Sports Update
Water. Liquid or frozen. It doesn't seem to matter to Doug Taylor. He's comfortable with both, and on both. Sailing crews eagerly anticipate
Kenwood Cup competitionThe 11th biennial event starts Monday
By Cindy Luis, Star-Bulletin
with two races off WaikikiThe 57-year-old owner of the Ice Palace skating rink is one of the favorites in the Kenwood Cup's D Class, which is comprised of Farr 40s. The 11th biennial event begins its 10-event, five-class schedule Monday with two races off Waikiki.
"I think our chances are good," said Taylor, who has sailed competitively the past 30 years. "We've got a great boat and a great local crew. We did well in the Asahi Cup last week, beat the boats we needed to beat, and finished second."
Taylor has finished second twice in five previous Kenwood Cup appearances, the first time at the helm of Icebreaker, a 35-footer, then with Zamboni, a 36-footer.
His new boat, also named Zamboni, is a 40-footer which will compete against two of its sister ships: Mario Express from Japan and Blue Chip from San Francisco.
The Kenwood Cup is a race within a race with five national teams and 32 of the Pacific Basin's top international offshore racing yachts competing. Australia, the defending cup champion, will go against two U.S. teams -- Red and White -- as well as New Zealand and Japan.
Taylor, racing for USA Red, likes his newest Zamboni, named for the ice cleaner used at hockey and skating rinks. He asked permission to use the trademark name from the Zamboni family in California.
"We asked Mr. Zamboni if he minded and he said it sounded like a lot of fun to have a boat named for him," said Taylor. "And we have had fun with the name. Of course, people back East recognize it. It's a great tie-in with the business (the Ice Palace)
"Ten years ago, people here in Hawaii might not have recognized the names but, with so many kids here ice-skating, I'd say 80 percent of kids Saturday in Hawaii know what it is."
As he gets older, Taylor said, the bigger the boat, the earlier it is to sail.
"It's much easier on the back to sail with a wheel instead of a tiller," he said.
Taylor has competed in the marathon around-the-state races but prefers shorter races now. Races like Monday's off-shore are his favorite.
"I like the Kenwood, it's a great race," said Taylor, who moved here with his family in 1967. "And I love sailing in Hawaii. It's the best place in the world. Most guys I know in the sailing world think Hawaii is the best venue in the world. The only problem is, it's so expensive to get here."
Taylor competes frequently on the mainland, between 6-8 regattas a year. In 1996, he won the world championship for 30s owner-drivers off San Francisco.
When he's not sailing, he's skiing. Owner of the Ice Palace since 1982, Taylor said he ice skates a little to build up his ski legs and his sea legs.
The Cup features four ocean triangle and four windward-leeward races of 10-12 nautical miles each off Waikiki. The Molokai Race is 150 miles from Honolulu to Kapalua Bay on Maui and return, running along Molokai's north shore. The Kahu-Wili Race is 376 nautical miles from Oahu to Kahului, Maui, to Nawiliwili, Kauai, and return to finish off Diamond Head.
Kenwood Cup Schedule
Aug. 3, Off Waikiki
Race 1:Triangle, 11 am.
Race 2: Windward/Leeward, 1:30 p.m.
Race 3:Triangle, 11 a.m.
Race 4: Windward/Leeward, 1:30 p.m.
Race 5:Oahu to Molokai-return, 6 p.m. start
Aug. 8, Off WaikikiRace 6:Triangle, 11 a.m.
Aug. 9, Off Waikiki
Race 8:
Triangle, 11 a.m.
Race 9: Windward/Leeward, 1:30 p.m.
Aug. 11-13
Race 10:
Oahu to Maui to Kauai to Oahu, noon start
Other surfers from Hawaii advancing to Saturday's fourth round were Kalani Robb, Kaipo Jaquias, Shane Dorian and John Shimooka. Eliminated were Shawn Sutton, Derek Ho, Ross Williams and Sunny Garcia.
In the women's event, Rochelle Ballard of Hawaii and three Australians, including world tour points leader Layne Beachley, advanced to Saturday's semifinals.
TAG AND RELEASE WINS: Four of the 36 teams entered in the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation Aloha Friday Shootout fihsing tournament in Kona caught tag-and-release marlins (under 200 pounds) but the K2 Fishing Club of California was awarded first place because it caught its fish first.
The event is a prelim to the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, which starts Monday.
FOUR-MAN VOLLEYBALL Sunday: Some of the University of Hawaii's top volleyball players will be competing Sunday at the Elite Championship Four-Man Grass Championship at Sea Life Park.
On the rosters of the 10 teams entered are ex-Rainbows Aaron Wilton, Rick Tune and Erik Pichel.
The day begins with a youth clinic at 9 a.m. followed by a photo and autograph session. A media volleyball tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m. with the four-man competition starting about noon.
Admission to the park includes all the volleyball activities. The kamaaina/military price is $12 for adults and $6 for juniors. A portion of each admission ticket sold will be given to the UH athletic scholarship fund.
HAWAII TEAM 1-1: The Hawaii Rainbows were 1-1 after the first day of pool play at the Continental Amateur Baseball Association's 11-year-old World Series Friday.
Hawaii lost its opener, 8-7, to South Dakota, then won its second game, 11-3, against Missouri as Kahiwa Letman had three hits and drove in two runs.
QB CLUB TO TALK RULES: Local WAC official George Gusman will discuss new NCAA rules at Monday's Honolulu Quarterback Club luncheon at the Pagoda Hotel.
Guest speakers also include UH Wahine basketball head coach Vince Goo and Rainbow football head coach Fred vonAppen.
Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program runs from noon to 1 p.m. The public is welcomed.
SENSLEY SECOND: Kalaheo High School's Julian Sensley, who played for the Fila Hawaii Select basketball team, finished second on the scoring list for the adidas Big Time National Basketball Championship held July 15-21 in Las Vegas.
Sensley had 187 points in nine games, to rank behind Chuck Edison of Team Carolina, who scored 206 points.
PIGOUT NETS $61,000: A beanie baby from the recent Major League Baseball All-Star game fetched $500 during the auction portion of the Pigskin Pigout Thursday night at Murphy's Bar & Grill in downtown Honolulu.
The third annual fund-raiser for the University of Hawaii football program netted $61,000. Some 200 people attended the event that contributes to the Rainbow football training table.
Host Don Murphy donated the beanie baby he was given during last month's all-star game in Denver. He intended to give it to a friend's baby but "when I realized they were selling for several hundred dollars on television, little Sarah got a fuzzy toy and the football program got $500."
VOLLEYBALL CLINIC: Former University of Hawaii men's players Aaron Wilton, Rick Tune and Kai Kahele will be the featured coaches at a youth volleyball clinic, Aug. 8, at St. Andrew's Priory gym.
The clinic is open to youngsters, ages 6-12, and runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $40. For more information, call Gavin Tseu at 531-6148.
WATER POLO: Two of the country's premier water polo tournaments will be held on Oahu beginning this week.
The U.S. Senior Men's Nationals are scheduled for Aug. 7-9 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex at the University of Hawaii. The elite men's players, including Hawaii's Sam Kern now at UCLA, will compete in matches from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Admission is $2.
The 30th Hawaiian Invitational opens Aug. 10 and continues through Aug. 16. The tournament features 80 teams from Hawaii, Washington, California, Nevada, Arizona and Australia in age-division competition from 12-and-under to open.
Play is at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, Iolani School and Kaimuki High pools. Admission is free.
STUMPF GIRLS' 18's COACH: Richard Stumpf, director of tennis for the Orchid at Mauna Lani resort, has been named coach of the USTA-Hawaii Girls' 18's National Intersectional team that will compete Aug. 4-7 at the Marin Tennis Club in San Fafael, Calif.
Members of the Hawaii team are Jodie Sato and Erin Hoe of Mililani, Charyl Watanabe of Honolulu, Lauren Atitake of Wailuku, Maui, and Jodi Nagata of Pearl City.
QUEEN LILIUOKALANI RACES: The 27th Queen Liliuokalani outrigger canoe races are scheduled for Sept. 5-6 in Kailua-Kona.
Over 1,000 paddlers from Hawaii, Tahiti and the U.S. mainland are expected to compete in the event that features one-person, and single- and double-hull races. The overall male and female crews will win a trip to Tahiti to compete in November's Hawaiki Nui Vaa Canoe Race.
The races are held between Kailua Bay and Honaunau. Food and paddling-related booths will be open at the Kailua Pier.
For more information, call 329-0833.
MAUI BASKETBALL MATCHUPS: Host Chaminade will take on Syracuse in the 9 a.m. opening game of the 15th annual Maui Invitational Preseason Basketball Tournament Nov. 23 at Lahaina Civic Center.
After the opener, Clemson plays Michigan at 11 a.m., Indiana goes against Kansas State at 4:30 p.m. and Utah meets Arizona State at 7 p.m.
ESPN and/or ESPN2 will televise three of the first-round games, both Tuesday semifinals and the Wednesday title game.
HOOTERS FISH FEST: The Hooters Big Game Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Aug. 14-15, starting at 6 a.m. each day, off Keehi Small Boat Harbor, with a $40,000 prize for the biggest fish over two days.
Other prizes include $10,000 per day for the most total weight and $1,000 per day for each qualifying fish (ahi, marlin, mahi mahi, ono).
Weigh-ins will be at Hooters Restaurant in the Aloha Tower Marketplace.
Entry fees are $475 per team until July 31, $525 thereafter.
The captains' meeting will be at 7 p.m., Aug. 12, at Hooters.
For entry forms and more information, call Lori Young at 524-4668 or visit the Hooters website at http://www.hootershawaii.com.
GOLFERS NEEDED: The Kaneohe Community Family Center is looking for 40 golfers to play 100 or more holes in its Aug. 14 Golf Marathon at Bay View Golf Park.
The dawn-to-dusk event will raise funds for the family center through per-hole pledges by the participants. Each golfer or fundraising partner who raises at least $2,500 will get a three-day stay at one of 18 U.S. and Canadian vacation destinations.
For more information, call 235-7747.
BASEBALL MEETING: Baseball players interested in playing for the University of Hawaii team are invited to an Aug. 26 meeting at 3:30 p.m. at Rainbow Stadium. They must be full-time registered students at the UH-Manoa campus.
For more information, call the baseball office, 956-6247, before Aug. 19.
MAYOR'S CUP BOX-CAR RACES: The Mayor's Cup Celebrity Box Car Challenge will be held Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tripler Army Medical Center front parking lot.
Members of the American Box Car Racing International will race at 9:30 a.m. There will be practice for celebrities and sponsors at 11:30 a.m, followed by the sportscasters race, the Mayor's Cup race and an awards ceremony.
For more information, call ABCRI president Robert "BC" Cowling at 947-3393.
CYCLING CLINICS: Free Century Ride cycling clinics will be offered by Island Triathlon & Bike to help riders get ready for the Hawaii Bicycling League Century Ride on Sept. 20.
The clinics will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, 10 and 17 at two IT&B locations: 569 Kapahulu Ave (parking across Kapahulu) and Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange Outdoor Living, Bougainville Drive.
Call 732-7227 (Kapahulu) or 422-5188 (Pearl Harbor) to make reservations.
GOLF BENEFIT FOR PUBLIC TV: The HPT Classic, a golf tournament Course. Sponsored by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Housing and Development Corporation of Hawaii to benefit Hawaii Public Television, will be played Aug. 21 at Kapolei Golf Course.
An entry fee of $500 per three-person team includes a post-tournament awards banquet. Special tournament sponsorships cost $1,000 and include recognition opportunities, complimentary three-person teams and other benefits. The entry/sponsorship registration deadline is Aug. 5. For more information, call Dean Fujimoto, 973-1387.
WOMEN'S PRO BILLIARDS MEET: The Women's Professional Billiards Association's Honolulu Classic will be contested Nov. 5-8 at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards, 1680 Kapiolani Blvd.
Top pros expected to play include national champion Allison Fisher, the winner in 1996, when the tournament was last held, Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee; Jennifer Chen, Gerda Hostatter, Ewa Laurance and Loree Jon Jones.
ODKF GRANTS AWARDED: The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation has awarded athletic grants to four organizations and 12 individuals for the third quarter of this year.
A grant of $1,000 was given to Kama'aina Kids to conduct summer water sports activities, and to the Outrigger Canoe Club boys 16s volleyball team for travel to the USVBA junior national tournament in Texas. Grants of $500 went to Na Wahine O Ho'olehua, a all-women's canoe club for distance competition, and to the UnbeataBulls, a boys soccer team competing in the regionals in New Mexico.
Individuals receiving $500 grants were: kayaker Mahealani Lum; canoe paddler Victor Sherman; and volleyball player Corrie Machesky. Also to six members of the World Team traveling to Portugal: Melanie Bartels, Rachael Block; Lee-James Ha'o, Jessie Merle-Jones, Macy Mullen, and Stanton Suehiro; and to three surfers competing in the national amateur meet: Keala Naluai, Clayton Ventura and Jamie O'Brien.
For information on the grants, write to ODKF at P.O. Box 90310, Honolulu, 96835, or access the website at http://planet-Hawaii.com/duke.