NAWILIWILI — Emily Martin, at the stick of Kato, withstood the adventures at the G-11 buoy, and the 6-mile race course at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series, Race No. 4 to eke out a win at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
The victory broke a three-way tie for the Series lead between Kato, OZone, and Papa A‘u at the 6-mile race course that was bathed in 12-plus knot winds blowing out of the northeast.
Bonjolea II broke up the clean start to edge the pack and take the lead in the second of three legs of the race.
“Downwind, under spinnaker, Kato was gaining a lot, passing OZone at the harbor’s entrance,” said Chris Jordan, assisting OZone skipper Allison Fornari. “Fast Company, under jib, was making life difficult for Weatherly, under spinnaker in their battle. It appeared that Weatherly was gaining, but when they gybed their spinnaker near the G-11 buoy, they lost control and had an amazing roundup — the mast was in the water and the rudder and keep were out! Fortunately, the hardy young adults sailing the boat held on and recovered with no one falling into the water.”
The adventure saw Fast Company pass Weatherly.
“OZone had some spinnaker takedown problems at the G-11 buoy and ripped its spinnaker in two places,” Jordan said. “Kato gained even more.”
Martin steered the Olson 30 to sound the finish horn with line honors on an elapsed sail of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds, just five seconds ahead of Bonjolea II. She corrected to 1:09:00 PHRF for top honors in the final race that had wahine steering the boats.
Meanwhile, OZone and Fast Company waged their own battle.
“Downwind on the final leg, Fast Company took some of OZone’s air and slowed them down,” Jordan said. “OZone’s spinnaker lines were fouled so they couldn’t trim the spinnaker well to the Kalapaki buoy. After straightening out the lines, OZone was able to gain a little after rounding the Kalapaki buoy, but Fast Company, under jib, was gaining and outpointing OZone on the last leg to the finish line. OZone tacked away onto port early before Fast Company could block that option to take advantage, the idea being to come into the finish line on starboard with rights over Fast Company on port to have some control.”
OZone snaked across the finish line on a 1:11:46 elapsed sail — just five seconds faster than Fast Company who sounded the horn on a 1:11:51 elapsed sail. OZone corrected to 1:12:13 PHRF followed by Fast Company settling at 1:12:18 PHRF.
Papa A‘u, with Victoria Aiu at the stick, was fifth in line honors with a 1:14:27 elapsed sail, but due to her handicap, corrected to 1:11:35 PHRF for second place overall honors — just a point shy of Kato in the overall series.
Weatherly, with Astrid Andersson at the stick, corrected to 1:08:40 Club for top honors in that class followed by Bonjolea II (1:08:45 Club), and Fast Company (1:11:38 Club).
Martin, the winning wahine skipper, wanted to credit her Kaua‘i Sailing Association instructors Shale Shore, Carl Andersson, and Charlie Heatherly for teaching her the skills that helped her win the race, and the Series.
The first of the four-race All Short Race Series starts Thursday when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.
“Expect lots of crew action on these inside-the-harbor races,” Jordan said. “The public is invited to watch these races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.”
