FAST COMPANY SQUEAKS OUT A WIN IN WAHINE RACE #4

The Olson 30 sailboat Fast Company with Lydia Lintermans steering took first place in the 4th of 5 Wahine Series races by 4 seconds over Kato. Nine boats sailed the 6.04 mile course (B-E-B) on 9/24/20 with winds at 8-12 knots out of the Northeast. With the first lap headed to the Kalapaki buoy about half the boats decided to do a port end start near the race committee. Ozone couldn’t resist messing with Fast Company and they tacked back onto starboard early forcing Fast Company to tack and to become somewhat pinned down. But Kato started to weather of Ozone and pinned them down as well so that they couldn’t tack when they wanted too.

Meanwhile Bonjolea II with Bonnie Tiffany on the helm had a great start at the pin end of the starting line so that they had a straight shot without tacking to get to the Kalapaki Buoy. Shortly after the start Double Espresso on port tack had to duck Papa Au, Weatherly and Speedy who were on starboard tack. (Did skipper Elizabeth Biuk-Aghai chastise her tactician?) When Fast Company finally had room, they tacked onto port heading towards the breakwater. Kato and Ozone got headed into Kalapaki Bay and when Kato tacked, Ozone immediately tacked too. When they next met up with Fast Company, Kato tacked into position a little ahead and to weather of Fast Company but Ozone had to tack below them. As Weatherly with their teenage crew came barreling down to the Kalapaki Buoy on starboard (with rights) Fast Company tacked onto port to round the buoy. It appeared that Weatherly had to change course to avoid hitting Fast Company and while the Ozone crew yelled at Weatherly to put up their protest flag, the teenagers were too nice…

On the upwind legs Weatherly with Astrid Andersson steering consistently outpointed Ozone and Ozone had to fall below them, much to Ozone’s owner Chris Jordan’s chagrin (does he need to buy a new #3 sail???). However, it looked like Weatherly was also outpointing Kato and Fast Company.

Fast Company tacked back to the beach near the Hokuala Resort to get the lift in there and Ozone had to duck them. But this didn’t pay off for Fast Company. At the Ninini lighthouse buoy it was Bonjolea II in the lead followed by Kato, Weatherly, Ozone, Fast Company, Double Espresso, Papa Au, Speedy and Iwa. Kato and Weatherly were having a nice battle downwind under spinnaker and about the time they were going to gybe as they entered the harbor both of their RaceQ’s died. The RaceQ’s application shows the GPS position of the boats throughout the race so that one can relive it. Later the same thing happened to Fast Company and Speedy so I am unable to report all of the close action that went on. I do know that on the upwind leg from the G-11 buoy towards the race committee on the mole that Fast Company rounded behind Ozone and was in their bad air. Fast Company tacked early towards the breakwater after rounding (which doesn’t usually pay off). However, at the next crossing Fast Company was ahead of Ozone.

Bonjolea II was way out in front and took line honors by almost 4 minutes. And Kato finished ahead of Fast Company by 15 seconds. But in the PHRF class with handicaps applied it was Fast Company taking first place by 4 seconds over Kato who was in second and Bonjolea II took third. In the Club Class Weatherly took first, Papa Au with Victoria Aiu steering took second and Ozone was in third with Alison Fornari on the helm.

For the series so far it looks like Kato is leading with a 2,1,1,2 with one throwout allowed in the 5 race series. Fast Company (3,2,4,1) and Ozone (1,3,2,4) are essentially tied for second going into the last race.

The 5th and final race of the Wahine Series will be held on Thursday 10/1/20 with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

Click here for access to complete results and the RaceQs replay on the racing page.