KATO FINISHES FIRST AND PULLS WITHIN 1 POINT OF FAST COMPANY WITH ONE RACE TO GO!

The NYC Spring Race #5 was held on 3/14/19 with 3 laps over a 4.7 mile course. There was 10 knots of wind out of the north northeast. Ozone was the only boat to start on port tack and it seemed to pay off when they were initially the lead boat out of the harbor. But Kato, the Olson 30 showing their speed, passed Ozone on the upwind leg and they were the first boat to round the lighthouse buoy. Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany at the helm, passed Fast Company and Ozone on the downwind spinnaker leg by getting inside at the Kalapaki buoy. Fast Company subsequently passed Ozone at the G7 buoy. Papa Au, racing very well with their new mainsail and Jeff on the helm of this Express 27, caught up at the end of the first lap. On the second lap Fast Company had to make an extra tack to get around the Kalapaki Buoy giving Ozone a chance to catch up. Fast Company hoisted their spinnaker but Ozone left their jib up and messed with Fast Company to slow them down (much to Kato’s delight). During the third lap Fast Company had to tack at the green G5 buoy to stay inside as the rules require. Ozone got a lift and was able to make it all the way inside to the breakwater without tacking and when the two boats crossed tacks again, Ozone was in the lead. Meanwhile Kato was extending their lead while Papa Au was gaining as well. Kato, helmed by Kevin Millett, easily finished in first place in the PHRF class with a time of 1:05:50. The well sailed Papa Au, being a smaller boat, corrected with their handicap into second place with a time of 1:08:17. This was much to the chagrin of Ozone who finished in 3rd place 15 seconds behind Papa Au (wishing they had not messed with Fast Company which probably slowed them down). Fast Company finished 4th in the PHRF class but first in the Club class ahead of Weatherly in second place and Speedy in third.

After 5 races and with one to go and with one throw out, Fast Company leads the Spring Series with one point better than Kato. The next race is crucial!

It was great to see the newly acquired Olson 30 Double Expresso helmed by Carl Andersson with the recent adult sailing students out racing. But the junior sailors on Weatherly, another Olson 30, beat “Uncle Carl” using his own boat! Speedy with Shaun Lehman on the helm stayed out of trouble. And then there was the beautiful Benateau Oceanis 41 called Iwa with Karen Cole on the helm.

A delicious St. Patrick’s dinner of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, Irish soda bread and dessert was provided by the crew of Speedy.

The 6th and final race of the Spring Series will be held on Thursday 3/21/19. The public is invited to watch from the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty with the race starting at 5 pm.

Chris

Click for full results and more photos by Charlotte and Pam