Was it Papa Au winning or Fast Company making it 5 in a row?

The 5th race of the Spring Shakedown Series was held on 3/12/20 in lighter air coming more from the south than our usual easterly trade winds. This resulted in a 2 lap unusual V-U coarse which started towards the mountains and headed to the G-7 buoy.

Bonjolea II was over early at the start and had to turn around and restart which cost them a lot of time. Another adventure occurred at the start with a port starboard situation. Papa Au on port says they cleared Fast Company easily and so they didn’t do any penalty turns when Fast Company raised the red protest flag. This event was so close to the race committee that there should be lots of witnesses. Papa Au took the west side of the course towards the cruise ship which paid off as they led Fast Company and Ozone around the G-7 weather mark.

Ozone’s skipper had the spinnaker set up on the wrong side for heading to the Kalapaki Buoy allowing Papa Au and Fast Company to increase their lead. Fast Company with their spinnaker set up on the correct side quickly gained on Papa Au who only had a headsail up. Fast Company became the overtaking boat from behind and due to various maneuvers Papa Au now protested Fast Company (who also did not do any penalty turns). Ozone’s crew was now smiling as it looked like one of the two boats would get protested out so that they would move up to second place!

Ozone’s skipper made another bad decision to try to catch the boats in front by leaving the spinnaker up while heading out to the lighthouse which resulted in them going low and slow. After the downwind leg Papa Au was again able to take the lead at the G-7 buoy towards the mountains. The battle between Papa Au and Fast Company continued again out to the lighthouse buoy with Ozone trying to catch them and with Bonjolea II gaining fast. Speedy also followed rounding out the fleet as Weatherly, Double Espresso, Kato and Iwa did not race.

On the second downwind leg to the Kalapaki Buoy the spinnaker run was allowing Ozone to gain on Papa Au and Fast Company until Ozone parked it in a hole by the Ninini Lighthouse. At the finish line it was Fast Company with line honors. But with their 30 second a mile handicap as they are 3 feet shorter it was Papa Au winning first place by a minute and 36 seconds. Actually the winner may depend on who wins or loses after the protest meeting. Ozone was third followed by Bonjolea II and Speedy.

The crew of Speedy provided a marvelous St Patrick’s day dinner of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and carrots, Irish soda bread and dessert.

-Chris

Due to the corona virus safety concerns, the last race of the Spring Shakedown Series was not held and the racing and after race dinners have been cancelled until further notice. Similarly, the protest hearing for the race has been postponed.

Click here for the preliminary results pending protests .