Marcie Millet aboard Papa Au picked up the first win of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series on Thursday under trying conditions at the Nawiliwili Harbor. “The trade winds were in full strength at 20 knots out of the East
Marcie Millet aboard Papa Au picked up the first win of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series on Thursday under trying conditions at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
“The trade winds were in full strength at 20 knots out of the East Northeast at the start of the race,” said Kevin Arndt, NYC Rear Commodore. “At the start, Tess Moeller on Fast Company crossed the line with speed, making a clean start and leaving carnage behind her. Alison Fonari on OZone took command of the space adjacent to the start bouy and competitors Karen Cole, aboard Coyote, and Kristine Chapman on Speedy had to peel away, forced to loop back outside the start line. Marcie Millet on Papa Au took the start line on port, just clear of the bow of Bonjolea II skippered by Bonnie Tiffany. Trinity, skippered by a yet-unidentified person, crossed the line last, but was the fastest boat because of the optimum conditions for a multi-hull.”
The trimaran was first to sound the finish horn, but in the victory gesture, clothing shifted.
“It was obvious to all that this was a man in drag,” Arndt said. “Trinity was assessed a scoring penalty which guaranteed last place, plus two points.”
The requirement for the four-race series is that a wahine be the helmsperson throughout the race. Failure to comply result in a scoring penalty.
Tiffany piloted the Sydney 36 across the line on a 1:07.24 elapsed sail, just 13 ticks ahead of Fast Company (1:07.37 elapsed), but corrected to 1:11.49 PHRF for third overall, Fast Company claiming the No. 2 spot with a 1:07.43 PHRF correction.
Millett pushed Papa Au across the line in third recorded overall time at 1:10.23 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:07.22 PHRF, claiming the top berth for the race 21 seconds over Fast Company.
OZone (1:11:53 elapsed, 1:11.59 PHRF) filled in the No. 4 spot just 10 seconds back of Bonjolea II followed by Speedy (1:18:57 elapsed, 1:19.04 PHRF), and Coyote (1:2734 elapsed, 1:22.00 PHRF).
Speedy corrected to 1:09.20 Club for top honors in that class followed nine seconds back by Coyote (1:09.29 Club) and OZone (1:10.15 Club).
Arndt invites people to view the second race of the NYC Wahine Series on Thursday at the wall in the jetty area parking lot when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
