NAWILIWILI — Papa A‘u, an Express 27, might be one of the smallest boat in the fleet taking part in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Gene Wells Memorial Series.
Her small size combined with the skippering of Jeff Olson kept the tiny boat clear of the drama to take the latest Race No. 5 Thursday that unfolded over a three-lap 6.23-mile course blanketed with winds in the 12 to 14-knot range.
“Kato tried a port tack start that didn’t pay off,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone, and an NYC communicator. “OZone didn’t have a good start, either when compared to Fast Company who was high on the pin end of the starting line.”
Bonjolea II, with Bonnie Tiffany at the wheel, grabbed the lead with its longer waterline, and capitalizing on the wind, rounded the Ninini Lighthouse buoy first. She later built a lead that spanned two boat lengths, sounding the finish horn nearly six minutes ahead of the tiny Papa A‘u.
“Fast Company and Kato battled into a light air hole near the Kukui lighthouse,” Jordan said. “This allowed OZone to close the distance.”
The battle between the Olson 30s continued with Kato getting the edge.
“Fast Company had spinnaker takedown issues at the G-11 buoy that slowed them down,” Jordan, who had Sylvio Fornari as OZone’s fifth crew member celebrating his eighth birthday during the race.
Papa A‘u steered clear, sounding the finish horn second overall on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 9 seconds behind Bonjolea II who crossed the plane on a 1:05:16 elapsed sail.
“Although Bonjolea II crossed the line nearly six minutes ahead of Papa A‘u, the Bonjolea II crew had to settle for second place with a corrected time of 1:09:33 PHRF due to its handicap of 60 versus 126 for Papa A‘u — a 36-foot boat compared to a 27-footer,” Jordan said.
Jim Saylor, skippered Fast Company, pushed the Olson 30 across the line on a 1:10:45 elapsed sail, nearly a minute ahead of challenging Kato. Fast Company corrected to 1:11:11 PHRF for third place honors with Kato following at 1:12:17 PHRF. OZone, crossing on a 1:12:25 elapsed sail, corrected to 1:12:52 PHRF for fifth place, just 45 ticks back of Kato.
Karen Cole steered Iwa, an Oceanis 41 — one of the larger boats in the race, to a Club correction of 1:07:46 for top honors in that class with Weatherly and Speedy deadlocking the runner up spot on a 1:09:37 Club correction.
The next race, the Gene Wells Memorial Series, Race No. 6, takes place Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. at the Nawiliwili mole parking area.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
