Shale Shore, president of the Kauai Sailing Association, masterfully worked Kato — one of four Olson 30s in the fleet — to a first finish in brisk 15-knot winds Thursday during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series final race. Heading
Shale Shore, president of the Kauai Sailing Association, masterfully worked Kato — one of four Olson 30s in the fleet — to a first finish in brisk 15-knot winds Thursday during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series final race.
Heading into the final race of the four-race series with no throw-outs, Kato was in the mix for the lead which was held by OZone at seven points. Kato followed at nine points, and Fast Company — all Olson 30s — rounded out the leaderboard with 11 points. Papa a‘u, taking last week’s race, held 12 points.
William Georgi, the NYC rear commodore, said Kato immediately jumped to a two-second lead off the start which had all six boats on a starboard tack.
Bonjolea II, with Bonnie Tiffany at its wheel, worked her length advantage and overtook Kato.
“If all other things are equal, a longer boat sails faster than a smaller boat,” Georgi said. “But the race is not all upwind, and Bonjolea II lost the lead when they did not deploy the spinnaker on the downwind leg.”
The maneuver drew the scenario where Kato had her hands full with Bonjolea II while trying to stay ahead of Fast Company who looked at Kato while trying to hold off OZone and Weatherly who opted not to deploy its chute on the first leg.
Despite regaining the overall lead on the second leg, Kato sounded the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, six minutes to finish first over Bonjolea II who crossed the line at 1:08:01, third overall. Kato corrected to 1:06:06 PHRF to claim top honors when Bonjolea’s correction put her at No. 6 on a 1:12:29 PHRF.
Kato also corrected to 1:04:37 Club for top honors in that class, followed by Papa a‘u at 1:09:44 Club.
Fast Company rose from its seventh finish last week to the No. 2 position on a 1:07:06 elapsed sail and correcting to 1:07:12 PHRF followed by OZone at 1:09:21 elapsed sail (1:09:27 PHRF), and Weatherly (1:10:59 elapsed, 1:11:06 PHRF).
Overall standings, with no protests logged with the NYC Race Committee, saw Kato rise to the stop at 10 points, challenged by OZone at 11 points. Fast Company finished third overall at 13 points followed by Papa a‘u tying with Bonjolea II at 17 points apiece.
Kato also claimed the overall Club class with nine points followed by Fast Company and OZone tying for second place honors at 13 points each. Bonjolea II finished third at 15 points, three points ahead of Papa a‘u who finished at 18 points.
There will be no shoreline races next week as the NYC fleet prepares for its Labor Day Nawiliwili-Hanalei distance race.
