Papa a’u Scores PHRF Win In First Race of NYC Rum Series

Seven boats were at the start line of the first race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Race Series on Thursday, April 7. Winds were out of the east at 15-20 knots, and most boats had a reef in their mainsails and full crews hiking on the weather rail. It was a clean start with all boats on a starboard tack at the favored end of the line with a course heading out to the Lighthouse buoy. It was a rough beat out to the buoy with green water running down the decks as boats plunged into the steep wind chop. As boats made the weather buoy and cracked off the wind, several waited until they were in the lee of Ninini Point before raising their spinnakers. The more conservative boats elected to not to set their spinnakers and sail under main and jib. At the leeward mark “G”11 the leaders were the boats that had flown their chutes. The race took them once more out to the Lighthouse buoy, then to “G” 11, then around Kalapaki buoy. Even though the wind was strong on most of the race course, the wind at Kalapaki was fluky making it a challenge to round the mark.

The end of the race saw Papa a’u finishing first corrected, with Fast Company following them by 20 seconds. Bonjolea II placed third. Club Open ranking was Trinity in first place, Coyote in second place, then followed by Speedy for third place.

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click here for photos by Charlotte