NAWILIWILI — How do you run a sailboat with no wind?
Crews aboard the seven-boat fleet, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Race Committee, and spectators at the mole parking area pondered that question, Thursday during the NYC Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 9 that saw three of the seven boats claiming “Did Not Finish” marks in the heavy, windless conditions.
“For the first time in more than 16 years, the starting pin was placed inside the harbor towards the cruise ship for an upwind start in crazy light air,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone, and the NYC communicator.
Papa A‘u, hanging outside the fleet, started crawling in the very light air toward the untraditional G-7 mark near the trimaran Meschach at the base of the mountain. Following a period of inactivity, Fast Company and OZone followed, their progress being interrupted by the departure of the USCG Motorized Life Boat.
Bonjolea II, one of the larger boats in the race fleet, was one of the last boats to get going, but slowly crawled to the lead of the race that was shortened to span 3.26 miles over two legs.
“The water looked like glass as wind lines were searched for,” Jordan said. “Multiple tacks here allowed Fast Company to pass Bonjolea II and catch OZone. Returning to the leg back to the Kalapaki Buoy, Fast Company raised its spinnaker and easily peeled off distance over OZone who kept its jib up. Fast Company rounded the Kalapaki Buoy with a substantial lead followed by Bonjolea II and OZone, but went in close to the mole where they lost their air and parked it for a while.”
When the wind finally breathed life, Bonjolea II was finally the first to sound the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 14 seconds, correcting to 1:22:18 PHRF for fourth place.
Papa A‘u, crossing the finish in fourth overall on a 1:20:44 elapsed sail, corrected to 1:17:38 PHRF for top honors in the light air race by 37 seconds over OZone (1:17:46 elapsed, 1:18:15 PHRF), and Fast Company (1:18:01 elapsed, 1:18:30 PHRF).
Kato, Weatherly, and Speedy marked DNF in the race where Bonjolea II claimed Club class honors on a 1:16:04 Club correction.
“Following nine races, and with one race remaining in the series, it is close racing with OZone leading with 13 points,” Jordan said. “Fast Company and Papa A‘u are tied with 16 points following the worst two throwouts.”
Everything comes to a head, Thursday when the 10th and final race of the NYC Gene Wells Memorial Series gets underway with the first flags flying at 5 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
