NAWILIWILI — Bonjolea II took line honors, but Kato corrected to take the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Eric Wing Memorial Series, Race No. 3 that was held under 10- to 15-knot winds blowing out of the north-northeast at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
“The winning Olson 30, Kato, is owned by Kevin Millet who is the son of Eric Wing for whom this series is named,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone that settled into sixth place following the 5.42-mile, three-lap race. “Great job, Kevin and crew!”
Bonjolea II, with Bonnie Tiffany at the wheel, jumped off the start line to stay clear of traffic that included Double Espresso, sailing with the Speedy crew, Weatherly, and Kato all coming off port tack.
“The wind was so far north that it was an early tack out to the lighthouse buoy,” Jordan said. “Bonjolea II led the way followed by Kato, Weatherly, Papa A‘u, Double Espresso, OZone, Fast Company, and Iwa.”
Bonjolea II continued to control the lead, sounding the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 59 seconds, and corrected to 1:08:51 PHRF for second place as Kato tripped the clocks on a 1:06:36 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:07:20 PHRF.
“At the finish line, it was Bonjolea II taking line honors,” Jordan said. “Kato took first place in the PHRF class on handicap by a minute and 31 seconds. Bonjolea II took second place, and Fast Company (1:09:28 elapsed, 1:09:54 PHRF) was able to make a great comeback after starting near the back of the eight-boat fleet for third place.”
Weatherly, with Carl Andersson back on the stick of the Olson 30, marked a 1:10:16 elapsed sail, and corrected to 1:05:26 Club for top honors in that class.
Papa A‘u posted a 1:14:00 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:06:37 Club for second place honors in the class with OZone (1:12:06 elapsed, 1:09:51 Club) nailing third place.
The fourth race of the NYC Eric Wing Memorial Series will unfurl, Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
