"Thank goodness we brought along a spare mast. We hope to be back racing right away," said Inge Strompf, co-owner of the Hong Kong-based Sea-Land X-Rated.
During yesterday's second heat, Strompf's sleek racer hooked masts with Ausmaid, an entry from Australia.
The mishap caused the top section of each yacht's spar to break off. Both vessels were forced to retire from racing. No injuries to crew were reported.
Unfortunately, Ausmaid came to Hawaii without a spare mast. But repair crews last night were confident that the two broken pieces could be re-attached, allowing the 47-footer to continue in the series.
As mast replacements costs $25,000, or more, protests hearings were scheduled to establish liability. Findings were not reported.
X-Dream, a Hawaii boat sailed by a crew from Japan, retired from yesterday's first race because of equipment problems. Sailing damage was reported by several participants.
The first day of Kenwood racing drew 46 yachts representing eight countries. Heats measured 11.5 and 13.85 miles in length. The fleet was grouped into five divisions.
Kenwood's maxi-yachts - six measuring 72 feet or longer - provided yesterday's highlights.
Larry Ellison's Sayonara from San Francisco took the first race, while Germany's Fancourt's Morning Glory, skippered by Hasso Plattner, won the second heat.
But winning never came easy for either maxi.
Though Sayonara got off to a fast start in the first race, the 79-footer was constantly pressed.
"The key was our good start," Ellison said. "It was right on the money."
Sayonara finished first on elapsed time and first on Class A handicap.
"We could do no wrong," the skipper said of the first heat success. "But the second race, well, that's another story.''
In the second heat Sayonara had a only a mediocre start while Morning Glory got away in clear wind.
"One good race and one that was not so good. I'm satisfied with our Kenwood debut," Ellison said.
Fancourt's Morning Glory, won it all in the second race, placing first in fleet on elapsed time, first in fleet on handicap and first in Class A on handicap.
"Our start in the first race was awful," Plattner said. "We followed Sayonara closely around the course but could never pass her."
But Morning Glory's second race start was timed perfectly. "Once ahead no one could catch us," the happy skipper said.
In addition to Sayonara (first in first race, third in second race) and Morning Glory (6-1), Kenwood's fast sailing maxi racers include Boomerang (4-5), Cassiopeia (5-7), Falcon 2000 (3-4) and Sagamore (7-6).
Though the New York-based Sagamore is off to a slow start, its Honolulu crewman Woodii Carr maintains, "not to worry."
"We'll get better. There's a lot of racing yet ahead, including a couple long events."
Hawaii Kai's Rick Mogle, crewman aboard the San Francisco-based Recidivist, is happy about his boat's Class D 3-4 record.
"Respectable finishes despite ripping our jib sail," he said.
Sporting a first and a third, Tom Roche's fast-surging Jameson from Ireland leads the competitive Mumm 36 fleet. Naohiko Sera's Sea Hawk (3-2) from Japan stands second.
After two of nine races, the United States Red team leads Kenwood's team standings, followed by New Zealand in second and Australia third.
Gary "Skip" Winterbottom, skipper of Desperado - Kenwood's sole Hawaii entry - is satisfied despite yesterday's 7-9 Class D handicap finishes.
"We have good speed, competitive with any boat in our class," he said. "We just have to start sailing in the right direction."
Kenwood racing resumes with two heats off Waikiki today but it's tomorrow's 148-mile Molokai Race that has sailors talking.
"A good test," said Plattner of the Molokai race. "It's in the longer tougher events where Morning Glory shines."