The wind was coming from a very unusual direction, East Southeast, at a light 6 knots with great variation in wind direction and speed. The course was A-A which went out twice to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy and back around G-11 by the Coast Guard Station. The distance was 4.8 miles. The start was delayed almost 25 minutes as the LPG tanker was leaving the harbor. (I would say they were barging!)
As boats positioned themselves for the start, it turned out that the apparent wind was so light that when the boats turned for the starting line those further back were much later than usual. Bonjolea II was moving fast and nailed a nice start at the committee end of the starting line. Ozone was at the pin end and also had a good start. Fiasco, Kato and Double Espresso were a ways back. Speedy followed behind Bonjolea II near the race committee.
The Sydney 36 Bonjolea II was pointing nicely and easily cleared the end of the breakwater ahead of the 5 Olson 30’s in the race. Fiasco put up their spinnaker trying to catch Ozone who kept their large #1 jib up and seemed to maintain their distance.
Bonjolea II rounded the Ninini Lighthouse buoy first and never looked back. Ozone rounded next and put up their spinnaker with a port pole due to the wind direction rather than the usual starboard pole when we have the easterly trade winds. Fiasco followed Ozone closely while Speedy had dropped back some.
On entering the harbor Ozone headed straight towards the G-11 buoy, that being the shortest course. But the wiley Jim Saylor on Fiasco and Kevin Millet on Kato stayed closer to the breakwater in a stronger wind line and they gained remarkably. And Ozone’s skipper Chris Jordan cringed as both boats passed him.
At the G-11 buoy Kato and Fiasco battled at the rounding. As Kato rounded, Ozone quickly followed on their stern. And half way towards the starting line it looked like Fiasco was going to hit some light air so Ozone tacked away, looking for more wind closer to the breakwater. But it really didn’t help. Meanwhile Bonjolea II had extended their lead considerably in the light air and they were approaching the Ninini Lighthouse buoy as the Olsons were way back at the end of the breakwater (and I thought Bonjolea II liked heavy air!).
Ozone was side by side with Fiasco as they were approaching the Ninini Lighthouse buoy. And Fiasco kept taking Ozone up away from the buoy. But when Ozone tried to go below Fiasco they ended up in bad air and they fell a fair ways behind Fiasco. But then downwind with both boats under port pole spinnaker Ozone gained. And the overtaking Ozone was able to get overlapped a little to weather of Fiasco as they approached the breakwater. Fiasco had rights as the leeward boat being overtaken and they decided to take Ozone up. But as the breakwater approached Ozone called for room at the obstruction and room was given by Fiasco. And Ozone to weather was now giving Fiasco bad air and slowing them down. Fiasco put up their jib but it didn’t seem to help and Ozone gained some more. This time inside the harbor as Fiasco went up or down Ozone covered from in front to stay in the same air, having been burned on the previous lap. Meanwhile Bonjolea II was finishing in first place with Bonnie Tiffany on the helm having done a “horizon job” on the rest of the fleet who were almost 9 minutes behind. Now it was up to the 5 Olson 30’s to finish.
Ozone had a good rounding at G-11 and headed for the finish line for second place, 48 seconds ahead of Fiasco who finished third. Kato was next followed by Double Espresso who had newbie Katalin Terdik on the helm. Katalin is very excited about learning how to race and she will soon be a force to deal with on Lelele. Speedy took a DNF (did not finish).
The second race in the Rum Series takes place on Thursday 4/3 with a 5pm start. The public is invited to watch the race from the Nawiliwili mole parking area. An after race social will be held afterwards at the Nawiliwili Bar and Lounge.
-Chris
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