OZONE WINS GENE WELLS RACE #5

The Gene Wells Memorial Series was split into 2 parts by the 5 race Wahine Series which Kato won easily with Emily Martin on the helm. The Kauai Sailing Association is quite proud of Emily as she came up through their training program. Her new husband Aaron Martin looked pretty proud of her too.

The 5th race of the 7 race Gene Wells Series was held on 10/8/20 with light air so that a short course (A-D) was chosen by the race committee (thanks Kristiina Chapman!). Last weeks race was getting pretty dark by the time the boats finished. This 3.51 mile course with an outside lap to the Ninini Lighthouse buoy and an inside lap around the Kalapaki buoy was sailed in light air, maybe at times up to 8 knots. Ozone’s timer malfunctioned just before the start so they had to judge their start by the other boats lining up. Papa Au made a bold move as the only boat to start on port tack, probably on the advice of their foredeck “Big Ray”. Their helmsman Andy Evans took advantage of this port tack with a great start that had everyone else shaking their heads. Kato on starboard led the other 5 Olson 30’s. But when most of the other boats tacked onto port towards the breakwater Kato followed. But this was done right in front of Fast Company who had rights on starboard. Protest!!! Kato did their 2 penalty turns which set them back.

Fast Company led going out of the harbor followed by Bonjolea II. Papa Au was in the mix probably leading on corrected time. (Their RaceQ’s GPS positioning system had stopped working at this point, but they were doing really well). On this upwind leg to the lighthouse Bonjolea II tacked back towards the beach by the Timbers Resort and Ozone had to duck them. Fast Company later tacked back this way to cover the rest of the fleet. For a change Ozone was able to point upwind with Weatherly who was hot on Ozone’s heels. At the Ninini lighthouse buoy it was Fast Company in the lead followed by Ozone, Bonjolea II, Weatherly, Kato, Double Espresso Speedy and Iwa. Papa Au was still doing very well in the mix of the faster Olson 30’s.

The second lap went to the Kalapaki Buoy and Fast Company tacked early while Ozone took it all the way to the breakwater before tacking. Fast Company had to tack twice to make it around the buoy which slowed them down while Ozone was coming on fast and catching up. Fast Company was able to stay a little bit ahead on the spinnaker run to the G-7 buoy and they got an inside position for the mark rounding. Now heading to the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station both boats gybed their spinnakers. But Fast Company had a mishap on the gybe and a chorus of loud words could be heard from the skipper trying to fix the spinnaker problem. Ozone now took the lead temporarily. But Fast Company was able to sail above Ozone taking their air and they got an inside overlap at the mark. Some yelling now occurred between the 2 boats with “inside room” being called and “you could drive a freight train through there” in response. Ozone now behind, was able to get a little to weather of Fast Company on the upwind leg to the finish line so that Fast Company did not have room to tack. Ozone took Fast Company above the layline before tacking towards the finish so that Fast Company would have to come back down and sail a further distance.

At the finish line it was Ozone taking first place and line honors only 7 seconds ahead of Fast Company in second (but still with a commanding lead in the series). Papa Au had an impressive race and corrected to third. In the club class it was Weatherly in first, Bonjolea II in second and Kato in third.

The 6th race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series will be held on Thursday 10/15/20 with a 5 pm start. The public is invited to come down and watch the races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

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