The course was D-A-D, the race being held just a few days after Father’s Day. Who says the race committee doesn’t have a sense of humor? This was a 4.51 mile race with the middle lap out to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy and the first and last laps around the Kalapaki buoy then on to G-7 and G-11. The wind was heavier at 14-18 knots out of the Northeast.
The start had Ozone barging with Chris Jordan doing tactics (he should have listened to his crew...). Speedy, with Kristiina Chapman on the helm, pushed Ozone, with poor Alison Fornari steering and listening to Jordan, up and over the starting line early. Ozone had to turn around and restart which cost them about 50 seconds. Fast Company with Lily driving started on port tack near the pin end and Bonjolea II skippered by Bonnie Tiffany started on port tack about midway down the line.
When Fast Company was near the breakwater they tacked back onto starboard and Bonjolea II had to duck them. But Speedy, who early on appeared to be in the lead, was able to pass in front of Fast Company. And as the very fast Bonjolea II on starboard tack headed towards the Kalapaki buoy, Speedy on port tack heading towards the breakwater had to duck them.
At the first rounding of the Kalapaki buoy it was Bonjolea II in the lead followed by Speedy. But Fast Company and Ozone were headed and both boats had to make 2 more tacks in order to get around the buoy which put them further behind.
Downwind Fast Company did not have foredeck crew and so they did not fly a spinnaker. Ozone was using their small “chicken chute” which had them gaining towards the G-7 buoy and then actually passing Fast Company and Speedy at the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station. Upwind Speedy and Fast Company outpointed Ozone and they had Ozone pinned, unable to tack for a long time. But finally Ozone was able to “thread the needle” when they tacked just in front of Fast Company and then they quickly ducked Speedy’s stern. Further upwind Ozone was taking Speedy up to weather and Speedy decided to tack away. And Fast Company sailed down a little on Ozone taking their air.
Bonjolea II was loving the heavier air as they rocketed out of the harbor towards the Ninini Lighthouse buoy. Of the three Olson 30’s, Speedy tacked out the earliest, closer to the breakwater, while Ozone went a little further out and Fast Company just a little further than that. Upwind the boat positions stayed about the same and Ozone was able to round just in front of Fast Company with Speedy following. As the Olson 30’s were rounding, Bonjolea II was quite a distance ahead, about to enter the harbor.
When Ozone put up their small spinnaker they thought it would be “goodbye” to Fast Company. But Fast Company, under jib, was able to stay right with Ozone for the longest time until inside the harbor. Ozone could then pull the spinnaker pole way back and sail a little by the lee (does Alison have a license to do that???). And so Ozone gained some. Speedy, using their good looking blue spinnaker was gaining too. But then they later had a spectacular round up which slowed them way down. Bonjolea II was now way in the lead and as they rounded the downwind G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station, the Olson 30’s were just approaching the Kalapaki buoy.
And at the finish line it was Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany on the helm taking line honors and first place on corrected time by more than 2 and a half minutes over Ozone. Alison Fornari steering Ozone took second place (with her handicap being tactician Chris Jordan...) Fast Company was a minute and 8 seconds behind Ozone to take 3rd place without using their spinnaker. Great job Lily! (We all know who her handicap was...) And rounding out the fleet was Speedy with Kristiina Chapman on the helm.
The third race of the five race Wahine Series will take place on Thursday 6/27/24 with a 5pm start. The public is invited to watch the race from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.
-Chris
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