It started off as a beautiful day for sailing as the 5th and final Wahine Series Race commenced. Ozone had a very nice port tack start near the race committee with Bonjolea II just a little behind them. Fast Company and Speedy started on starboard tack nearer the pin end and when the boats met up, Ozone was clear ahead but Bonjolea II had to tack to avoid the oncoming Fast Company on starboard tack. And when Fast Company and Bonjolea II tacked back towards the breakwater they now had to duck Speedy.
Ozone was the first boat to round the Ninini Lighthouse buoy but they were quickly passed downwind by Bonjolea II. Fast Company and Speedy rounded the buoy next.
On the second lap out to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy Fast Company was working hard to catch Ozone and they were gaining. Ozone went further out into the channel before tacking towards the lighthouse and Fast Company, hoping to catch the lift, tacked earlier. But disaster now struck as heading between the green G-1 buoy and the end of the breakwater Fast Company went up hard on the underwater rocks and completely stopped. Jim Saylor was launched off the boat and he made it to the rocks at the end of the breakwater safely. Others followed him to the rocks and some jumped into the water with life jackets on and floated waiting for help. Speedy was behind Fast Company and circled round and round to provide assistance and some rescues. They even called in a MAYDAY. But without engines on the Olson 30’s and with the numerous rocks it was a little tricky to maneuver just under sail alone in order to assist.
Fast Company was stuck hard at first and it was being pounded by the waves onto the breakwater rocks. The rudder came off and multiple holes could be seen in the hull. With everyone off the boat it eventually drifted free back towards the mole under the influence of the trade winds. It was obvious that the boat was taking on lots of water as it slowly drifted back.
Carl Andersson of the Kauai Sailing Association came out in the KSA dinghy with the 20 horsepower engine to try to tow the boat out of the navigation channel and over to the shallow sandy area beyond where boats are moored. At least 2 people were now back on Fast Company trying to bail the boat out. But the boat kept sinking lower and lower in the water. And all this added water weight made it so that the 20 HP engine on the dinghy could hardly move Fast Company. And as the stern rose up on Fast Company it was apparent that it was going to sink so the people on the boat got off and the tow lines were removed. It was a horrible sight to see the beautiful and well maintained Fast Company sink beneath the waves.
The good news is that everyone was safe with minor abrasions and bruises. Two fire trucks and an ambulance were waiting on the mole and one crew member had his left arm abrasions cleaned up and bandaged by the ambulance crew. Fortunately no one needed to be taken to the hospital. Attempts are underway to salvage what is left of Fast Company. It won’t be easy.
There are many lessons to be learned from this horrible event. I believe that the race committee plans to make sailing inside the G-1 buoy by the end of the breakwater an obstruction area in order to keep boats from going inside there as we often do. Other safety issues may also come up.
The race was abandoned because of this incident and so for the Wahine Series there will be 4 races scored instead of 5. Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany on the helm took first place overall with 5 points. Ozone had 9 points and took second place (with Alison Fornari and Sj LeHoven steering during different races). And the disaster stricken Fast Company took 3rd place with 10 points.
The Short Series is next on 7/25/24 with a 5pm start. This series of 4 races is run mostly inside the harbor which makes for good viewing. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area where the race committee is located.
-Chris
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