NAWILIWILI — Tess Moeller skippered Fast Company to its second win in as many weeks Thursday during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Wahine Series.
“During the start, and at the red No. 2 Kalapaki Buoy, there was a lot of yelling from Fast Company to Kato,” said Chris Jordan, the NYC communicator. “A red protest flag was raised. Kato would have finished in second place, but they decided to retire following the race.”
Challenging conditions faced the wahine skippers in the 12 to 17 knot winds that blew in from the east-northeast over the 6.12-mile course.
“Bonnie Tiffany aboard Bonjolea II tacked very early out to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy,” Jordan said. “She was able to make it easily to the buoy, and in fact, took the line honors of first across the line, but with her fast handicap rating, she ended up in third place.”
Papa A‘u, with Victoria Aiu at the wheel, impressed her crew with her abilities that kept her focused despite a fan flying a “Victoria” banner off the mole. Papa A‘u finished second behind Fast Company.
“OZone was doing well with Alison Fornari at the helm,” Jordan said. “That was until the jib halyard cover split so they couldn’t pull the sail down as it would jam in the rope clutch. This prevented them from using the spinnaker on the long downwind leg and costing a lot of time.”
However, the crew using sutures and tape, was able to jury rig the line so they could use their chute later in the race.
That kept OZone on the tail of Double Espresso who had Emily Blackburn at the stick finishing just two ticks ahead of OZone.
“But their handicap of three seconds a mile cost them,” Jordan said. “They need to register with the Hawaii PHRF rating system and get the same rating as the other four Olson 30s in the fleet.”
Race resultss showed Fast Company in the top berth in the PHRF class. Papa A‘u followed with Bonjolea II ending in third. In the Club class, OZone topped the class with Double Espresso in second and Speedy, with Janice Portillo at the stick, getting third place.
The third race of the Wahine Series, requiring a woman skipper, will come up Thursday with a 5 p.m. start.
The public is invited to view the race.
