OZone welcomed the resumption of yacht sailing by winning two of the three races in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Opening Day Series, Saturday at Nawiliwili Harbor. “The weather forecast called for light southeast winds, but when the horn sounded, the
OZone welcomed the resumption of yacht sailing by winning two of the three races in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Opening Day Series, Saturday at Nawiliwili Harbor.
“The weather forecast called for light southeast winds, but when the horn sounded, the fleet of nine sailboats were greeted with easterly winds in the 8 to 10-knot range,” said NYC Rear Commodore Kevin Arndt who took over responsibilities from Fred Styer who was moved up to Vice Commodore of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club.
The easterly winds provided ideal racing conditions and created keen competion throughout the three races on opening day which was celebrated by a “Champagne and Sails” party coordinated by Fleet Captain Mike Armstrong in the sea of hungry sailers, yacht club guests, and visitors enjoying the cookout menu and lawn games at the NYC Clubhouse in the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor.
OZone promptly took the opening race, crossing the 3.4-mile course on an elapsed sail of 45 minutes, 53 seconds and correcting to 43:57 PHRF. The battle for second place was a lot tighter as Fast Company sounded the finish horn at 45:09, but could not overcome the PHRF adjustment by Papa‘au who crossed the finish plane at 47:10. After applying the correction, Papa‘au (45:09 PHRF) filled in the second place by a mere four seconds over Fast Company (45:13 PHRF).
The battle between Fast Company and Papa‘au overflowed into the second race which covered a 2.4-mile course, Fast Company holding the upper hand on a 31:03 elapsed sail and correcting to 31:06 PHRF for top honors.
Papa‘au finished the second race third overall at 32:45 elapsed sail, and corrected to 31:21 PHRF, 15 ticks back of Fast Company. OZone finished the second race second overall at 31:30 elapsed sail, and corrected to 31:33 PHRF for third place.
OZone broke the 1-1 deadlock for the lead with Fast Company in the third race, a double inland run totalling two miles. She crossed the line on a 23:51 elapsed sail and corrected to 23:53 PHRF for top honors.
Second place honors in the third race went to Bonjolea II who crossed first overall on a 22:49 elapsed sail and corrected to 24:19 PHRF followed by Fast Company crossing at 24:29 elapsed and correcting to 24:31 PHRF for third place.
Following the three races, OZone was declared the overall winner followed by Fast Company and Papa‘au.
Coyote captured top honors in the Club class followed by Weatherly and Maeva.
With the resumption of sailing following a recess for the winter surf, Arndt invites the public to view the shoreline series races Thursday. The NYC Race Committee hosts the opening race for the Spring Shakedown Series when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. from the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty wall area.
