KATO WINS THE INVITATIONAL RACE #4 AND TAKES THE SERIES

With 3 first place finishes and a second place (for a total of 5 points) the Olson 30 Kato easily won the Invitational Series. Ozone took 4 third place finishes for a total of 12 points for second place and Bonjolea II was very close behind in third place with 13 points. The fourth and final race of the invitational series had the 6 mile course A-B-D with 2 laps out to the Ninini lighthouse buoy and one inside lap around the Kalapaki buoy. The wind was 10-15 knots out of the East-northeast.

The starting line went from the race committee on the mole WAY down to the G-7 buoy near the base of the mountain, which is very different from our usual starting line. Kato had the best start with Adrian Bertsch on the helm filling in for Kevin Millett who took off last week on his 50 foot catamaran for Alaska. Speedy looked like they would be over early with 15 seconds left to go but by doing 2 quick tacks they were able to start OK. With the pin end of the starting line so far down (by the anchored catamaran Meshach) both Bonjolea II and Papa Au decided to start on port tack close to the race committee on the mole. Papa Au ducked Ozone and threaded the needle between Ozone and Double Espresso. The very talented Papa Au helmsman Jeff Olsen is recently back from the
mainland. We missed you Jeff!

The Olson 30 Double Espresso again had the youngest kids from the Kauai Sailing Association on board with Carl Andersson who let them helm and rotate positions throughout the race. Our future yacht club members are learning quickly! Carl recently stepped down from being president of the Kauai Sailing Association to spend more time teaching the kids, which he really enjoys. He left me (vice president Chris Jordan) to move up and to try to fill his shoes as president. Those are REALLY big shoes Carl.

After the start it was Bonjolea II, Double Espresso and Speedy who tacked almost simultaneously to get out of the harbor to head to the Ninini lighthouse buoy. Kato and Ozone went a lot further to the Kukui lighthouse area before taking out of the harbor. At the lighthouse buoy it was Kato leading followed by Ozone, Papa Au, Bonjolea II, Speedy, Weatherly, Fast Company and Double Espresso. On the downwind spinnaker leg to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station there was a traffic jam at the buoy with Papa Au, Bonjolea II and Speedy. Bonjolea II appeared to have a tough rounding going quite wide and they lost a lot of ground. Heading back upwind to the Kalapaki buoy to leave it to starboard on the way out to the lighthouse it was Kato, Ozone, Papa Au, Bonjolea II (who had come roaring back after their wide turn), Speedy, Weatherly, Double Espresso and Fast Company.

On the way out to the Ninini lighthouse buoy it was still Kato in the lead nicely covering Ozone tack for tack. Weatherly meanwhile had retired. Apparently they were concerned about their new Tuff Luff headstay foil
when it took a beating from the spinnaker pole. Fortunately it later turned out to be OK. (They cost about $700…) Fast Company was short of crew with skipper Jim Saylor on the mainland. They did not fly their spinnaker as they did not have foredeck crew. In addition they did not have an invited guest on board as required in the sailing instructions and so they were scored in last place.

At the finish line it was Kato taking line honors and first place and they clinched the series win. Although the Olson 30 Ozone crossed the finish line next, the smaller Express 27 Papa Au corrected over them for second place (curse you Jeff Olsen!). If the Papa Au crew ever got an Olson 30 they would be a huge threat to take first place all the time. The Olson 30 Ozone took third place, followed by the Speedy team. And of the 8 boats that started, the young kids on Double Espresso finished 5th! Way to go crew.

Ozone celebrated crewman Jake Bernard’s 35th birthday with his girlfriend Sarah as the invited guest. She was a real trooper! The celebration started on the boat with a flan birthday cake made by Alison Fornari and this was
devoured. Fortunately an additional chocolate cake with candles was also ready at the clubhouse for all to enjoy. And folks sang him Happy Birthday. Dick Olsen presented an educational video of the Sail GP races in Italy. Those 50 foot foiling catamarans can really move!

The next race heads up to Hanalei on Saturday July 3rd and returns on Monday July 5th. Following that will be the Wahine Series of 4 races starting on Thursday 7/8/21. This is always one of my favorites as the rules require a female on the helm. The starting time for the 7/8 Wahine Race is 5pm and the public is invited to watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area where the race committee will be located. The dinner afterward will NOT require an RSVP to encourage participation. Our speaker will be Thor Temme who will entertain us with some of his adventures on his beautiful catamaran Manu Kai. Having crossed the Atlantic with him on this boat, I am very eager to hear what other stories he has to tell. Don’t miss it!

-Chris

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