NAWILIWILI — The final race of the 6-race Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shakedown Series takes place on Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. from the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty parking area.
OZone, a 30-foot Olson 20 piloted by Chris Jordan, appears to be in good shape for this series’ final race after taking consecutive wins in races 4 and 5.
The victory in Race No. 5 that took place in the Nawiliwili Harbor was fairly close between Fiasco and Bonjolea II after Bonjolea II, captained by Bonnie Tiffany, picked up line honors, or first to sound the finish horn, by three seconds over OZone, which posted an elapsed time of 56 minutes and 13 seconds.
“The finish was very close as Bonjolea II finished three seconds ahead of OZone,” Jordan said. “But when the handicaps were applied, it was OZone taking first place with a corrected time of 56:18 followed by Fiasco in second place with a time of 56:32. Bonjolea II’s handicap time of 59:33 gave them third place. Speedy and Double Espresso followed.”
Similarly in Race No. 4 that ran the week prior, OZone captured first place on a 48:57 sail followed by Fiasco at 49:56 and Bonjolea II in third place at 53:23.
During the fifth race that unfolded last Thursday, five boats — four being Olson 30s and a Sydney 36 — embarked on a 3-leg course that totalled 4.51 miles under 14-knot winds blowing out of the east.
Following two legs of jockeying, Bonjolea II tacked early towards the breakwater in the final lap of the race.
“Fiasco followed,” Jordan said. “OZone probably should have tacked to cover as suggested by the crew, but skipper Jordan liked their boat speed and kept going. After OZone tacked late onto port towards the breakwater, Fiasco had caught up a lot and just barely had to duck OZone’s stern as Fiasco was heard too be calling ‘starboard.’”
“As Bonjolea II came in roaring on starboard tack towards the finish line, OZone tacked into a lee bow position while calling for room as they have to stay out of the obstruction zone,” Jordan said. “And the finish was very close.”
