NAWILIWILI — Fast Company has the lead, but a bottleneck developed in the runner-up spot Thursday. After leading by just three points last week, Fast Company stayed out of trouble and progressively built its lead during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club
NAWILIWILI — Fast Company has the lead, but a bottleneck developed in the runner-up spot Thursday.
After leading by just three points last week, Fast Company stayed out of trouble and progressively built its lead during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Horse and Pony Series, Race No. 3 at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
“This is getting interesting in the PHRF class,” said Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper. “Now Papaau and OZone are tied, so Thursday’s race will be the tie breaker.”
But Papaau, after solid sailing through the first two races, faltered in the Horse phase, its crew having its hands full of spinnaker woes over the three-leg inland course and an over-early infraction at the start.
Papaau finished the Horse race in fifth overall on a 47:41 elapsed sail, correcting to 45:39 PHRF for fourth place. Ed Tschupp piloted the Topper (Pony) to a third-place finish to lock up third overall in the race.
But OZone locked up a solid second place with a 41:59 elapsed sail and correcting to 42:03 PHRF followed by Thor Temme steering the Topper to a second finish for the solid No. 2 finish, tying Papaau in the standings with 16 points each.
Fast Company crossed the Horse finish line on a 40:13 elapsed sail, correcting to 40:17 PHRF and skipper Jim Saylor stayed ahead of the Pony race for its solid first finish, bringing its overall standing to eight points.
Bonjolea II crossed on a 42:05 elapsed sail and corrected to 44:51 PHRF, John Ross taking the Pony in fifth to give Bonjolea a fourth finish.
Gibson, who also works with the NYC Race Committee, said Bonjolea II could miss the final race of the series, the Sydney 36 making a trip to Oahu to have its hole near the stern repaired in time to participate in the Oahu-to-Kauai Channel Race, Aug. 9.
Speedy (46:10 elapsed sail, 46:14 PHRF, fourth finish Pony) and Weatherly (48:33 elapsed sail, 48:37 PHRF, sixth finish Pony) rounded out the field.
Speedy, with its Thursday finish, currently has 26 points in the Club Open class for first place, separated by just three points from Weatherly with 29 points, and Bonjolea II in third at 31 points.
Everyone is welcome to view the final race of the Horse and Pony Series when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. Thursday from the jetty wall.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information.
