BONJOLEA II WINS THE HALLOWEEN RACE

For the Halloween Race the Bonjolea II crew were dressed as Patriots Representing America (Get out and vote!). The Weatherly crew wore bathrobes for their spa theme (loved Nate’s green hair) while the Ozone crew wore shark outfits. But Fast Company had a special costume that Jim Saylor designed for the boat that took some time to figure out. He built a mask for the bow of the boat! (I’m not sure that he realized how much this very timely and proper social comment would slow his boat down…)

The Halloween Race was held on 10/29/20 with 8 boats competing over the short 2.11 mile coarse (E-D). The two inside laps around the Kalapaki buoy had our trade winds back with light 2-4 knot winds. Speedy had the best start. Fast Company had to restart at the pin end (I suspect that Kato had something to do with that from looking at RaceQ’s).

Bonjolea II was the first boat to round the Kalapaki buoy followed by Ozone who had an inside overlap on Kato who was next. Weatherly, Speedy, Papa Au (with Victoria Aiu on the helm), Fast Company and Iwa followed. But Fast Company was not planning to stay at the back of the fleet for very long after their restart. They passed Speedy on the downwind spinnaker run to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station. Kato caught up to Ozone who took them up wide but Ozone should have listened to Kato’s skipper Kevin Millett who tried to tell Ozone that they were letting Fast Company catch up, which indeed they were.

At the G-11 buoy Ozone was inside and ahead until their jib got fouled during the spinnaker takedown which allowed Fast Company and Kato to pass them. Kato had Ozone in a lee bow position giving them bad air so Ozone tacked away towards the breakwater while Fast Company and Kato continued on. Ozone gained some on Fast Company and when Ozone tacked Fast Company tacked to cover. But both boats went to far and overstood when heading to the Kalapaki buoy and this allowed both Weatherly and Kato to get back in the thick of things.

Fast Company luffed Ozone just before the Kalapaki buoy and Ozone’s skipper Chris Jordan was slow in his response which may well have been grounds for a protest. But Fast Company generously did not put up a red protest flag.

After rounding the Kalapaki buoy for the second time it was Bonjolea II out in front, then Fast Company, Ozone, Weatherly, Kato, Papa Au, Speedy and Iwa. On the downwind spinnaker run to the G-7 buoy Ozone thought that their light 1/2 ounce spinnaker helped them to pass Fast Company. And when Ozone gybed their spinnaker at the G-7 buoy they gained even more (many thanks to foredeck Carl Andersson who had his arm twisted to become the 5th member of the Ozone team minutes before the start. His crew work made a huge difference).

Ozone rounded the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station in front of Fast Company. Fast Company decided to tack towards the breakwater and Ozone tacked to cover them. But when Fast Company again decided to split tacks Ozone kept going and they caught a lift that took them all the way to the finish line. Weatherly with their teenage crew decided to stay on this same lifted tack and they now caught up enough to challenge Fast Company.

At the finish line it was Bonjolea II taking line honors and first place in the PHRF Class by 7 seconds on corrected time over Ozone in second. Fast Company followed in third. In the Club Class it was Weatherly taking first, Kato in second and Papa Au in third.

This is a sad time of year for the sailboat racers as this race marks the end of the racing season. It gets dark too early after work to hold the races. So get out the bottom paint and repair kits and get ready for Opening Day on Saturday 2/6/21 with 3 races planned and a 10 am start. And hopefully (virus permitting) a party at 1:30 at the new clubhouse over by JJ’s Broiler.

-Chris

Click the link for access to complete results and the RaceQs replay on the racing page as well as more photos by Charlotte and Pam.