The third race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series had course A-C-E over a distance of 6 miles with winds out of the Northeast at 12 knots. Of the 4 boats racing, 3 decided to start on port tack by the race committee while Speedy went for starboard tack at the opposite pin end. And when the boats met up Speedy passed very close behind the other boats. Ozone had the best start on port tack with Bonjolea II right behind them and Double Espresso followed. Ozone had their small #3 headsail up and they were pleased that they could point upwind almost as well as Bonjolea II and they tried to cover and stay in front of Bonjolea II tack for tack. Heading upwind to the Ninini Lighthouse Buoy Ozone was able to round first, barely in front of Bonjolea II. And Double Espresso and Speedy appeared to be having a nice battle a ways back, but I couldn’t follow them on the RaceQ’s computer so I can’t give you more details.
On the way downwind to G-11 by the Coast Guard Station, Bonjolea II was able to pass Ozone. But once inside the harbor, Ozone put their spinnaker way back on starboard tack to sail dead downwind which was a shorter distance to the G-11 buoy. Bonjolea II seems to do best in reaching mode and they sailed high towards the mole and then gybed onto port tack. When the two boats crossed paths the Ozone crew could be heard yelling “starboard” but Bonjolea II continued on and passed very close ahead. But when they met up at the G-11 buoy Ozone had inside rights and overlap so that they were able to round ahead of Bonjolea II to get back in the lead.
About 1/3 of the way upwind towards the mole, Bonjolea II tacked away towards the breakwater. Ozone waited a little longer and tacked about halfway up the course. And when the two boats met up again it was so close that Ozone decided to lee bow Bonjolea II rather than to duck them and the two boats were now side by side. But Bonjolea II gained enough to give Ozone bad air and so as soon as they could Ozone tacked towards the breakwater, closely ducking Bonjolea II’s stern. When the two boats met up again Ozone crossed just behind Bonjolea II’s stern once more. But on this second lap out to the Ninini Lighthouse Buoy Bonjolea II gained a fair amount and they rounded in the lead. And downwind to the Kalapaki buoy rounding Bonjolea II gained even more.
The third and final lap went to the Kalapaki Buoy and then to G-11 by the Coast Guard Station before heading back upwind to the finish line. And although Bonjolea II once again took line honors, with their handicap it was Ozone finishing in first place by 2 minutes and 27 seconds over Bonjolea II who took second place. Speedy took third place after battling with Double Espresso who finished 43 seconds behind them. Ozone’s skipper had remembered from reading that if one end of the starting line is favored for the start (in this case the race committee end on the mole) then the opposite end is favored for the finish (the pin end at the G—7 buoy). Ozone thought that they made up about 30 second by doing this.
-Chris
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