Bonjolea II ends Fast Company’s win streak

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Bonnie Tiffany aboard Bonjolea II, at helm at right, uses the big wheel to keep the Sydney 36 steady as the crew catches its breath heading into the second leg of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series, Race No. 7, at Nawiliwili Harbor on May 18, 2023.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Bonjolea II, left, is chased by Fast Company coming into Nawiliwili Harbor from the Ninini Lighthouse buoy during the Nwiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series, Race No. 7, at Nawiliwili Harbor on May 18, 2023.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

OZone, right, grabs second place over Fast Company coming inland from the Ninini Point Lighthouse buoy during the last race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series at Nawiliwili Harbor on May 18, 2023.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Double Espresso, left, veers off the starting buoy to avoid an “over early” penalty. Double Espresso was chased by, from left, Bonjolea II, Papa ‘Au and OZone during the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series at Nawiliwili Harbor on May 18, 2023.

NAWILIWILI — The 13-race win streak is over.

Fast Company, taking first place since the Nawiliwili Yacht Club inaugurated its racing calendar for 2023, was nosed out of first place by Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany at the wheel during the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series, Race No. 7, in Nawiliwili Harbor on May 18.

“Following 13 wins in a row, everyone was gunning for Fast Company,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone that finished the race in second place, a minute behind Bonjolea II. “Fast Company helped by having an unusually bad start in the race that covered 4.4 miles over a three-leg course in winds that blew out of the ‘more south of east than usual.’”

Double Espresso crowded the start line and had to veer to avoid an “over early” penalty, giving Bonjolea II the early lead, followed by OZone, Fast Company, Double Espresso and Papa A‘u that sprouted a ‘For Sale’ sign on one of its sails.

“With the wind more southerly than usual, the boats could easily make it out of the harbor on one tack and, in fact, they could get way up towards the Timbers Resort buildings before they had to tack rather than back by the Kukui Lighthouse,” Jordan said. “Bonjolea II rounded the Ninini Lighthouse buoy first, and they took off.”

With the boats maintaining position, Bonjolea II took line honors, or overall first-to-finish, on an elapsed time of 45 minutes, 4 seconds, and corrected to 47:47 PHRF for first place, followed by OZone sounding the horn on a 48:42 elapsed time and correcting to 48:47 PHRF, a minute behind Bonjolea II.

Fast Company followed in third place with an elapsed time of 51:04 and correcting to 51:09 PHRF.

“I really think that Fast Company missed JT Schoonover, who usually does their foredeck, as he is back on the mainland,” Jordan said. “The overall series was won by Fast Company, followed by Bonjolea II and then OZone.”

Jordan said the next race is the start of the four race invitational series, where a guest needs to be on board or you lose some scoring points.

“Grab a light Kaua‘i Sailing Association kid like I did, or find a potential new yacht club member and give them a thrill,” Jordan said. “Expect heavy winds for the Thursday (May 25) race with a 5 p.m. start.”

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.

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