NAWILIWILI — OZone worked its magic to claim the lead and take the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 6, Thursday.
With just one more race in the series, the victory enhances OZone’s lead in the standings.
When the starting horn blared, OZone sat back behind Papaau and Speedy with Fast Company on her stern in light winds in the 5- to 9-knot range blowing primarily out of the east.
Fast Company took an early tack heading out to the Ninini Point turnaround, the remainder of the fleet bobbing toward the No. 11 can.
“That’s a good move,” said Sharon Gibson of the NYC Race Committee. “It gives Jim Saylor a longer distance to the turn, but he’s out in the open where the air is.”
All that changed on the return leg as OZone had taken the lead, Fast Company trailing and Bonjolea II bearing down hard.
At the turn leading inland, OZone continued to hold the lead, Bonjolea II overtaking Fast Company for the No. 2 spot.
Nothing changed through the second leg of the 3.40-mile course and OZone slipped across the finish line on an elapsed sail of 48 minutes, 27 seconds, less than 30 seconds ahead of Bonjolea II (48:55 elapsed).
OZone corrected to 48:31 PHRF to claim the top berth of the six-boat fleet, followed by Papaau (52:29 elapsed) which corrected to 50:15 PHRF, 27 seconds ahead of Fast Company (50:32 elapsed sail) who settled at No. 3 on a 50:37 PHRF.
Bonjolea II, after finishing second overall, corrected to 52:07 PHRF for fourth place followed by Weatherly (52:42 elapsed sail, 52:47 PHRF) and Speedy (1:07:11 elapsed sail, 1:07:17 PHRF).
Weatherly corrected to 48:35 Club for top honors in that class, followed by Bonjolea II (50:04 Club) and Speedy (1:00:03 Club).
The public is invited to view the competition with the NYC Race Committee Thursday when the seven-race series concludes when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
Following this race, only one race remains on the NYC 2014 calendar — the Halloween race starting at 5 p.m.
