The wind was blowing like stink with very big waves outside the harbor. The race committee decided on 3 inside the harbor laps. Although some were disappointed not to go out to the lighthouse, it was a move for safety. Although the starting buoy was placed way back near the downwind G-7 buoy, the starboard start was still greatly favored. Speedy and Ozone started near the pin end while Fast Company and Bonjolea II started about midway down the line. Double Espresso also had a good start with Evan (back from school in Oregon) steering. It looked like Fast Company had the best start overall with JT Schoonover on the helm (a very able replacement for skipper Jim Saylor who was in his RV somewhere in Utah I believe). Ozone was delighted to have Terry Wells trimming the mainsail. The Wells family is renowned for their boat building skills and sailing abilities. The Gene Wells Series is named after Terry’s dad.
At the first windward Kalapaki rounding it was Fast Company maintaining their lead followed by Ozone, Bonjolea II, Speedy and Double Espresso. Heading downwind on this leg none of the boats put up their spinnakers in the blustery winds. Ozone was overtaking Fast Company who was on port tack close to windward, but Bonjolea II was coming in quickly to leeward near the R-6 buoy by the race committee. Bonjolea II pulled up alongside Ozone to leeward and Ozone became “sandwiched” between them and Fast Company. As Ozone had overtaken Fast Company within 2 boat lengths they had no rights to make Fast Company sail any higher. What to do? Ozone intentionally slowed down and let Bonjolea II get ahead enough that Ozone could duck below their stern to be on the inside. And being a boat that loves to reach, Bonjolea II then took Fast Company way up. Thor Temme on Ozone had put the boat wing on wing to sail low towards the G-11 downwind buoy and this really paid off as Ozone now rounded in the lead.
On the upwind leg Fast Company decided to tack first towards the breakwater ducking Ozone’s stern. Ozone and Bonjolea II immediately tacked towards the breakwater too. The very fast Bonjolea II then passed or “rolled” Ozone and they soon tacked back towards the upwind Kalapaki buoy. Ozone went a little further before tacking and Fast Company tacked earlier towards the buoy. But near the start-finish line Fast Company tacked back towards the breakwater. And Bonjolea II appeared to get a big header taking them away from the buoy and in towards the Royal Sonesta Hotel and so they tacked back out. Ozone was watching Bonjolea II and saw them being headed so they tacked a little earlier towards the breakwater. And as Fast Company came barreling in Ozone tacked right in front of them once again and the two boats were very close. Speedy was seen to get headed into the bay similarly to Bonjolea II and they quickly tacked back out as well.
On the downwind leg Bonjolea II reached up high towards the breakwater and then they gybed back going like a rocket ship towards the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station. Ozone meanwhile continued on almost dead downwind towards the G-11 buoy and Thor Temme again had the boat wing on wing. At one point they hit 8 knots with a reefed main and their small #3 jib! But it was the young Kauai Sailing Association sailors on Double Espresso who put the older sailors to shame when they flew their spinnaker in the very strong and gusty air. Impressive!
After rounding the G-11 buoy to head back upwind, Fast Company decided to split tacks with Ozone. And when about halfway to the race committee on the mole they tacked towards the breakwater. Ozone and Speedy kept going, following Bonjolea II’s track further upwind until they subsequently tacked. And once again as Fast Company came barreling in, Ozone had to tack just in front of them to cover. Fast Company was able to stay up higher and rounded the Kalapaki easily but Ozone had to struggle to just barely make it around the buoy in front of them.
The 3rd and final lap went downwind from the Kalapaki buoy to the G-7 buoy and then to the G-11 buoy before heading back upwind to the finish line. The finish line went from the race committee on the mole to the G-7 buoy which is way in towards the mountain. Bonjolea II went further upwind once again before tacking towards the finish line. Ozone thought they might cut off some distance if they tacked to just lay the G-7 buoy. But after they tacked they were low of the buoy and they had to tack back one more time to finish, just a little bit in front of Fast Company who had been following Bonjolea II’s line. And although Bonjolea II took line honors, on handicap time they had to settle for a very unusual 3rd place. Ozone took first place 26 seconds in front of Fast Company in second place and Fast Company had a very close 5 seconds on Bonjolea II in third place. Speedy and Double Espresso rounded out the fleet.
The public is invited to watch the race next Thursday 4/11/24 with a 5 pm start. The best viewing is with the race committee at the Nawiliwili mole parking area. The clubhouse will be closed for termite tenting and so there will be no educational event or potluck.
-Chris
Click the following link for results, the RaceQs replay, and photos from Jeff Olson on the
Club Racing page.