IS FAST COMPANY UNBEATABLE?

The Gene Wells Memorial Race #2 was held on 8/13/20 with course E-A-B which had an inside lap to the Kalapaki buoy and two outside laps around the Ninini lighthouse buoy. This 5.92 mile course had winds more out of the North on an absolutely beautiful day for sailing. In fact, the winds were so far out of the North that Fast Company did a port tack start near the race committee and they cleared the entire fleet and this put them well into the lead. Weatherly also started on port tack near the middle of the starting line and Ozone started on starboard tack near the pin end. Fast Company and Kato rounded the Kalapaki buoy ahead. When Bonjolea II rounded and put up their asymmetrical spinnaker for the downwind leg they took Weatherly way up to the G-7 buoy (near the anchored catamaran Meshach) which gave Ozone the opportunity to sneak in ahead of them at the G-11 buoy near the Coast Guard station.

Fast Company was still in the lead followed by Kato with their freshly tuned shrouds (nice job Adrian). Behind Ozone in their bad air, Bonjolea II decided to tack towards the breakwater and shortly afterwards Weatherly did the same. Ozone should have covered them as on the next tack at the seawall they were ahead now and Ozone had to duck both of them. On the upwind leg to the lighthouse buoy Weatherly, with their teenage crew, was to weather of Ozone and they gained. But downwind as they got into the harbor Ozone sailed deeper by the lee and was able to pass them. This battle then continued throughout the race and on the upwind leg from G-11 Weatherly was able to pass Ozone once again.

Meanwhile Fast Company and Kato were still out in front. Though behind in position on the race course, Papa Au with their smaller boat and more favorable handicap was gaining at times with the experienced Tim Perry on the helm (filling in for Andy Evans while he was taking his son to the mainland for school). Fellow crewman Roger Cable thought that upwind Papa Au lost some distance on the other boats. Iwa rounded out the 7 boat fleet. Speedy and Double Espresso, two of the six usual Olson 30
competitors, were not in the race and they were missed.

While the boats ahead were finishing, the battle between Weatherly and Ozone continued. After rounding the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard station Weatherly was a little ahead of Ozone for the final upwind leg to the finish. Ozone thought to start a tacking duel with Weatherly in the hopes that the teenage crew would make a mistake. But after 4 quick tacks it was not to be and Weatherly finished 19 seconds in front of Ozone.

At the finish line the results showed that Fast Company took line honors as well as first place in the PHRF class. Skipper Jim Saylor and his seasoned crew have set a high bar for the 5 other Olson 30’s. Kato followed in second place and Bonjolea II finished in third. In the Club class it was Weatherly in first, Papa Au in second and Ozone in third and they were followed by Iwa.

The third race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series will be held on Thursday 8/20/20 with a 5pm start. The public is invited to watch the race from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

Click here for complete results and the RaceQs replay on the racing page.