Light south east winds mix it up in Rum Series Race 5

Ozone, an Olson 30, and Papa a`u, an Express 27, are tied for first on points at the completion of the fifth race of the six race Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Series. Bonjolea II, a Sydney 36, at second place is only one point behind the leaders, and is poised to take lead if the leaders falter in the final race on Thursday, May 12th in Nawiliwili Harbor. As a weather front came through the area this Thursday and the 5 knot breeze was out of the southeast, the Race Committee set a “Kona” course. The race started with a traffic jam at the start line. Fast Company, an Olson 30, was forced over early and had to restart. The rest of the pack started on port tack except for Ozone which swept down the start line on starboard tack, and as the “right-of-way” boat, wreaked havoc on the fleet as they had to keep clear of them. Boats got sorted out as they neared the first windward mark with Bonjolea II rounding first followed closely by Ozone.

The winds were shifty in the lee of the sheer, nearly 800 foot mountain Kalanipuu on the south side of Nawiliwili harbor as the boats made their way out to the lighthouse buoy. In all, the 4.55 mile race had 4 downward legs that challenged the boat crews to set their spinnakers in quickly and recover them as they neared the leeward marks.

Bonjolea II finished first across the finish line with an elapsed time of 45 minutes and 16 seconds but corrected out at 48 minutes and 14 seconds giving them second place PHRF. It was Ozone with a corrected time of 47 minutes and 3 seconds that was the first place winner. Fast Company had a great recovery and finished third in the 8 boat fleet with an elapsed time of 0:50:57 corrected to 0:51:02.

THe Club Open Class had Coyote, a C&C 38, finish first with a corrected time of 0:51:15 PHRF, 0:43:26 Club which gives them first place leading into the final race of the Rum Series, Club Open. Trinity, an F-28 trimaran, currently stands at second place in the Club Open Series followed by a tie for third place between Bonjolea II and Ozone.

The after-race dinner was hosted by the crew of Papa a`u and they served a delicious Cinco De Mayo dinner to over 90 people at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club clubhouse.

The public is invited the view the final race of the Rum Series on Thursday at the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty wall parking area when the first flags fly at 5 p.m.

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click for photos by Charlotte and Pam