Papa a’u wins Rum Race Series

Skippers and crews from the eight boats racing in the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Rum Race Series knew that they had be on point knowing that the top leaders were tied going into the final race. As it turned out, it was Papa a`u, an Express 27, that took the first place trophy in the series by sailing consistently well during the 6 race regatta. The two first place finishes didn’t hurt either.

The last race of the series on Thursday started with Fast Company (an Olson 30) in tandem with Bonjolea II (a Sydney 36), both on starboard tack, forcing the rest of the fleet that were on port tack to bear away giving up precious distance on the 5.9 mile race. A light, 5 knot breeze out of the North made for a close spinnaker reach coming back from the first leg out to the Lighthouse Buoy, led by Bonjolea II, followed by Fast Company, and Weatherly (another Olson 30). During the downwind leg Weatherly forced Fast Company off of the course line enabling Ozone and Papa a`u to make up for lost ground. The four boats rounded the lee mark in a pack, but it was Fast Company that was able to make the wind shifts and break away still in chase of the lead boat Bonjolea II.

At the finish line, it was Bonjolea II with an elapsed time of 44 minutes, 21 seconds (0:47:15 PHRF giving them third place). After which Fast Company finished with an elapsed time of 44 minutes, 42 seconds (0:44:46 PHRF) making them the winner of the race. Ozone finished with an elapsed time of 0:47:25 (0:47:29 PHRF, fourth place) with Papa a`u one second later at the finish line (0:45:24 PHRF, second place). Weatherly finished first in Club Class (0:47:37 elapsed, 0:43:17 Club).

For the overall series, tied with 11 points overall, the ranking of OZone and Bonjolea II was decided when tie breaker rules dictate the boat with the most firsts beats the tie giving OZone second place trophy, and Bonjolea II the third place trophy. The first place trophy, Club Class, went to Coyote with an overall score of 12, which includes 2 first places in the series. A tie with 20 points each between Trinity, an F-28 trimaran, and Speedy, another Olson 30, meant that this also goes to the tie breaker rule. Both boats had had a first place in the series, but it was only Trinity that had a second place giving the second place trophy in Club Class.

The NYC Junior Invitational Race begins on May 19th and the public is invited to view the race with the NYC Race Committee at the jetty wall parking area. First flags fly at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click here for photos by Charlotte and Pam