LIHUE — Fast Company worked through a competitive start to capture top honors in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club John Bertrand Memorial Rum Series, Race No. 5, Thursday in a respite from the rainy conditions at Nawiliwili Harbor.
LIHUE — Fast Company worked through a competitive start to capture top honors in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club John Bertrand Memorial Rum Series, Race No. 5, Thursday in a respite from the rainy conditions at Nawiliwili Harbor.
“In the final minute of the start sequence, three boats favored the starboard tack led by Fast Company,” said NYC Rear Commodore Kevin Arndt. “The remaining four boats favored the gutsy port tack led by OZone. Initially, it appeared the boats on the port tack had the advantage, but as the two packs converged, it became obvious the port tack boats had to yield to the oncoming starboard tacked boats who had the right of way.”
Fast Company took the lead and controlled her destiny over the three-leg, 4.51-nautical mile course, sounding the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 58 minutes, 29 seconds just as the northerly winds tapered off. She corrected to 58.51 PHRF for first place.
OZone crossed next on a 1:04.09 elapsed sail, correcting to 1:04.33 PHRF for second place. Weatherly filled in third place on a 1:05:02 PHRF, just 30 seconds back of OZone at 1:04:38 elapsed.
Speedy, finishing sixth overall, finished at 1:10:49 elapsed, and corrected to 1:01:57 Club for top honors in that class, followed by Kato (1:06:12 elapsed) correcting to 1:04:48 Club, and Bonjolea II (1:06:42 elapsed) filling in third at 1:06:48 Club.
The NYC John Bertrand Memorial Rum Series concludes with the sixth race Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
