Honolulu, Hawaii-After a hard fought battle, John Spadaro's Bashford 41 Boomerang won the 2009 Waikiki Offshore Series for a second year in a row. The regatta was sailed in seven races over three days off the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Boomerang finished with 14 points, followed by Gil Budar's Farr 42 Gerontius in second, and Scott Bradley's Beneteau 40.7 Cazan placing third.

In the offshore category, Cazan won the Medium distance race followed by Boomerang in second, and Gary Fanger's 1D35 Tabasco in third place. Todd Wyrick's Sydney 36 Fins won the six-race inshore component with 12 points followed by Boomerang in second and Gerontius in third.

Boomerang Crew

Hawaii delivered her famous tropical trade wind surfing conditions to Diamond Head with 18 – 30 knots of wind, 5 foot wind waves, and a 3 foot south swell for the last three races. "I saw a 30 knot puff on one run," said James McDowell skipper of the Corel 45 Heartbeat, fresh from his second place finish in the Santa Cruz 70 fleet in Transpac skippering Grand illusion.

Mr. Shigeru Namiki, the senior advisor to Japan Sailing Federation and the Series' title sponsor, FujiSankei Business i, presented the hand-carved koa replica of the renown Hawaii sailing canoe Hokule`a to the Boomerang crew for their first place finish in the series.

Mr. Eiji Akaishi, the project manager from FujiSankei Business i delivered a moving speech describing his first time experience of sailing and his strong support for this race. FujiSankei Business i is excited about the opportunity the Waikiki Offshore Series offers to deepen the relationship between our two countries and promote sailing on both shores.

FujiSankei Business i, Sam Adams Beer and the Waikiki Yacht Club sponsor the Waikiki Offshore Series.