Fast Company wins yet another race!

The racers of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club are still fiercely competitive even though Fast Company, skippered by Jim Saylor, has the Glen Hontz Memorial Race Series First Place Trophy virtually in hand. The fifth race of the six race series started with Fast Company and Papa a’u on the favored end of the line which gave them a shorter course to sail to the next mark. Unfortunately for them Kato on starboard tack had enough boat speed to make up the distance advantage and forced the other two boats to take her stern. Kato kept this lead during most of the race and it looked like she would maintain this to take first place for the race.

A black ominous rain cloud hung over Lihue foretelling a change was forthcoming. It was a change but not for the wind or weather but for who lead the race! Soon after rounding the leeward mark with a 3 boat-length lead Kato tacked over only to have to cross the stern of Fast Company. Spectators on the Kalapaki Breakwater did a double-take and cleaned their binocular lenses just to be sure.

It was Fast Company at the finish line first with a corrected time of 57 minutes, 15 seconds. Kato placed second with 57:52 corrected, and OZone finished third with 58:59 corrected. Club Class had Kaos taking first place with a corrected time of 59:17. Weatherly placed second in Club with 1:00:02 corrected, and Papa a’u placed third with 1:02:15 corrected.

The last race of the series will be held on March 23rd starting at 5:05 p.m. Currently overall points has Fast Company with 5 points total followed by OZone with 9 points. Closely behind are Papa a’u and Kato with a third-place tie score of eleven points. It’s expected to be an exciting race as the NYC racers challenge the race leaders.

Kevin Arndt

The race was followed by a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner/Party at the NYC clubhouse.

Click for photos of the racing and party by Charlotte Ross and Pam Zirker