OZONE WINS GENE WELLS RACE #6

A windy and gusty day was forecast for the 6th Gene Wells Memorial Series Race held on 10/7/21. Six boats took on the 6.03 nautical mile B-A-D course with 2 laps out to the Ninini lighthouse buoy and a final inside lap around the Kalapaki buoy. The wind seemed stronger than the 10-14 knots noted by the race committee and a reef was seen in the main of Double Espresso and Ozone had their reef line in place and ready.

The wind was far enough North that Ozone decided to try a port tack start by the race committee on the mole. But they were the only boat to try that as everyone else started on starboard tack on the pin end. This would have paid off for Ozone as they crossed the fleet except that Speedy had a fabulous start at the pin end and when the two boats met, Ozone had to tack below and beside Speedy. Trying to get an advantage, Fast Company decided to tack first towards the breakwater but they had to duck Weatherly. Papa Au then tacked as well. Although Ozone wanted to tack as they were getting headed into Kalapaki Bay they were pinned down by Speedy. Ozone went beyond the lay line and tacked onto port thinking that Speedy would tack right at the buoy. But Speedy kept going on starboard tack (with rights) and Ozone had to do a quick maneuver going head to wind to let Speedy pass. As they all rounded the Kalapaki buoy it was Weatherly with the older Kauai Sailing Association teenagers that took the lead with Naya on the helm. Nice going!

Ozone was finally able to point high with their new #3 jib and they were able to get up in front of Fast Company who tacked away towards the Timbers Resort. Papa Au had tacked earlier towards the resort and they were happy to have Andy Evans back on board along with Adrian Bertsch who usually sails on Kato. Both boats tacked back to the lay line for the Ninini lighthouse buoy . It was Weatherly rounding first followed by Ozone and Fast Company. The RaceQ’s on Speedy stopped working but they were right in the mix of things and Double Espresso did not have RaceQ’s either so it hard to comment on their tactics and positions. I did hear that Double Espresso with the youngest Kauai Sailing Association kids rotated positions on the helm with Kai and Kawika steering but that it was 11 year old Stella Fornari who steered for half the race. Impressive! They even put up their spinnaker in the windy and gusty conditions.

Downwind Weatherly had spinnaker issues (round up and/or a wrap?) and Ozone gained. Ozone had their small ounce and a half “chicken chute” up which made it easier to control but lacked some horsepower. Weatherly gybed their spinnaker on to port but Ozone stayed on starboard with rights and came up to mess with them. Later Ozone gybed onto port and they were barely able to keep clear ahead of Weatherly as they came into the 3 boat length zone at the G-7 buoy. This meant they had the right to be inside at the buoy. Weatherly then reached up behind Ozone’s stern staying clear with no contact (but close!). Nice driving Naya! Both boats gybed their spinnakers and headed towards the G-11 buoy by the Coast Guard Station with Fast Company close behind them. Fast Company now reached up and was able to get an inside overlap at the 3 boat length circle so that Weatherly had to let them round inside and Fast Company passed them.

Upwind Ozone tacked early towards the breakwater but Fast Company kept going before they tacked. But Ozone is pointing better with their new 3 jib and they were able to reach up and get on the same line as Fast Company. Ozone tacked at the breakwater but Fast Company took it in scary close to the breakwater before tacking. Ozone tacked early for the Ninini lighthouse buoy and Fast Company took it further before tacking. Ozone again reached up onto the same line as Fast Company with Weatherly closely following both boats on the same line. After rounding at the lighthouse buoy the boats all headed downwind to the G-11 buoy where it was Ozone, Fast Company, Weatherly, Papa Au, Speedy and Double Espresso.

Heading back upwind to the Kalapaki buoy for the final lap both Ozone and Fast Company tacked too early as they got headed and so they had to do 2 more tacks to make it around the buoy. But Weatherly who tacked at about the same place on the layline got a nice lift and made it around the buoy without tacking 2 more times.

The boat positions remained the same and at the finish line it was Ozone taking line honors and first place in the PHRF class closely followed by Fast Company in second place only 17 seconds behind and Weatherly was in third place. In the Club Class it was Speedy in first place followed by Papa Au in second and Double Espresso in third.

It is a very close race for the series winner with Papa Au and Fast Company tied for first place with 9 points followed by Ozone with 10 points (which includes the one throwout of their worst race). So it looks like whoever wins the last race will win the series.

The seventh and final race of the Gene Wells Memorial Series will be held on Thursday 10/14/21 with a 5pm start. There is no race on 10/21/21. The final race of the season is the Halloween Race on 10/28/21. Dress up! The public is invited to watch these races from the Nawiliwili mole parking area.

-Chris

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