The initial course for this race was A-A-F but it was shortened by the race committee to A-A, probably because it was getting dark. This course had two laps out to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy and back around the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station for a distance of 4.8 miles.The wind was out of the Northeast at 13 knots and the 4 Olson 30’s had their smaller #3 headsails up. It was really nice to have Kato back on the racecourse with Skipper Kevin Millett (although the Ozone crew missed having Thor Temme who jumped ship to help Kevin on Kato, although this still only gave him a total of 3 crew).
At the start Kato seemed to be a little early and they fell off down the line and did fine. Ozone was barging and thought they could sneak in but Jim Saylor on Fast Company wouldn’t allow that and forced Ozone up. In retrospect Ozone should just have come up more and hit the buoy in which case they would have done one penalty turn. But unfortunately the two boats touched gently side by side and although Jackie Nelson on the rail was able to pull her legs up, JT Schoonover had his ankles pinched in between the two boats and it obviously hurt. Ozone’s skipper Chris Jordan felt bad and apologized and then did the 2 penalty turns for Ozone, which put them way back in last place.
Double Espresso was being helmed by Nate Sullivan with whom I have had the pleasure of going through the Panama Canal with on Thor Temme’s 56 foot catamaran called Manu Kai. Check out the new tattoo on his leg.
The very fast Bonjolea II helmed by Bonnie Tiffany started a little ways back and they quickly tacked towards the breakwater and when they got close to it they tacked back. Kato was nearing the Kalapaki Buoy when they tacked out of the harbor and Fast Company immediately tacked to cover them and to stay in front. But Fast Company had to now duck the stern of the lightening quick Bonjolea II as the Sidney 36 took over the lead. Ozone tacked out of the harbor at about the same time and was just able to clear the end of the breakwater.
Halfway out to the Ninini Lighthouse Kato tacked back to the beach by the Timbers Resort. Ozone quickly tacked to follow them in order to try to get the lift that is usually present in closer to the beach. Bonjolea II and Fast Company kept going straight and they both tacked on the lay line to the Ninini Buoy. Kato meanwhile tacked back towards the Ninini Buoy but Ozone went in a little further towards the beach before tacking. Bonjolea II rounded in the lead followed by Fast Company. When Kato rounded with only 3 crew on this windy day, they wisely decided not to put up their spinnaker. Ozone, with 7 crew, did put up their small ounce and a half spinnaker and they were subsequently able to pass Kato.
On the second lap after rounding the Ninini Lighthouse buoy there was a large orange propane tanker coming out of the harbor, tooting their horn to warn the sailboats to stay out of their way. Bonjolea II perhaps got a little closer than the other boats. Ozone stayed closer to the breakwater on the inside or downwind side and they slowed down a lot due to the huge wind shadow from the big tanker. Kato I believe stayed on the upwind side of the tanker in clear air. Jeff Olson who previously sailed on Papa Au was on the pilot boat for the tanker and he took some great photos of the racing sailboats. If you ask him I am sure that he would pass them on to you. At the finish line it was Bonjolea II taking line honors and first place for the 6th race in a row. Fast Company was a mere 6 seconds behind them on corrected time. So close!
Ozone came back from being in last place after the start to take 3rd place and Kato racing without using their spinnaker took 4th place. Double Espresso with the junior sailors from the Kauai Sailing Association rounded out the fleet in 5th place.
The Olson 30 Speedy is back in the water after painting and we hope to see them out racing next week. The other Olson 30 Weatherly still has its mast out of the boat being worked on so it may be a while for them. In the clubhouse after the race Mark Walsh showed an educational video called “Hold Fast”. Chris Jordan, the KSA board chair, provided some additional Chinese food for the potluck that he picked up at Garden Island Barbecue.
The 5th race in the Ken Martinez Commodore Series will be held on Thursday 3/7/24 with a 5pm start. The public is invited to watch the race from the Nawiliwili mole parking area. Dick Olsen, the secretary for KSA and a skipper on Speedy, will host an educational meeting and potluck after the race in the clubhouse.
-Chris
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