The final race of the Rum Race Series was a 5.8 mile race with the first 2 laps out around the Ninini Lighthouse Buoy and the final 3rd lap around the Kalapaki Buoy. Downwind the mark was the G-11 buoy near the Coast Guard Station for all 3 laps (Course A-A-E). The wind was out of the North at about 14 knots but it was gusty.
A starboard tack start at the pin end was favored and the boats all jockeyed for position there. Fast Company came in hot but was just a little over early and they had to restart. This cost them a little over a minute and 15 seconds. Ozone and Speedy had good starts as did Double Espresso. Although Bonjolea II was back a bit they were coming on fast and indeed as the boats headed out of the harbor Bonjolea II was in the lead. The Ozone crew got distracted by the surprising appearance at this time of year of a humpback whale that breached 3 times! But at least the crew’s adrenaline level was higher now.
Bonjolea II rounded the Ninini Lighthouse Buoy first followed by Ozone. I think Double Espresso was next but it might have been Speedy. They were followed by Fast Company who was making up for lost time. It appeared to me that on the downwind leg under spinnaker Speedy rounded up near the end of the breakwater and this allowed Fast Company to pass them. At one point it looked to me as though Double Espresso had rounded up too. And on the second downwind leg as Ozone approached the G-11 buoy they had to gybe and when they did they had a spectacular round up. The boat was on its side with 3 of the crew inside the lifelines but in the water. It was a challenge to recover the boat and the spinnaker was taken down and a jib hoisted. This broach cost Ozone a lot of time and Bonjolea II was now long gone in the lead. In fact, Ozone was heading upwind at the G-5 buoy while Bonjolea II was rounding G-11 just behind and about to lap Speedy and Fast Company. And Speedy and Fast Company were having a nice battle at this time with Fast Company staying just a little bit in front of Speedy.
And at the finish line it was Bonjolea II the quick Sydney 36 taking line honors by over 8 minutes! Even on corrected handicap time they were over 4 and a half minutes ahead of the four Olson 30’s in the race. Great job Bonnie and crew! Ozone took second place and Double Espresso with Carl Andersson on the helm with his young Kauai Sailing Association crew took third. Fast Company and Speedy followed.
The results of the 6 race Rum Series had Ozone in first place with a total of 7 points. Bonjolea II took second place with 10 points and Fast Company took third place with 17 points. They were closely followed by Double Espresso with 18 points and Speedy with 19 points.
The Invitational Series of 4 races starts on 5/9/24. A guest is required to be on board the boat and the name of the guest has to be called to the race committee before the start of the race. If there is no guest on board the score is the number of boats in the race plus one (like being disqualified) so find a guest! There are no throw outs in this series unlike in the Rum Series.
-Chris
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