The race on Cinco de Mayo had 12-17 knot winds out of the east northeast. The course was B-E-C a 6.12 mile course (which was shortened with a middle inside lap instead of 3 outside laps as one of the sailors needed to get to the airport for a flight to the mainland). The youngest kids on Double Espresso didn’t have enough crew so they jumped on board Weatherly with the teenage Kauai Sailing Association kids. Uncle Carl Andersson was actually happy about this as he got to helm his boat for only the second time with his new mainsail and jib.
Fast Company again had the best start at the pin end and they forced Weatherly up so much at the pin that they were essentially in last place. Ozone with Chris Jordan on the helm had a lousy start midway down the line. Weatherly in the rear tacked early to the breakwater. Speedy and Ozone followed. When they met up with Weatherly both Speedy and Ozone had to tack away. Fast Company made a couple of tacks to get the inside position at the starboard Kalapaki buoy rounding. Weatherly tacked to get out of the harbor until the kids reminded Uncle Carl of the course change and he tacked back towards the Kalapaki buoy. Fast Company rounded the buoy first. Bonjolea II had come in low and tacked onto port but with Ozone coming down on starboard they had to tack back and this slowed Bonjolea II down quite a bit. Weatherly now caught up and passed Bonjolea II and on the way out to the Ninini lighthouse buoy they also passed Speedy. Fast Company rounded the lighthouse buoy first followed by Ozone, Weatherly, Bonjolea II and Speedy.
Heading downwind under spinnaker to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station Weatherly was passed by Bonjolea II. On the upwind leg boats are required to go through the start-finish line in case the race committee shortens the course. It appeared that Fast Company touched the G-5 buoy and so they did a 360 degree penalty turn. But they still remained in the lead on this second lap that went inside to the Kalapaki buoy. Fast Company rounded first followed by Ozone, Bonjolea II, Weatherly and Speedy. The boats were under port spinnaker poles on the way to G-11 again. Ozone tried to go above Fast Company but Jim Saylor took Ozone up. Ozone started to go below but Fast Company covered them again. But when Ozone went up one more time they got enough separation that they were able to pull ahead of Fast Company.
Meanwhile, the very fast Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany steering had taken over the lead. On the upwind leg towards the mole, Fast Company tacked onto port towards the breakwater and Ozone followed a little later. Fast Company tacked to stay inside the G-5 buoy as required and Ozone tacked just below them in a lee bow position. This was giving Fast Company bad air and they tacked back towards the breakwater. Ozone should have tacked to cover as there is a lift alongside the breakwater. At their next meeting Fast Company had a good lead on Ozone. And Weatherly had caught up as well. Upwind Weatherly had boat speed and they were pointing better than the other boats. They passed Ozone and were right on Fast Company’s stern.
Weatherly and Fast Company were side by side coming in to the Kalapaki buoy under spinnaker. The boats gybed and while heading to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station Weatherly was able to pass Fast Company. Ozone had a very tight rounding of the G-11 buoy and was able to get enough separation that it would make it difficult for Fast Company to tack onto port. Ozone hoped to take Fast Company beyond the layline before tacking to the finish. However, Fast Company tacked onto port away from the cruise ship while the Ozone crew was yelling “starboard”. Ozone sharply ducked Fast Company’s stern and a few words were spoken. When Fast Company tacked back quickly onto starboard they were slowing down and Ozone continued on to get enough separation to tack back above Fast Company to get ahead.
Meanwhile Weatherly was gaining a lot on both of them. At the finish line it was Bonjolea II taking line honors in the PHRF Class but Weatherly’s fans on the mole went crazy when Weatherly finished first on corrected time by 9 seconds over Bonjolea II who took second. Ozone was third. In the Club Class it was Speedy in first place and Fast Company in second (a rare position for them).
The young crew on Weatherly were justly overjoyed by their superb performance and they took a round of applause from the rest of the fleet.
The 7th race of the 8 race Doug Gibson Memorial Rum Race Series will be held on Thursday 5/12/2022 with a 5pm start. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.
-Chris
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photos by Charlotte Ross.