NAWILIWILI — An “Over-Early” for “Fast Company” may have played a role in “OZone’s” rise to the top of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 6, Thursday. With the series leaders tied, this final race of
NAWILIWILI — An “Over-Early” for “Fast Company” may have played a role in “OZone’s” rise to the top of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 6, Thursday.
With the series leaders tied, this final race of the series would determine the overall leaders for the series, and the boats capitalized on good air in the 8 to 12 knot range and relatively calm sea for a turnout of 10 boats.
But the NYC Race Committee would not provide a “Gimme” for the final race as the body opted for a short inside course followed by a long course to the Ninini Point Lighthouse and back in for a 3.52-mile race distance.
The short course had 10 boats crowding the area fronting the jetty wall, and the call of “Over-Early” went out to “Fast Company” at the start.
The Olson 30 was hampered by heavy traffic at the line, having to wait until the final boats cleared before being able to correct for the error.
That gave “OZone” a clear shot at the lead position with “Lelele” and “Malihini” putting on a strong challenge while those two crews maintained a battle for second place between them.
Differing tacks and a pocket of dead air at the turn leading to the outbound leg of the race only served to strengthen the “OZone” lead whose crew crossed the line on a 44:03 elapsed time (44:07 PHRF).
“Lelele” followed at 45:34 elapsed (45:26 PHRF) chased by “Malihini” (46:27 elapsed, 47:37 PHRF) and “Fast Company” at 46:58 elapsed (47:02 PHRF). The 35-foot catamaran crossed in third, but with the PHRF correction, settled for fourth.
“Speedy” (47:55 elapsed, 47:59 PHRF), “Coyote” (53:02 elapsed, 49:40 PHRF), “Papa‘au” (52:12 elapsed, 49:58 PHRF), “Bonjolea” (52:07 elapsed, 50:07 PHRF), “Rebel” (1:08:16 elapsed, 56:10 PHRF) and “Tiare” (1:08:38 elapsed, 56:28 PHRF) rounded out the field.
The results of the Thursday race gave the series lead to “OZone,” “Lelele” and “Fast Company,” respectively.
“Coyote,” finishing the course on a 39:32 CLUB correction, finished first in that division, but based on points, finished third in the series. “Bonjolea,” crossing on a 44:07 CLUB, topped the series, although finishing Thursday’s race in third. “Speedy,” finishing Thursday at 43:59 CLUB, filled in second in the series.
The Gene Wells Memorial Series marked the final race on the NYC racing calendar, although two special sails are planned before the end of the calendar year.
On Halloween, the NYC fleet will take to the water with its ships’ crew dressed in costumes. This sail will start at 5 p.m.
The final sail coincides with the NYC Christmas Party on Dec. 14 when boats lit with lights will host its annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights within the confines of the Nawiliwili Harbor.
For more information, visit the NYC Web site at www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org
