Another spectacular racing day here on Maui this past Saturday as the number of competitors starts to build again for the Maui Race Series slalom competition and popularity increases at Kanaha Beach Park…
Trade winds continued to be light during the week but Saturday the winds picked up to a steady 15-22 knots.
The skill divisions raced in the morning, with Pro, Semi Pro, Expert and beginner classes, so everyone gets a chance to test themselves against the best of the best within their particular skill level.
The pro fleet got under way with Dan Ellis taking the first heat, as four sailors including Phil McGain got a little excited and were faced with premature starts. However the next three heats proved to be enough for Phil McGain to drive his CA58 to three first places and win the men’s Pro division. Second was Peter Slate followed by our visitor from Japan Akihiko Yamada in third place.
In the Semi Pro it was Sam Bockius riding his Carbon Art 55 who to put together a consistent score to land him on the podium in third place.
In the afternoon races it was the age group fleets that battled it out in the bumpy and strengthening conditions. In the hotly contested Mens 50-59, Mike Yasak once again proved he’s the one to beat putting together consistent races scoring 3 first places and one third to take the title from Jeff Henderson and once again Sam Bockius proved that training does pay off came in third.
The Open women’s fleet was no gimme for Tamara Bockius who had to work hard right to the finish line of the fourth heat to clinch her title. Tamara on her Carbon Art 51, sailed well in the first two heats but only scored second places, but in the third heat she pushed the line, got a way clean and lead to the finish. In the final and deciding heat of the day Tamara was slightly behind most of the way, however set herself up on the final leg to cross the line only inches head of Mai Mitsuishi. This was the third straight year Tamara has won the Da Kine Tltle.
The Mens 40-49 was once again dueled out by Peter Slate and Phil McGain, while Peter scored two first places in the first two heats and Phil finally put together a solid heat to take race number 3. The final heat was all or nothing for the two former professional sailors, as they came across the starting line together, McGain found a little more board speed arriving to the first mark and crossed the finish line just ahead of Peter Slate, with McGain taking the title on a split decision tie breaker.
Titles to Carbon Art for the day included: Men’s Pro, Men’s 40-49, Men’s 50-59 and Women’s Open division.
Big thanks to Harry Weiwel for the images!
