The second Wahine Race was course B-A-D with two outside laps to the Ninini lighthouse buoy and one inside lap over 6.03 miles. The wind was 10-14 knots out of the Northeast. The wind was strong enough that Speedy decided to put a reef in the main. Ozone put in a reef line but held off on reefing when they saw the young kids on Double Espresso with a full mainsail.
Papa Au with Victoria Aiu on the helm had a great port tack start by the race committee and Weatherly was also close behind on
port. They were able to pass in front of the starboard tackers. Ozone started near the pin end on starboard a little in front of Fast Company and in a lee bow position giving them bad air. Fast Company wisely tacked away towards the breakwater and the other starboard tackers soon followed. The Kalapaki buoy was to be rounded to starboard before heading out to the lighthouse buoy. Fast Company went wide of the buoy and lost some distance.
The youngest Kauai Sailing Association kids on Double Espresso were doing remarkably well. 12 year old Stella Fornari was on the
helm and she was really enjoying being ahead of her mother Alison Fornari who was steering Ozone. On the downwind legs Fast Company did not use any spinnaker again as they did not have any foredeck crew. Nonetheless, with Jakki Nelson on the helm they were able to stay in the thick of things. Papa Au had borrowed Kato’s spinnaker pole as their end fitting on their pole broke last week.
Ozone was finally able to pass Double Espresso (so mother Alison on Ozone won’t have to make daughter Stella on Double
Espresso sleep on the couch). The Double Espresso kids were awesome! But it was Weatherly with Elisabeth Biuk steering who took line honors and first place in the PHRF Class. Her crew was the older kids who are the sailing instructors for the Kauai Sailing Association and they obviously did a great job. Ozone with Alison Fornari on the helm took second place and her daughter Stella
Fornari on Double Espresso took third. In the Club Class it was Speedy with Kristiina Chapman steering taking first place. Fast Company took second place helmed by Jakki Nelson. Papa Au with Victoria Aiu steering took third place.
The third race of the Wahine Series will take place on Thursday July 14th with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili Mole parking area.
-Chris
Click the link to the
Club Racing page for complete results and the RaceQs replay.