Fast Company Savors First Rum

The first of the Rum Race Series was held by the Nawiliwili Yacht Club on 3/28/19 with a 3 lap course over 4.51 miles with a northeast wind at 10 knots. Fast Company ran down the start line on port tack and turned at the last minute in front of the oncoming starboard tackers who had the right of way. The Express 27 Papa Au, having really upped their game lately, got probably the best start in clear air and if she was an Olson 30 she might have aced the fleet. But the faster Olson 30’s slowly overtook her. The Speedy crew showed their spunk by still racing even though they have a broken jib foil. Instead they used a much smaller and slower jib with hanks that they could attach to the headstay. Bonjolea II had a slower start in the lighter air (but they made up for it with a delicious hot shrimp creole dinner for the sailors after the race!). Kato on starboard tack lead the fleet out of the harbor after Papa Au and Fast Company had to duck them while on port tack. Papa Au was getting bad air from the faster Olsons and tacked back to the left on the way to the lighthouse buoy. They then quickly tacked back in front of Ozone, giving them bad air and slowing them down. Fast Company rounded the Ninini lighthouse buoy first followed by Kato, Papa Au and Ozone. Papa Au held their own throughout the race with the Olsons.

Getting upwind to the Kalapaki buoy was a challenge with the more northerly breeze and both Fast Company and Kato had to tack a few times, slowing them down. At one point Kato had significant trouble getting around this buoy allowing Ozone to pass them. But Ozone opted for a port tack spinnaker pole course to the #7 buoy rather than the starboard pole tack taken by Fast Company and Kato. Ozone should have covered Kato to stay in the same wind but instead they parked the boat enough that Kato caught up and passed them and Papa Au made up enough time to correct over Ozone.

The results in PHRF showed Fast Company in first place with a time of 1:05:58, followed by Kato at 1:08:23 and Papa Au at 1:09:38. In Club Class Ozone was first, Weatherly second and Double Espresso was third.

The public is invited to watch the second race of the Rum Series on 4/11/19 at 5 pm (no race this Thursday 4/4/19). The best viewing spot is the Nawiliwili Jetty parking lot area.

-Chris

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