FAST COMPANY WINS ERIC WING RACE #1

Fast Company nailed a great port tack start by the race committee, took a commanding lead and never looked back. Weatherly and Papa Au also did a port tack start. Ozone was 50 seconds late at the pin end on starboard so that Ozone was never a factor in the race.

The 3 lap E-A-D course over 4.51 miles was held in about 10 knots of wind out of the North-northeast. The first inside lap around the Kalapaki Buoy had Fast Company leading but Papa Au looked great behind them. They were followed by Bonjolea II, Kato, Weatherly, Ozone and Iwa. On the downwind leg to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station Weatherly (crewed by the junior sailors with Astrid Andersson on the helm) and Ozone (with the old sailors) battled it out with Ozone getting a little ahead. After rounding this G-11 buoy to head upwind Ozone also got ahead of Bonjolea II for a very short while. But it didn’t last after the next tack. After rounding the lighthouse buoy on the second lap it was still Fast Company far out in front, followed by Bonjolea II, Papa Au, Kato, Ozone, Weatherly and Iwa.

The third inside lap didn’t really change things. At the finish line it was Fast Company first in the PHRF Class ahead by almost 3 and a half minutes on both elapsed and corrected time. Papa Au corrected to second place and Kato was third.
In the Club Class it was Ozone in first followed by Bonjolea II in second and Weatherly in third. Iwa rounded out the 7 boat fleet with photographer Pam Zirker on board. Trinity and Speedy did not compete.

An absolutely delicious Mexican dinner with a chicken fajita taco salad, vegetarian chili and 3 types of cookies was prepared by Marcie Millet. Her Amaize restaurant is open at the far side of Hanapepe town for those of you who missed the dinner (we could use a few more folks to break even). This Kauai Sailing Association community event held at the clubhouse
included an educational video of man overboard issues followed by a discussion and personal stories from several sailors. Next Thursday John Ross will bring us up to date on the RaceQ’s application that we racers use regularly and how to get the most out of it. The following Thursday 4/15 will have John Sawyer and Kristiina Chapman discuss their return voyage from Tahiti with their newly purchased boat.

The second race of the Eric Wing Memorial Rum Race Series will be held on Thursday 4/8/21 with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to watch and join in the activities from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

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