NAWILIWILI — The only time OZone trailed was at the start. The Olson 30, leading the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Series by just one point heading into the final race, pulled out all the stops and was first at the
NAWILIWILI — The only time OZone trailed was at the start.
The Olson 30, leading the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Series by just one point heading into the final race, pulled out all the stops and was first at the mark on the Ninini Point turn following a third-place spot at the start line, trailing Speedy and Fast Company.
OZone kept that lead, holding off a strong challenge by Fast Company, another Olson 30, to finish the Thursday race more than a minute ahead of Fast Company.
Crossing the line on a 1:18:20 sail, OZone captured the race and the series after correcting out to a 1:18:27 PHRF.
Fast Company followed on a 1:19:47 elapsed sail and corrected out to 1:19:54 PHRF.
That one-two finish gave the series to OZone with 11 points in the PHRF Open class followed by Fast Company at 13 points, as fewer points indicate a better standing. OZone also captured the PHRF Monohull class with 10 points to Fast Company’s 12 points.
The only casualty in the Thursday swell was Coyote, which pulled out of the race early so the crew could tend to stove duties at the NYC Clubhouse for the post-race party.
Sharon Gibson, the NYC scorekeeper, said Coyote had already secured the top spot in the Club class so took a DNF (did not finish) and used it as their one throw-out score.
Coyote finished the seven-race Rum Series with six points to take the Club Open class followed by Speedy tallying 21 points for second place in the division.
Speedy finished the final race on a 1:24 elapsed sail and corrected out to 1:24:23 PHRF and 1:22:59 Club for first place in the Club Open class.
Lelele, a Wells 30, finished fourth overall in the final race of the series with a 1:26:34 elapsed sail and corrected out to 1:26:18 PHRF.
Malihini, a 35-foot cat carrying an extra load of passengers, Thursday, crossed on a 1:27:33 elapsed sail and corrected out to 1:29:46 PHRF and 1:25:19 Club for second place in the Club Open class.
Papa‘au rounded out the field on a 1:39:20 elapsed sail and corrected out to 1:35:05 PHRF.
Gibson said with the completion of the Rum Series, NYC will next host the Memorial Day race from Nawiliwili to Hanalei, May 29.
Many of the boats participating in that race will continue from Hanalei to Port Allen on May 30 and from Port Allen to Nawiliwili on May 31, completing the around-the-island race.
The next buoy series race will start on June 3 with the four-race Junior Invitational.
The public is invited to view the competition that calls for a junior member from 8 to 18 years of age to be aboard during each race in order for the boat to score without penalty.
Visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org for more information, or for complete series results.
