NAWILWILI — Lots of yelling a second before the start horn gave spectators a thrill Thursday.
OZone and Fast Company, a pair of Olson 30s, were running parallel to the start line, heading for a group of boats on the rightside, which had the right-of-way during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Juanice Biederman Memorial Run Series, Race No. 6 at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
At the last second, both Olsons tacked starboard giving Chaos, a Hobie 33, the lead out to the Ninini Point turnaround, and despite not flying a spinnaker, held the lead heading into the harbor.
OZone and Fast Company, recovering from their start line episode, popped their spinnakers and overtook Chaos.
In the excitement, Papa‘au appeared and overtook Fast Company during the final leg.
OZone crossed the line on a 59:04 elapsed sail and corrected to 59:09 PHRF for top honors in the sixth race of seven.
The win gives her a three-point lead over Fast Company with one race remaining.
Papa‘au relegated Fast Company to third place after crossing on a 1:03:28 elapsed sail and correcting to 1:00:45 PHRF while Fast Company slipped across the line on a 1:04:05 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:04:11 PHRF.
The race for second place overall is between Fast Company and Papa‘au, Fast Company holding a two-point lead over Papa‘au with just the Thursday race remaining.
Chaos finished fourth on a 1:05:15 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:05:39 PHRF. She also corrected to 59:04 Club for top honors in that class.
Weatherly (1:08:27 elapsed, 1:08:33 PHRF), Speedy (1:08:39 elapsed, 1:08:45 PHRF), Coyote (1:19:18 elapsed, 1:14:16 PHRF) and Maeva (1:17:50 elapsed, 1:21:44 PHRF) rounded out the fleet.
The public is invited to view the final race of the Juanice Biederman series Thursday when the NYC Committee flies the first flag at 5 p.m.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information.
