NAWILIWILI — Jim Saylor and the crew aboard Fast Company took the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Roger Cable Memorial Series Race No. 6 despite challenging winds and a wind-enhanced swell on Thursday.
The victory, Fast Company’s 13th consecutive since the NYC sailing calendar inaugurated back in February, enlarged the target on the Olson 30’s back.
“On May 4, the force was with us, as the strong, gusty winds and huge seas made sailing a challenge,” said Chris Jordan, the skipper aboard OZone. “All the Olson 30s had reefs in their mainsails to compensate for the strong winds of 16 knots blowing out of the east.”
Seven boats took on the challenge in the 6-mile race that was broken into three legs.
To control the force, Fast Company slowed at the start, but secured the best start. OZone dropped down into bad air as the skipper decided to tack toward the breakwater where there is usually a lift to make one’s boat point better.
“But the waves in there were huge, not only breaking over the breakwater but also over the buoy that boats often sneak inside close to the breakwater,” Jordan said. “OZone dropped back even more.”
Bonjolea II had the lead rounding the Ninini Point lighthouse buoy, followed by Fast Company and, further back, OZone.
“Double Espresso, with the youngest Kaua‘i Sailing kids, made a nice move when they ducked Weatherly, and yet they were still able to make it to the buoy OK, and they rounded ahead of Weatherly,” Jordan said. “However, downwind under spinnaker, Weatherly was able to pass Double Espresso near the entrance to the harbor.”
Weathering the wind and seas, Bonjolea II took line honors, or first to finish, on an elapsed time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 40 seconds, followed by Fast Company at 1:05:59 elapsed time.
“At the finish line, it was Bonjolea II taking line honors, but not by enough time with their handicap to stay in first place,” Jordan said. “So, it was Fast Company correcting to 1:06:05 PHRF and taking first place for an incredible 13th time in a row!”
Bonjolea II claimed Club Class honors with her 1:04:21 club correction, followed by Fast Company at 1:05:17 club correction, and OZone in third place.
