Fast Company wins the Glen Hontz Memorial Series

The final race of the Glen Hontz Memorial Series was about to begin and eleven racing boats were assembling behind the start line in anticipation for the 5 o’clock start. The wind and weather were perfect for a fast race around Nawiliwili Harbor and the racers were excited to sail.

That’s when the 400 ft. long LPG tanker, the Penelope M, left the dock on her 5 o’clock scheduled departure from Kauai. The start of the race was delayed as the racers got clear the channel to let the tanker through. Then, as the ship’s prop wash dissipated, the racing boats closed up the space left by her departure and the race started at 5:20 pm.

The series leaders Fast Company, OZone, Kato and Papa a’u crossed the start line at the horn with their sails trimmed for speed. Spectators on the Kalapaki Breakwater commented on how amazing the sails and hulls of the racing fleet looked against the beautiful terrain of Kauai. However, it was obvious that the crews and skippers on the racing boats were only focused on winning!

As the race progressed the fleet spread out with the three Olson 30’s, Kato, Fast Company, and OZone along with the Sydney 36, Bonjolea II, in the lead pack. At the leeward mark Kato made the rounding unscathed as the other three boats converged sailing towards the same apex. It was Fast Company and Bonjolea II that were able to slingshot around the buoy while OZone, with no room to round, had to shear away. OZone then had to double back to round the mark and ended up behind the other three boats. On the windward leg out to the Lighthouse buoy OZone made up for lost time and passed Fast Company with a 15 second lead at the rounding.

The finish had Kato taking first place in PHRF with a corrected time of 0:45:02, OZone taking second place with a corrected time of 0:45:45, and Fast Company taking third place with a corrected time of 0:45:54.
Club Class had Papa a’u taking first place with a corrected time of 0:45:02, Weatherly taking second place with a corrected time of 0:46:18, and Trinity taking third place with a corrected time of 0:47:01.

The Glen Hontz Memorial Race Series PHRF trophy winners are Fast Company in first place with 7 points, OZone in second place with eleven points, and Kato in third place with 12 points. Club Class Trophy winners are Weatherly in first place with 19 points, Trinity in second place with 23 points, and Papa a’u in third place with 23 points (losing the tie breaker to Trinity).
Racing resumes on April 6th with the beginning of the Louie Abrams Memorial Rum Race Series at 5 pm in Nawiliwili Harbor.

Kevin Arndt

Click here for photos by Charlotte