OZone wins Race 3 of Glen Hontz Memorial Series by 4 seconds

The south winds made their way up and over Keopameo, an 1167 ft. high mountain that overlooks Nawiliwili Bay. The winds then spread out across the bay and encountered 8 boats racing the third race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Glen Hontz Memorial Race Series. The Race Committee challenged the fleet with a course that had the boats going around every possible rounding mark in the bay.

Moments before the start it was Fast Company, Kato, and OZone, all Olson 30’s, on starboard tack going for the start line. Papa a’u, an Express 27, the smallest boat in the fleet managed to cross their bows on a port tack just inside the start line and then the start horn sounded. After a few quick tacks up the bay Fast Company rounded the weather mark first, followed by Kato, then OZone. Bonjolea II, one of the largest boats in the fleet, was gaining on the three Olson 30’s. The fleet continued its way to the Lighthouse buoy and the downwind leg gave the boats a chance to spread out. The faster boats broke away from the rest of the pack with Fast Company still commanding the lead.

Once back in the harbor and rounding an intermediate mark, the leaders found themselves sailing through the rest of the pack on their way to the next mark. The competition was fierce as boats maneuvered in close quarters. At this time Bonjolea II was right behind Fast Company and the crews set the spinnakers for the last downwind leg out to the lighthouse buoy. The lead boats converged on the Lighthouse buoy and upon rounding it Bonjolea II had the lead, with Fast Company, Kato, and then OZone. Bonjolea II had a burst of speed and pulled away from the other three boats to cross the finish line first.

In a fight for second place Fast Company tacked to cover Kato while OZone continued on the opposite tack. It could have been a favorable wind shift coming over Keopameo that caused OZone to cross the finish line 4 seconds ahead of Fast Company.

When the finish times were corrected the finish places had OZone taking PHRF top honors with a corrected time of 1:10:34, Fast Company and took second place with a corrected time of 1:10:38, and Kato took third place with a corrected time of 1:10:56. The Club Class had Trinity taking first place with a corrected time of 1:06:09, Kaos finishing second with a corrected time of 1:09:50, and Bonjolea II finishing third with a corrected time of 1:11:33.

Kevin Arndt