PAPA AU WINS AGAIN TAKING GENE WELLS #3

The 12-17 knot winds were more easterly than usual for the third Gene Wells race with course A-C-E over 6 miles. Double Espresso with the youngest Kauai Sailing Association sailors was over the starting line early by perhaps 1 second and they had to turn around and restart which cost them about a minute and 10 seconds. It was great to see the kids pushing the envelop as they almost had the best start.

Weatherly, the other Olson 30 with the Kauai Sailing Association teenagers, had Lexi steering and she was able to stay just high of Ozone who was trying to force her to tack away. But Speedy was just above them preventing that so Ozone slowly crept up until they got in front giving Weatherly bad air and causing them to fall back. But it was Fast Company who got out in front and they took the boat very close to the rocks near the Kukui lighthouse before they tacked out towards the Ninini buoy and they gained even more.

On the way out, Weatherly was the first boat to tack back towards the beach by the Timbers resort and they were quickly followed by Papa Au, Fast Company, Ozone, Speedy and Double Espresso. Weatherly tacked back towards the buoy early and the other boats went to the lay line. Fast Company rounded the Ninini Lighthouse buoy first, followed by Papa Au, Weatherly, Ozone, Speedy and Double Espresso. Downwind Ozone was able to pass Weatherly inside the breakwater, but Ozone put a 5 inch tear in their spinnaker so they had to be very careful. Ozone’s skipper Chris Jordan could be heard yelling words that he undoubtedly learned from Jim Saylor…

On the way out of the harbor and back towards the lighthouse Papa Au took it further to the rocks than the other boats and they were to weather of them. There is usually more of a lift in there. At the lighthouse rounding this second time it was Fast Company, Ozone, Weatherly, Papa Au, Speedy and Double Espresso.

On the downwind leg the gybe at the Kalapaki buoy was a tough one to reach up to the G-7 buoy and Fast Company could be seen heading off towards the mole at first. Ozone wished they had put up their jib. Did anyone else see Fast Company’s spinnaker go up sideways during this race? It didn’t seem to slow Jim Saylor down much as he kept the lead.

Weatherly and Ozone essentially side by side on the upwind leg reached the mole area and called on Ozone to tack due to the obstruction. When Ozone tacked this now put Weatherly on top and ahead of them again. Slow down Lexi! On the way to the Kalapaki buoy on the last lap Fast Company, Weatherly and Ozone way over stood and though they rounded in that order it allowed Papa Au to catch way up.

On the next downwind leg to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station Ozone caught up to Fast Company with both boats on port tack. As the leeward boat with rights Jim Saylor called for Ozone to come up, which Ozone did. But it was a very hairy moment as Ozone tried to clear an anchored catamaran which the foredeck said Ozone missed by inches. Meanwhile Weatherly was appropriately upset as they had to dramatically alter course for Ozone who was trying to stay clear of the obstruction. Both boats went around the anchored catamaran which increased Fast Company’s lead.

On the upwind leg to the finish line Ozone let Weatherly know that they had been protested by a starboard tack boat with rights who had to avoid them going upwind while Weatherly was on port tack going downwind. The protesting boat was Papa Au and Weatherly did their 2 penalty turns as they had to watch Papa Au pass them.

Fast Company took line honors but it was Papa Au who corrected to first place in the PHRF Class by a little over 2 minutes. Fast Company was second and 19 seconds behind them in third was Ozone. In the Club Class it was Weatherly in first, Speedy in second and Double Espresso in third.

The 4th race of the 7 race Gene Wells Memorial Series will be held on Thursday 9/23/21 with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area. The after race Kauai Sailing Association community talk and dinner is still on hold due to the virus.

-Chris