Kevin Millet was at the wheel of Kato, an Olson 30, who swept the two opening races on the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Opening Day, Saturday at the Nawiliwili Harbor. The skipper is a familiar name with the NYC racing scene,
Kevin Millet was at the wheel of Kato, an Olson 30, who swept the two opening races on the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Opening Day, Saturday at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
The skipper is a familiar name with the NYC racing scene, but Kato is a new face entering the 2017 season which was hampered by the remnants of the weather front which dumped rain on Kauai and dampened the morning with heavy air laden with moisture, but no wind.
This delayed the start of the race until the sun warmed up the air and the return of variable winds marked the departure of the weather front.
“The crews were ready to race following the winter recess,” said Kevin Arndt, the NYC vice commodore. “The Nawiliwili Yacht Club is back from the winter.”
Kato took the lead on both races from the start, challenged by Fast Company, another Olson 30, and Bonjolea II, a Sydney 36.
Kato captured the first race over the 2.26-mile course on an elapsed sail of 27 minutes, 6 seconds and corrected to 27:09 PHRF for its first top honor, nearly two minutes ahead of OZone (28:40 PHRF). Fast Company, another Olson 30, filled in the third spot on a 29:24 PHRF sail.
Other finishers included Bonjolea II (32:19 PHRF), Papa‘au (33.20 PHRF), and OZone (38:41 PHRF).
During the second race which was enhanced by the growing winds, Kato spanned the 2.19-mile course on a 25:53 PHRF sail, followed by Fast Company at 24:12 PHRF, and Papa‘au, an Express 27, crossing at 24:36 PHRF.
OZone (25:26 PHRF) filled in the No. 4 spot followed by Bonjolea II (25:32 PHRF), and Weatherly (25:42 PHRF).
Arndt said Opening Day would not be complete without the traditional Champagne Picnic Party highlighted by grilled hamburgers, the reknown NYC Yacht Dawgs, and champagne samosas.
The public is invited to view the opening of the NYC Shoreline Series, Thursday at the jetty wall viewing area when the first flags of the Glen Hontz Memorial Series fly starting at 5 p.m.
