PHRF) rounded out the field.
The public is invited to view the races as the Hayward Series continues Thursday with the first flags flying at 5 p.m.
Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper, said despite the cold wind, weather was nice and windy last week and attracted a good crowd including visitors from New Jersey, Washington and the San Juan Islands.
For more information visit online at www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
