NAWILIWILI — Racing in windy 16- to 20-knot winds during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series, Race No 4, Bonjolea II, with Bonnie Tiffany at the big wheel, and the only boat of the four-boat fleet to capitalize on the wind with the use of its spinnaker, escaped the challenge by Fast Company skipper Lily Brionas Flynn and crew to win the race at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
NAWILIWILI — Racing in windy 16- to 20-knot winds during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series, Race No 4, Bonjolea II, with Bonnie Tiffany at the big wheel, and the only boat of the four-boat fleet to capitalize on the wind with the use of its spinnaker, escaped the challenge by Fast Company skipper Lily Brionas Flynn and crew to win the race at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
Sailing in what is described as “Bonjolea wind,” the Sydney 36 eked out a lead in the first of three legs in the 6.03-mile course that included three trips to the Ninini Point turnaround on Thursday, July 11.
She took line honors in an elapsed time of 1 hour, 1 minutes, and 06 seconds and corrected to 1:04:47 for the victory, which was less than a minute ahead of Fast Company once handicaps were factored.
The winds that pushed Bonjolea II ahead of the three Olson 30-foot boats, also created problems and challenges for the smaller Olsons.
“The wahine skippers were in for a challenge. The Olson 30s were reluctant too use their spinnakers in the heavy air. Fast Company was the only one to try a little later, and they were noted to have a spinnaker wrap for a while. They recovered OK without giving up any distance,” said OZone owner Chris Jordan.
“At the rounding on the second lap out to the Ninini Lighthouse, OZone nearly had a major disaster. Prior to the race, crewman Thor Temme had noted significant chafe in the mainsheet where it is cleated while the boat sits at the dock. Owner Jordan said he would fix it for the next race, but at the Ninini Lighthouse buoy rounding, when the boom flopped over in the heavy air, the mainsheet parted, and lthe mainsheet was being lost.
“At the last minute, Jordan grabbed the disappearing end and held it while the resourceful Thor Temme re-led the mainsheet while sailing downwind. Our hero, Thor! SJ LeHoven on OZone finished in third place, and she got a real workout in the heavy air, and with the mainsheet parting. Kristina Chapman, aboard Speedy rounded out the fleet.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
