NAWILIWILI — What was supposed to be the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series on Thursday turned out to be the final race for Fast Company at Nawiliwili Harbor.
Sailing under conditions of less than 20-knot winds, Fast Company was in fourth place below Bonjolea II and OZone following the first of three legs. The Olson 30 was heading outbound to the Ninini Point buoy in the second leg when disaster struck. Fast Company ran aground at the point of the breakwater.
Speedy, another of three Olson 30s involved in the race, slowed to check on Fast Company’s condition, and the race continued with the leader boats unaware of the mishap at the mouth of the harbor.
As the realization of the situation set in, first responders, including the Kaua‘i Fire Department, Ocean Safety Bureau, American Medical Response, the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement and boating divisions, and the state’s Department of Transportation, Harbors Division security lined the access road to the jetty parking area to watch rescue and salvage operations unfold.
The distressed Olson 30 was able to free itself from the breakwater grip after tolerating several damaging hits by waves, one of which generated a sickening crunch in the collection of good Samaritan boats, including a practicing canoe club, incoming fishing boats and other members of the NYC racing fleet.
Kaua‘i Sailing Association instructor Carl Andersson launched the club’s motorized dingy, while the stricken Olson 30 kept riding low on the water, an indication that it was taking in water.
The crew evacuated the stricken vessel to the breakwater and were rescued by the flotilla of good Samaritans, while the first responders monitored the operation.
Within an hour of first grounding before 6 p.m., the Olson 30 succumbed despite repeated efforts at trying to salvage the boat and keep it afloat. The bow slipped beneath the water’s surface and was silently swallowed by the Nawiliwili waters surrounded by the good Samaritan boats.
Short of minor cuts and bruises, the crew was rescued from their breakwater perch by no shortage of good Samaritan boaters. There were no finish horns to sound as the race was suspended in favor of helping the fellow boaters in distress.
The Harbors Division office was concerned about the impact of the sinking on commerce. Harbors Division personnel joined the U.S. Coast Guard in mapping out the area where the boat sank, and following assessment deemed the harbor OK for traffic.
That allowed the Young Brothers barge waiting off-short to enter with its load. The clearance also allowed the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Pride of America to be able to leave the harbor on its scheduled departure.
