Marcie Millett takes first race of Wahine Series

The trade winds were in full strength at 20 knots at the start of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Wahine Series race No.1. This four race series requires that a wahine (female) be the helmsperson at all times during the race or the boat receives a scoring penalty.

At the start Tess Moeller on Fast Company crossed the start line with speed making a clean start leaving carnage behind her. Alison Fonari on OZone took command of the space adjacent to the start buoy as competitors Karen Cole on Coyote and Kristiina Chapman on Speedy had to peel away and were forced to loop back outside the start line. Marcie Millett on Papa a’u took the start line on port just clear of the bow of Bonjolea II skippered by Bonnie Tiffany. Trinity skippered by a yet unidentified person crossed the start line last, but was the fastest boat due to the optimum conditions for a multihull.

The racers slammed their way out to the lighthouse buoy as they encountered large wind waves and gusty winds. Trinity was first around the buoy followed by the rest of the fleet. The boats that flew their spinnakers struggled to keep control, but a few spun out and rounded up with sails flogging as crews hung on at the rails. Once inside Nawiliwili conditions weren’t so severe, but the racing still full throttle.

It was Trinity that blazed across the finish line first with the unknown skipper raising arms in victory which shifted some articles of clothing. It was obvious to all that this was a man in drag – some even speculated that was the owner. Nice try, but Trinity was docked a scoring penalty which guaranteed last place plus 2 points. Papa’au won first place with a corrected time of 1 hour, seven minutes, and 23 seconds. Twenty seconds later on corrected time, Fast Company took second place. Bonjolea II placed third with 1:11:49.

Speedy took first place in Club Class and nine seconds later of corrected time it was Coyote for second place. OZone followed up with third place in Club.

The public is invited to the competition when the NYC Race Committee hosts the second race of the Wahine Series on August 11 with first flags flying at 5 p.m. at the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty wall area.

Kevin Arndt

Click for photos by Charlotte and Pam