NAWILWILI — Papa‘au held off some challenges to win the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series, Race No. 3, Thursday to take the entire series. With two wins under its belts, the Express 27 jockeyed to take a quick lead off
NAWILWILI — Papa‘au held off some challenges to win the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series, Race No. 3, Thursday to take the entire series.
With two wins under its belts, the Express 27 jockeyed to take a quick lead off the start only to relinquish to OZone heading into the harbor from the first turn.
But spinnaker work by Papa‘au regained the lead only to be challenged by Fast Company heading into the second of three legs of the race.
Again, skippering on the Express 27 had Papa‘au take a high tack, beating out Fast Company to the open water leg in gentle winds in the 5 to 15 knot range out of the northeast.
Papa‘au went on to claim the raice on an elapsed sail of 59:16, second to Fast Company, but correcting to 56:44 PHRF to claim the race, and the series with a total of three points.
Papa‘au also claimed top honors in the PHRF Monohull class with three points.
Fast Company topped the field with an elapsed sail of 58:56 but corrected to 59:01 PHRF, second to Papa‘au.
Third place honors went to OZone who crossed on a 1:14 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:20 PHRF followed by Bonjolea crossing on a 1:05:04 elapsed sail, fifth overall, but corrected to 1:02:48 PHRF for fourth place.
Bonjolea also corrected to 54:22 Club for top honors in the Club class.
With the finish, OZone and Bonjolea finished in a tie for overall second place on nine points apiece, the tie breaker being settled by the Racing Rules which gave OZone second place based on her higher finish over Bonjolea.
Lelele, a Wells 30, crossed on a 1:03 elapsed sail and corrected to 1:02:48 PHRF followed by Coyote crossing on a 1:09:23 elapsed sail and correcting to 1:04:59 PHRF.
Coyote finished the series with nine points to take the Club Open class followed by Fast Company tallying 15 points for second place.
The F-24 trimaran finally picked up a wahine and sailed to a 1:07:14 elapsed sail, correcting to 1:10:36 PHRF.
Labor Day brings the Offshore Series to the forefront when boats sail from Nawiliwili to Hanalei, Saturday and return to Nawiliwili Monday.
The final Shoreline Series starts Sept. 15 with the seven-race Gene Wells Memorial.
The public is invited to view the competition from the jetty wall area at no charge when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.