Fast Company leads going into the final race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series

Fast Company scored a solid win in the 6th race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series giving her a one point lead in the 7 race series. All the skippers of the 9 boat fleet knew that the starboard end of the start line was the favored end. The trade winds were blowing out of the north northeast with gusts up to 20 knots setting up a fast pace race for the 6 mile course. The fleet started with their lee rails awash as they sprinted out to the Lighthouse buoy.
It was the series leaders, Fast Company, OZone, and Bonjolea II that made the turnaround at the offshore buoy. The boat crews held off flying the spinnakers until they were at least in the lee of the shore. Even then, the northerly wind caused several boats to round up on the close reach back into the harbor. The boats enjoyed a strong breeze all the way down deep into Nawiliwili Harbor rounding “G” 11 for the weather beat. Cheers could be heard and camera flashes seen as spectators on the bridge deck aboard the docked cruise ship enjoyed a birds-eye view of the boats tacking nearby. The battle continued as the next leg was back out to the Lighthouse buoy with the return leg going around the No.2 can near Kalapaki Beach with a course even closer to the wind than before.

The finish had Fast Company and Bonjolea II charging for the line in the breezy conditions with spectators cheering them on. Fast Company crossed the line and the Bonjolea II nine seconds later. However, after applying the PHRF time corrections it was 3 Olson 30 boats that had the top three honors: Fast Company, OZone, and Kato (a new boat to the NYC fleet) in third. The series total points so far are Fast Company as the leader with 8 points, OZone following closely with 9 points, and Bonjolea II with 13 points.

In Club Class it was Windspan with first place, followed by Trinity, and then Weatherly. Overall, the Club Class Series leaders have a tie for first place between Trinity and Weatherly at 10 points each. Third place Club series standing goes to Coyote with 27 points.

The final race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series will be on Thursday, October 20th and is sure to be exciting with the scoring so close. The public is invited to view the competition when the NYC Race Committee raises the first flag of Race No. 7 at 5 p.m.

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click here for photos by Charlotte and Pam