NAWILIWILI — OZone broke a seven-race win streak by Bonjolea II during the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Invitational Series. But the win could not get them the series, as Bonjolea II, by virtue of its three first finishes, took the series on June 15.
NAWILIWILI — OZone broke a seven-race win streak by Bonjolea II during the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Invitational Series. But the win could not get them the series, as Bonjolea II, by virtue of its three first finishes, took the series on June 15.
Racing under the threat of rain in 14 knot winds out of the northeast, six boats worked the winds and rain through 4.51 miles that included a short in-the-harbor lap, a long lap to Ninini Point, and a short inland leg to wrap up the race where Bonjolea II rounded the second lap in the lead followed by Fast Company and OZone.
“But then, Fast Company had some spinnaker issues,” said Chris Jordan aboard OZone. “These spinnaker problems allowed OZone to pass them downwind. Fast Company recovered and gybed their spinnaker to head back into the harbor. OZone gybed just in front of them, and for the next lap or so, OZone was barely able to stay in front of Fast Company.”
Bonjolea II took line honors by sounding the finish horn with an elapsed time of 49 minutes, 20 seconds, and corrected to 52:19 PHRF, while Fast Company and OZone worked different tacks to the finish buoy.
At the finish line, OZone sounded the horn on a 52:00 elapsed time and corrected to 52:05 PHRF, good enough for top honors in the race by just 14 seconds over Bonjolea II. Fast Company followed with a 52:46 elapsed time and corrected to 52:51 PHRF, more than 30 seconds back of Bonjolea II.
“The OZone crew was surprised and elated,” Jordan said. “For the four-race Invitational Series overall, it was Bonjolea II taking first place, followed by OZone in second and Fast Company in third.”
There will be no race on Thursday while the Nawiliwili Yacht Club prepares for the Kaua‘i Channel Race that crosses the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty parking area on Friday evening.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
