FAST COMPANY WINS ERIC WING MEMORIAL RACE #6

The Speedy crew has been using Double Espresso to race while their boat is out for repairs. But they kindly relinquished the Kauai Sailing Association’s Olson 30 so that a new group of young kids could race for the first time. With executive director Shale Shore on the helm and Julie Gardner taking photos the kids had a grand time. Our future yacht club members in progress!

The 6 mile course for the race was A-C-E with two outside laps to the lighthouse and one inside lap. The wind was a light 6-9 knots out of the East. Most boats had their large #1 sails up but Ozone’s skipper had left his sail in Koloa so he had to use the smaller #2. He won’t do that again! Papa Au had the best start with Ozone above them at the pin
end. But Ozone wasn’t pointing so well and fell down into Papa Au’s bad air which slowed them down. Weatherly tacked early back towards the breakwater and this appeared to help them gain as they were now ahead of Ozone at the mouth of the harbor. Fast Company was first out of the harbor followed by Kato. Bonjolea II would normally be in the mix here but due to the collision last week they took this week off. Rumor is that they will be back for the next race.

On the leg out to the lighthouse buoy Kato tacked back early towards the Timbers Resort and Papa Au had to duck them. Weatherly also ducked Kato but when Kato had to tack back, it was Weatherly in front of them. Ozone tacked back towards the beach and Weatherly tacked to cover them. These two boats have been having some good battles similar to Fast Company and Kato. At the lighthouse buoy rounding it was Fast Company in front, followed by Kato, Papa Au (probably in the lead on handicap at this point), Weatherly, Ozone and Double Espresso.

On the downwind spinnaker run Kato gybed early onto port heading towards the mountain. Fast Company quickly gybed to cover them. As they neared the breakwater Ozone’s skipper Chris Jordan looked over his shoulder and said to the crew “Papa is on port”. But shortly thereafter a crew member corrected him and said that Papa Au was on starboard tack which meant that they had the right of way. Ozone now fouled Papa Au as Ozone’s skipper was confused (and didn’t have the foredeck ready to gybe the boat onto starboard). Papa Au was not seen to put up a protest flag (although they should have) and Ozone didn’t do 2 penalty turns (although they should have).

While approaching the downwind G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station Fast Company was seen to take Kato up quite high at the mark, but as they entered the 3 boat length circle Fast Company had to give room to Kato as they were the inside boat. And Kato now was in the lead. Weatherly rounded next followed by Ozone and Papa Au. Weatherly had a wider rounding than Ozone and when they tacked they had to duck Ozone and they fell behind. But when Papa Au on starboard met up with Weatherly on port a protest ensued (Weatherly probably should have ducked). Weatherly did their 2 penalty turns which set them back.

At the entrance to the harbor Kato tacked onto port to get out to the lighthouse. But Fast Company who was on starboard also protested when Kato didn’t duck them. So Kato now did 2 penalty turns which set them back also.
On the way out to the lighthouse Weatherly tacked back towards the beach and Ozone tacked to cover them and to give them bad air as they were pretty close to each other. Both boats now ducked Papa Au. Fast Company rounded the lighthouse buoy first on the second lap followed by Kato, Ozone, Weatherly, and Papa Au. Kato gybed their spinnaker downwind and headed towards the mountain, soon followed by Fast Company. Kato gybed back as did Fast Company. Weatherly decided to gybe too and went behind Papa Au. This cost Weatherly some time. Papa Au and Ozone continued straight. Meanwhile Fast Company had significantly extended their lead over Kato and the rest of the fleet.

At the finish line it was Fast Company taking line honors and first place in the PHRF Class. Papa Au corrected on handicap to second place only 13 seconds behind Fast Company. Kato took third place and Weatherly fourth place after Ozone retired for fouling Papa Au (sorry Jeff and Papa Au crew). Because the mayor had moved Kauai into the more restrictive tier 3 due to the increased virus cases, the planned educational lecture by Kevin Millett and his wife Katie about their Baja HaHa race trip and the Mexican dinner from Mariachi’s was cancelled. As long as we are in tier 3 these dinners and lectures will have to be put off until we get back to tier 4.

Jim Saylor had arranged for an 8pm protest meeting with official US Sailing judges from Honolulu on Zoom. This was related to the collision when Papa Au on port tack ran into Bonjolea II on starboard. Apparently when there is significant damage or personal injury there should be a protest meeting. Doug Tiffany presented his case. Roger Cable kindly represented Papa Au. The outcome was as expected. But the judges were very serious about the process and I think that all of the participants were impressed and learned something.

The 7th and final race of the Eric Wing Memorial Rum Race Series will be held on 5/13/21 with a 5 pm start. Fast Company now leads the series by 3 points. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

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