Ozone Finally Wins One!

The Gene Wells Race #8 was held on 10/3/19 with northeast winds at 15-20 knots. The sailors had a 2 lap B-C course over 5.12 miles which had the starters heading for the Kalapaki buoy first. Ozone had a good start they thought on the pin end while Papa Au was happy with their start nearer to the middle of the line closer to the race committee. Fast Company was a little late at the start and it looked like they had to tack early towards the breakwater to get out of the other boats bad air. Later Ozone and Papa Au tacked to the breakwater to cover Fast Company. Bonjolea II continued a lower course which paid off as they were first to round the Kalapaki buoy to starboard followed by Ozone, Fast Company and Papa Au. Weatherly had to do an extra tack to make it around the buoy which slowed them down.

On the upwind leg to the lighthouse buoy Fast Company was able to stay up high but close behind Ozone thus avoiding their bad air. Bonjolea II easily lead the fleet on the first downwind leg but halfway down on the second leg they ripped the clew out of their spinnaker (which if it slowed them down more than a minute and 17 seconds cost them first place). Ozone had their spinnaker wrap into an hourglass shape when they hoisted it on the downwind run, but thanks to Thor Temme’s quick thinking to drop the halyard a few feet they were able to get it untwisted quickly. Speedy and Weatherly, 2 of the 6 Olson 30’s in the race, had a nice battle going on the downwind spinnaker run with Weatherly taking the lead. The battle of Fast Company and Ozone, both Olson 30’s, continued for the entire race with Fast Company threatening on every leg. After rounding the G-11 buoy for the last upwind leg, Fast Company tacked early to cover Kato and to try a maneuver that might have caught Ozone. However, Ozone, after 5 previous second place finishes in the series, finally won this one with a first place on corrected time in the PHRF Class of 55 minutes. Fast Company was close behind in second place at 55 minutes and 18 seconds and Kato was third at 55 minutes and 51 seconds. Bonjolea II again took line honors but had to settle for fourth place (instead of the probable first if they hadn’t torn their spinnaker). In the Club Class it was Papa Au in first, Bonjolea II in second and Weatherly in third.

After 8 races in the 10 race series the racing is very close. After throwing out the 2 worst race finishes of each boat as noted in the sailing instructions the total points have Ozone in the lead with 11 points, Fast Company in second with 13 points and Papa Au in third with 15 points. With two more races any of them could win. Kato would be right in the mix but they missed two of the races. The 9th race of the Gene Wells series will be held on Thursday 10/10/19 with a start time of 5 pm. The public is invited to watch the racing from the Nawiliwili seawall parking area.

-Chris Jordan

Click here for complete results on the racing page and more photos from Charlotte Ross.