LIHUE — Kato, an Olson 30, took the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Spring Shakedown Series, and OZone, another Olson 30, recorded a did not race designation in the light, variable wind and murky brown water Thursday at Nawiliwili Harbor.
LIHUE — Kato, an Olson 30, took the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Spring Shakedown Series, and OZone, another Olson 30, recorded a did not race designation in the light, variable wind and murky brown water Thursday at Nawiliwili Harbor.
NYC Vice Commodore William Georgi estimated water visibility to be one to two inches, and despite these conditions, five boats took to the water for a single lap covering 2.4 miles.
Kato clearly established the lead rounding the breakwater mark (yes, the buoy near Ninini Point is still missing), challenged by Fast Company, another Olson 30, astern.
“The variable winds made it difficult to change positions,” Georgi said. “Especially when the entire five-boat fleet was nearly becalmed, except for a gust which lifted the leading two boats.”
Kato slipped across the finish line on a sail of 54 minutes, 32 seconds, correcting to 55:08 PHRF to capture first place, its second in the six-series race.
She was chased down by Fast Company, which crossed two minutes behind Kato (56:28 elapsed, 56:49 PHRF), Speedy (59:40 elapsed, 1:00.02 PHRF), Papa ‘au (1:13.06 elasped, 1:10.36 PHRF), and Bonjolea II (1:26.02 elapsed, 1:32.08 PHRF).
Papa ‘au corrected to 1:06.27 Club for top honors in that class, followed by Bonjolea II (1:26.10 Club).
The race results sets up an interesting scenario as Kato is challenged by OZone, finishing tops in the previous, nine-boat fleet with a corrected 34.35 PHRF sail over a one-mile course for its second first finish over the six-race series. Kato finished fourth in that race (40:27 PHRF).
The Nawiliwili Yacht Club Race Committee will have a bye entering the Easter weekend, and return to the mole (jetty wall area at Nawiliwili Harbor) on April 5 when the first race of the six-race John Bertrand Memorial Rum Series will get underway when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
