NAWILIWILI — Fast Company skipper Jim Saylor is feeling good, said Jakki Nelson, a crew member aboard Fast Company.
“Fast Compamy just won the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Jerry McKenna Memorial Series, Race No. 4,” Nelson said. “That’s the third win in a row for Fast Company. And, we didn’t need the numbers to win. We took the race, outright. Jim is a pretty happy guy, right now.”
Five boats, including Fast Company, braved the challenging conditions for the race that was held under 18-knot winds blowing out of the East-Northeast and big waves over a 5-mile course at Nawiliwili Harbor on Saturday.
“The wind and waves were again challenging for the Jerry McKenna, Race No. 4,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone. “OZone had to retire from the race early due to a starboard intermediate shroud that broke while pounding upwind.”
Coming off the start, Fast Company and OZone battled for position.
“When the two boats met at the Ninini Lighthouse buoy, it was Fast Company rounding just ahead of OZone as the 30-foot Olson overstood the mark,” Jordan said. “Downwind, OZone caught a big wave and had fun surfing really fast, but it was not enough to catch Fast Company.”
“On the next upwind leg is when disaster struck OZone,” Jordan said. “OZone was in second place behind Fast Company, and while pounding into the waves, a large bang was heard, and the wire intermediate shroud on OZone’s starboard side parted.”
Jordan explained that this was one of the six shrouds that holds up the mast.
“OZone quickly tacked to put the pressure on the three good port shrouds,” Jordan said. “A halyard was then attached to the broken shroud site on the deck to help support the mast. The jib was taken down and OZone limped back to the dock.”
Jordan said, “All was not lost, however, as it was OZone’s longest crew member Alison Fornario’s birthday, and a celebration with a tiramisu cake with candles ensued.”
Meanwhile, Fast Company capitalized on the race-ending OZone incident to take line honors on an elapsed time that broke the hour mark at 58 minutes, 26 seconds. Correcting on the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, Fast Company claimed race honors at 58:31 PHRF. Fast Company also corrected to 57:49 Club for top honors in that class competition.
Bonjolea II, who claimed line honors during the Jerry McKenna, Race No. 3, followed with an elapsed time of 1:01:14 and corrected to 1:04:37 PHRF.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
