KATO WINS. COLLISION OCCURS.

The Eric Wing Memorial Race #5 was marred by a collision when Bonjolea II on starboard tack was hit by Papa Au on port tack 55 minutes into the race. The collision occurred upwind near the #5 buoy on the last leg of the race. Roger Cable who was on Papa Au said that initially they planned to pass in front of Bonjolea II. But with a wind shift they decided to duck Bonjolea’s stern instead. He said that a gust of wind caught them and they lost steerage hitting Bonjolea II on the stern quarter. Over the radio people could be heard asking if an ambulance was needed. One crew member did receive medical treatment for a painful cracked rib and ankle and elbow bruises. I am sure that other crew members will be sore too. It was horrible to watch this collision occur, almost as if in slow motion. Both boats retired from the race.

The 3 lap race took place over course B-A-D with 2 laps to the lighthouse buoy followed by an inside lap to the Kalapaki Buoy. The 6.03 mile race had winds out of the North-northeast at 8-10 knots and occasionally more. It looked like Kato had the best start followed closely by Papa Au. Ozone started on port tack and ducked Kato and Papa Au but crossed in front of everyone else. Papa Au rounded the Kalapaki buoy first on the way out to the lighthouse. Bill Petersen was back crewing on the boat after being on the mainland. (Papa Au was leading the race overall until the collision).

After rounding the Kalapaki buoy it was Bonjolea II behind Papa Au, followed by Ozone, Kato, Fast Company, Double Espresso (with the Speedy crew), Weatherly and Iwa. On the upwind leg the faster Kato was trying to pass Ozone but Ozone kept pinching up to stay in front of them and to give them bad air. So Kato decided to go below Ozone (No Kevin, Jim Saylor on Fast Company didn’t pay me to do that. After all, you were ahead of him). Bonjolea II now rounded the lighthouse buoy in the lead, followed by Papa Au. Ozone was happy to be the first Olson 30 around this buoy followed by Kato, Fast Company, Speedy and Weatherly. Downwind Kato passed Ozone as did Fast Company. Weatherly gained too. The Ozone crew wants the boat owner to buy a new spinnaker!

At the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station it was Papa Au around first followed by Kato and Bonjolea II went wide. Later Bonjolea II took the lead heading upwind with Kato and Papa Au side by side and Weatherly was nipping at Ozone’s heels. Bonjolea II now rounded the lighthouse buoy first followed by Kato, Papa Au,, Fast Company, Ozone and Weatherly. Double Espresso (Speedy) and Iwa followed. On the downwind leg inside the harbor near the starting line it appeared that Bonjolea II on port tack had to gybe away from Papa Au on starboard tack. By gybing a couple of more times Bonjolea II on reaching the G-11 buoy had to give room to Papa Au on the inside. But soon after the rounding Bonjolea II tacked away onto port towards the breakwater while Papa Au kept going straight on starboard. Bonjolea II then tacked back onto starboard to go through the start-finish line near G-5. And Papa Au coming on port tack collided with Bonjolea II as described above and both boats retired from the race.

Kato meanwhile had a nice lead over everyone. Fast Company followed them. A nice battle between Ozone and Weatherly had taken place throughout much of the race with the boats covering each other tack for tack. Ozone was leading Weatherly heading to the Kalapaki buoy. But at the end of the breakwater Weatherly tacked and Ozone didn’t cover them as the wind was more northerly and they think they can’t make it, so they keep on. BIG MISTAKE! Weatherly makes the buoy on the inside and gets ahead of Ozone who over-stood much to skipper Chris Jordan’s frustration. The battle continued, but Weatherly didn’t make any mistakes.

At the finish line it was Kato in first place followed by Fast Company in second. Weatherly took third place by 11 seconds over Ozone. Curse you Carl Andersson!!! Great crew work by the junior sailors on Weatherly. Double Espresso and Iwa rounded out the finishers. The racing is tight with one throw out in the series. At present it appears that Fast Company is leading the series by one point over Kato with two more races to go.

After the race an educational presentation was given by Kauai Sailing Association treasurer Dick Olsen about the Sail GP Race in Bermuda with foiling catamarans. Bento boxes from Paradise Grinds were enjoyed for dinner. Many thanks to those who bought extra boxes to take home as there were plenty left over.

Next Thursday’s after the race educational presentation will be about the Baja Ha-Ha race trip that Kevin Millet and his wife Katie did on their catamaran Kalewa. This is timely as it is the day after Cinco de Mayo and we plan to have Mexican food from Mariachi’s.

The 6th race of the Eric Wing Memorial Rum Series will be held on Thursday 5/6/21 with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area and to join in the festivities with the race committee.

-Chris

Click the link for access to complete results and the RaceQs replay on the racing page as well as more photos by Charlotte and Pam.