NAWILIWILI Papa Au barely squeaked the line, but an early-over proved costly to the Express 27 during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shakedown Series, Race No. 1 last Thursday.
NAWILIWILI — Papa ‘Au barely squeaked the line, but an early-over proved costly to the Express 27 during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shakedown Series, Race No. 1 last Thursday.
The resulting penalty turn pulled Papa ‘Au out of the mix, and Fast Company capitalized on the race that was shortened due to failing light.
Fast Company, declared winner of the three NYC Opening Day races last Saturday, stayed ahead of the fleet in the 6 to 8-knot winds blowing lightly out of the East Northeast East, tacking to milk the breezes to the ‘Ninini Point turnaround, and staying ahead of the challenge put on by No. 2 finisher Kato.
Captained by Jim Saylor, Fast Company hung on to sound the finish horn on an elapsed sail of 49 minutes, 56 seconds and corrected to win the opening race of the NYC Shakedown Series on a 50:15 PHRF final.
Kato followed on a 51:18 PHRF with OZone, a third Olson 30 craft crossing fourth overall, filling in the third spot at 52:43 PHRF.
Bonjolea II, a Sydney 36, crossed the finish plane in third on a 52:09 elapsed sail. But the PHRF handicap pushed her to finish sixth at 55:34 PHRF.
The next Shakedown Series Race No. 2 takes off Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m. Spectators are always welcome to join the NYC Race Committee in viewing the competition from the jetty wall parking area.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
