NAWILIWILI — New rigging marked the return of “Fast Company,” an Olson 30, to the Nawiliwili Yacht Club racing series Thursday. The NYC hosted its weekly Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 4 in chilly conditions and winds that dropped
NAWILIWILI — New rigging marked the return of “Fast Company,” an Olson 30, to the Nawiliwili Yacht Club racing series Thursday.
The NYC hosted its weekly Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 4 in chilly conditions and winds that dropped from the previous weeks’ 20-25 mph range to 5-15 mph out of the northeast. A few light showers punctuated the air to add spice to the nippy conditions.
This proved to be ideal conditions for the boats in the 30-foot range as “Fast Company” and “OZone,” another Olson 30, battled for the lead throughout the race.
“The race was back and forth, boat for boat,” said Sharon Gibson, scorekeeper for the NYC. “But somewhere outside where we couldn’t see what was going on, “Fast Company” took a commanding lead and was well ahead when they made their appearance back in Kalapaki Bay.”
“Fast Company” finished tops in the Monohull class on a PHRF corrected sail of 55:44 followed by “Lelele,” a Wells 30, eking out a lead over “OZone” with a PHRF 57:34 and PHRF 57:52, respectively.
“It was nearly a photo finish between those two boats, ‘Lelele’ and ‘OZone,’” Gibson said. “But ‘Lelele’ crossed the line two seconds ahead of ‘OZone.’”
Following the leaders, “Papa‘au” (PHRF 58:47), “Speedy” (PHRF 1:00:58), “Bonjolea” (PHRF 1:01:59), and “Coyote” (PHRF 1:14:20) rounded out the monohulls.
“Meshach,” a 45-foot trimaran, finished ahead of “Malihini,” a 35-foot cat, in the multi-hull class elapsed time, but the PHRF correction gave “Malihini” the win on a PHRF 1:01:53 over “Meshach” (PHRF 1:04:51). “Trinity,” an F-28R, filled in third with a PHRF 1:09:21. “Kalewa,” a 50-foot cat, did not finish.
The public is invited to view the series racing when NYC hosts the Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 5, Thursday with the first flags flying at 5 p.m.
