NAWILIWILI — It was not the Hawaii Superferry that caused the delay, but instead, one of the largest cruise ships to enter Nawiliwili Harber: the Diamond Princess out of Hamilton. “We were about to start the race, but got a
NAWILIWILI — It was not the Hawaii Superferry that caused the delay, but instead, one of the largest cruise ships to enter Nawiliwili Harber: the Diamond Princess out of Hamilton.
“We were about to start the race, but got a call from the tug that the Diamond Princess was departing at 5 p.m., sharp, so we delayed the start,” Sharon Gibson, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club scorekeeper, said.
But that delay took longer than anticipated causing NYC race officials to re-arrange the course so it became two short courses instead of the originally-planned short-long course.
“But this is better for us because we can see the entire race from the wall,” Gibson said.
This was due to failing light and a drop in the wind as the sun dropped closer to the horizon.
“We’re going to start the race sequence as soon as she clears the line of vision,” Gibson instructed her officials as they watched the large cruise ship escorted by two tugs navigate the harbor entrance.
With the ship yet to make the turn, the starting siren pierced the evening air and the seven yachts that had been cruising the harbor entrance area began their tack strategies for the start that began more than 30 minutes late.
With the start flag flapping, the sirens blaring, Papa‘au, an Express 27, and Speedy, one of three Olson 30s in the seven-boat field, slipped cleanly past the starting can.
But something happened at the first turn and Papa‘au wallowed, leaving race officials wondering as the rest of the field left the early leader still trying to navigate the first turn after taking a far left tack over the field.
From there, it was OZone, another of the Olson 30s, clearing the field, and with the help of its spinnaker, building up a clear lead over the field.
OZone crossed the finish line in an elapsed time of 32:13, and even with its PHRF corrected time off 32:16, was the clear leader over Lelele, the latest of the Gene Wells boats that was launched with this year’s races. Lelele finished with a PHRF time of 33:25 chased by Fast Company, the third Olson 30, at PHRF 35:21. Mapuana, a Wells 35, filled in the fourth berth with a PHRF time of 35:34 followed by Speedy (PHRF 36:08), Windspan (PHRF 41:15) and Papa‘au (42:35).
The boats were sailing in the NYC Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 3 of 6, and as is the tradition with the Thursday races, crews assembled at the NYC for the usual post-race get-together.
The public is invited to view the races from the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty wall when Race No. 4 of the series starts at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
