NAWILIWILI — Fast Company skipper Jim Saylor sustained a hit on his head by the boom of the Olson 30 — now people know why he wears that fashionable headwear — and a snagged spinnaker pushed the victory during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 7.
“Fortunately, Jim was wearing his crash helmet for protection as this has happened to him before,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone and the NYC communicator. “This did not stop Fast Company from taking an early lead in the short two-lap course over 3.19 miles that started with very unusual winds coming from the southwest at 6 to 10 knots. This light air was very flukey.”
Challenging the Olson 30, OZone and Papa A‘u, both tied for the lead following six races in the 10-race series, were on her tail off the starting horn and flags.
Coming in from the long Ninini Lighthouse leg, OZone made its move at the breakwater to wrestle the lead from Fast Company.
The OZone lead was short-lived as Fast Company regained the top spot after OZone snagged its spinnaker on the red No. 6 buoy under the gaze of spectators and the NYC Race Committee.
“By the time the spinnaker was freed, and following OZone having to do its 360-degree penalty turn for hitting the buoy, Fast Company was long gone,” Jordan said. “But, in the process, Weatherly with skipper Carl Andersson and his hot shot crew of young sailors closed the gap on OZone.”
Saylor and crew continued on to sound the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 37 minutes, 17 seconds, and corrected to 37:31 PHRF. OZone followed on a 39:12 elapsed sail and corrected to 39:27 PHRF for the runner up spot, chased just 17 seconds back by Weatherly who sounded the horn on a 39:29 elapsed sail and corrected to 39:44 PHRF.
Weatherly, correcting to 36:15 Club, took first place in the Club Class followed by Papa A‘u (36:32 Club), and Bonjolea II (39:16 Club).
“Following seven races, it appears we should get in all 10 races in the Wells series with two throw-outs,” Jordan said. “This means that the series standings following seven races has Papa A‘u and OZone tied for the lead with 10 points each. Fast Company is close behind by just a point at 11 points. Very close racing.”
The eighth race in the series takes place, Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. The public is invited to view the excitement with the NYC Race Committee at the Nawiliwili Harbor breakwater parking area.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
