Papa a’u wins Rum Race #3

On Thursday a fleet of seven boats were stacked on the start line just moments before the third race in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Race Series began. The boats were off to an aggressive start as the gun sounded, so much so that Speedy, an Olson 30, mistakenly thought they were over early and circled back to restart across the line. Winds were out of the east at 10 knots making it a choppy and wet sail to the Lighthouse Buoy.

Bonjolea II, a Sydney 36, stayed in front of the fleet and finished the 4.8 mile course first with an elapsed time of 53 minutes and 31 seconds. Four minutes and 2 seconds later Trinity, an F-28 trimaran, crossed the finish line with Ozone, an Olson 30, 6 seconds later.

But it was Papa a’u that took first place honors after PHRF handicap corrections with a time of 56 minutes, 51 seconds. Bonjolea II corrected out at 0:57:02 giving them second place, with Ozone taking third at 0:57:39.

Club Class is a boat rating system that handicaps boats using data from the NYC fleet only. This data is specific to the NYC racing fleet, the local weather conditions, and the skipper’s performance over time. Coyote, a C&C 38, finished first in Club Class with an elapsed time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, 21 seconds, and a Club time of 52 minutes and 40 seconds. Based on Club Class Trinity was awarded second place, followed by Speedy.

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click for photos by Sea and Charlotte