NAWILIWILI — Jim Saylor, skipper aboard Fast Company, closed the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Jerry McKenna Memorial Series with a victory last week under threatening, gloomy conditions.
“Six races, six first place finishes,” said Jakki Nelson, a crew aboard Fast Company. “Jim is feeling pretty good, right now.”
Just three boats, all Olson 30s, participated in the Jerry McKenna Series, Race No. 7 that unfolded under what spectator Lois Andersson described as “very flukey” wind and the threat of weather.
“There are several more thunderstorms on the radar,” said Carl Andersson, skipper aboard Weatherly that did not participate in Race No. 1. “I don’t want the kids out there in lightning.”
Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone said because of the light air, the NYC Race Committee wisely decided to do two short inside-the-harbor courses with the first lap upwind toward the mountain in order to round the G-7 buoy, then downwind to the Kalapaki buoy. The second lap went upwind around the G-9 buoy, then downwind to the Kalapaki buoy before heading upwind to the finish line.
“The course distance was a short 1.66 miles with the winds occasionally reaching 8 knots out of the west,” Jordan said. “But just before the start, the skies started to clear and a rainbow could be seen. Nice!”
Midway through the race, OZone and Fast Company battled for the lead.
“Controversy soon ensued. Following the first lap, the boats are required to pass through the start-finish line in case the Race Committee decides to shorten the race. OZone was close-hauled ready to pass very close to the pin end of the start line when Fast Company, who had over-stood, sailed down on them calling ‘obstruction’ and ‘room at the mark,’” Jordan said.
“Since this was not a mark rounding, and there was navigable water on either side of the pin, OZone felt that this was more like barging at the start, and they did not believe they needed to give room. However, in order to avoid a collision, OZone fell off and Fast Company made it across the start line rather than having to circle back around. Strong words were heard between the two boats.
“Downwind under spinnaker to the Kalapaki buoy, OZone was seen to gain on Fast Company,” Jordan said. “It was getting close at the buoy, and back upwind to the finish line, it was a horse race. At the finish line, Fast Company made it an incredible six wins in a row, beating OZone by 11 seconds. Speedy followed and took third place”
Fast Company sounded the finish horn on a 33 minutes, 28 seconds elapsed time, and corrected to 33.31 PHRF. OZone followed at 33:39 elapsed time, and corrected to 33:42 PHRF. Speedy clocked a 37:46 elapsed time and corrected to 34:09 PHRF.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
