OZone captured the first shoreline series race following the opening day festivities of races and potluck for the Nawiliwili Yacht Club on Thursday under Kona winds and bright skies.
Saturday marked the opening of the NYC 2018 season, and following the festivities of races and fellowship, the fleet of 10 boats took to the water for the first of six races in the shoreline series races — the Spring Shakedown Series.
“The series is named Spring Shakedown Series for one reason,” said Kevin Arndt, NYC rear commodore. “It’s an opportunity for crews and skippers alike to test out their equipment, and also as a review for sail handling.”
Ship crews dealt with tangled lines and crossed-up sheets setting up for the first spinnaker run that took the boats to the Ninini Point lighthouse turnaround.
Before the start, the pack formed on the Race Committee, or jetty wall side of the start line with Fast Company grabbing the early lead, challenged by OZone and the pack coming through the leaders’ wake.
OZone took the lead at the Ninini Point turnaround and used her upwind speed to sound the finish horn first on an elapsed sail of 43 minutes, 35 seconds over the 3.5-mile course that broke down into two legs. She corrected to 43.51 PHRF for top honors in the first race of the series.
Fast Company followed at 45.18 PHRF (45.01 elapsed), chased by Kato crossing third at 45.50 PHRF (45.20 elapsed).
Bonjolea II (45.31 elapsed, 48.30 PHRF), Weatherly ( 49.58 elapsed, 50.17 PHRF), Lelele (50.57 elapsed, 51.02 PHRF), Speedy (50.49 elapsed, 51.08 PHRF), Trinity (46.58 elapsed, 53.45 PHRF), Papa a‘u (1:00.30 elapsed, 58:26 PHRF), and Iwa (1:07.32 elapsed, 1:05.49 PHRF) rounded out the fleet in the open class.
Trinity corrected to 43.11 Club for top honors in that class followed by Speedy (44:27 club) and Lelele (44:45 club).
The second race for the Spring Shakedown Series leaves the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty wall area Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. The public is invited to view the excitement with the NYC Race Committee.
