NAWILIWILI — Following two weeks of “slow wind,” the winds returned to Nawiliwili Harbor Thursday. But not enough to stir the surf — just enough to create excitement for the six boats participating in the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Gene Wells Memorial, Race No. 7.
Fast Company came out of the pack to take the race marking the final competitive race for the NYC Race Committee for this year as the ocean and weather transition to more winter conditions that are less conducive to yacht racing.
Bonjolea II took advantage of the winds blowing in at five to 10 knots with occasional gusts and lulls to flex its sea arms and climb out from a fourth-place start to take the lead on a port tack to the Ninini Point turnaround in calm seas stirring at .5 meter from the winds.
Fast Company challenged in the No. 2 spot with Kato, OZone and Weatherly grappling for the third spot in a battle of the Olson 30s. Heading inbound on the two-leg 3.4-mile course, Kato took on Fast Company for the second spot while Bonjolea II worked on trying to distance its handicap lead.
The seesaw battle for the second spot went back and forth between the pair of Olson 30s while Bonjolea II stayed out of the fray, sounding the finish horn first overall on an elapsed sail of 38 minutes, 10 seconds — nearly two minutes ahead of Fast Company (39:56 elapsed) who sounded the horn a second ahead of Kato (39:57 elapsed) to end the teeter-totter battle.
That three-way battle was not enough to give Bonjolea II the race as Fast Company corrected to 40:11 PHRF to claim the race, spoiling Kato’s string of victories after Kato corrected to 40:23 PHRF.
Weatherly, distancing OZone for third place in the shadow for the second-place battle, crossed on a 40:25 elaped sail and corrected to 40:40 PHRF for third place with Bonjolea II setting in at 40:40 PHRF to tie Weatherly.
OZone settled in at 43:04 elapsed and corrected to 43:20 PHRF followed by Lelele (46:21 elapsed, 46:25 PHRF), Speedy (47:00 elapsed, 47:17 PHRF) and Papa A‘u (49:27 elapsed, 47:46 PHRF).
Weatherly corrected to 36:48 Club for top honors in that class followed by Bonjolea II (38:14 Club), and Fast Company (39:05 Club) finishing a second ahead of Kato (39:06 Club).
With the string of competitive racing completed, the Nawiliwili Yacht Club will next host its annual Halloween race Thursday when boats will sport more festive trimmings and crews will be decorated in themed gear on a more spectator-friendly in-harbor leg to vie for votes from the mole.
The festivities start at 5 p.m.
