Fast Company Is Too Fast Once Again

The 6th race of the Rum Series was held on 7/23/20 with lighter winds of about 10 knots out of the Northeast. Boats had their large #1 jibs up. About 3 minutes before the start, Ozone’s backstay broke, almost causing them to retire from the race. But the Ozone crew quickly jury-rigged a repair, although they had to baby it so that it wouldn’t break again and therefore they couldn’t point the boat into the wind as well as usual. Weatherly had the best start with the crew of teenage sailors showing throughout the race just how much they have come together as a team (and making Uncle Carl proud!). Ozone was to weather and a little behind Weatherly, but by not pointing as well they fell down into Weatherly’s bad air causing Ozone to fall even more behind. Kato and Papa Au started lower on the starting line as the B-E-D course had the first Kalapaki buoy rounding to starboard. Bonjolea II started further back in the pack, but gained quickly and remarkably, after rounding the Kalapaki buoy, were in the lead followed by Fast Company and Weatherly. On the upwind leg to the lighthouse buoy Kato tacked back to the beach on starboard and Ozone had to duck them. But by not following them and tacking twice Ozone was able to get a slight lead. At the lighthouse buoy turn it was Bonjolea II, Fast Company, Weatherly, Ozone, Kato, Speedy, Papa Au and Iwa.

Downwind as they neared the G-7 buoy under spinnaker, Kato did a nice maneuver and was able to get inside Ozone and take their air thus rounding ahead with their sights set on Weatherly. Bonjolea II and Fast Company continued to maintain their leading positions. As they gybed their spinnakers just inside the breakwater, Papa Au was able to pass Speedy. Was that Big Ray we saw on Papa Au’s foredeck again? On the upwind leg from G-11 to the mole it looked like Kato went further than Weatherly before tacking and this paid off as they were ahead of Weatherly when they again tacked at the breakwater. Ozone tried to catch Weatherly by tacking early to the Kalapaki buoy which was a mistake as they couldn’t make it and had to tack twice to get around the buoy, resulting in Weatherly gaining a lot.

At the finish line it was Bonjolea II taking line honors. But Fast Company again took first place in PHRF on handicap and they appear to be unbeatable for the series. Bonjolea II took second place and Kato third. The Weatherly teenage crew beat Ozone by a minute and 6 seconds thus ensuring that they won the wager of a box of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers. In the Club class it was Weatherly in first, Papa Au in second and Speedy in third.

The 7th and final race of the Rum Series will be held at 5pm on Thursday 7/30/20. The public is invited to watch the race from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

– Chris

Click here for complete results on the racing page and more photos by Pam.