By Kyle Galdeira / Special to the Star-Bulletin
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 29, 2009
Lanikai Canoe Club won nine of yesterday's first 13 events, and finished with a regatta-high 12 wins to claim the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association's 40th annual Waimanalo Canoe Club Regatta yesterday in the waters fronting Waimanalo Beach Park.
The club, which has now won three of four regular-season regattas thus far, racked up 96 points to carry the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) and finish ahead of rivals Kailua (84 points), Outrigger (66 points) and Hui Nalu (40 points).
More than 2,500 paddlers competed in age divisions ranging from 12-and-under to 60-and-above represented 18 member clubs in the regatta, which featured 39 races spanning in length from a quarter-mile to 1.5 miles. Points were awarded to the top four finishers in each race, with five points going to the winner, three to runners-up, two for third-place contestants and one point apiece for fourth-place finishers.
"We're just trying to find places where our paddlers can be successful, and it seems to be working out," said Lanikai men's coach Kalani Irvine of the club's strategy of moving paddlers around on a weekly basis. "It's a game all the coaches play, and it worked for us today, but may not work next week ... we'll see. We're happy to be off to a good start, but we know the other clubs are coming after us."
Lanikai held a 68-51 lead over Kailua through the first 27 races until the latter chipped away at the deficit by notching four of its seven overall victories after that point.
However, Lanikai rallied for victories in both the men's and women's open-four races to nail down the win.
"Our kids did a really good job and we had a huge lead, but some way or another, Kailua just chipped away," said a relieved John Foti after steering Lanikai's male open-four crew to victory in the half-mile race. "It was critical that we do well the last few races. It goes a long way in sealing the deal."
Foti, along with crewmates Mike Judd, Brett Fillmore and Clifton Botelho, braved choppy conditions to navigate the course in 4 minutes, 10.3 seconds.
Despite falling short of its Windward-side rival, Kailua won seven races for the day, including an impressive victory in the men's freshman race, through which the crew completed the mile-long course in 7 minutes, 35.41 seconds. Crew members Spencer York, Moki Anderson, Justin Watts, Julian Wicker, Chris Tanaka and Jordan Wong posted the best time of all the mile-long race winners for the day.
"The second half of the day, we did better," said Kailua's second-year coach Kathy Erwin. "We had a lot of strong performances, and definitely picked up speed toward the end of the day."
Hui Lanakila finished fourth overall in the regatta standings, and dominated the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) to finish ahead of Keahiakahoe (24 points), Leeward Kai (22 points) and Healani (19 points). The women's program anchored Hui Lanakila's strong showing as the club claimed seven overall wins including victories in the girls 12 and 15, and women's novice A, freshman, junior and senior races.
"The crew has been completely different every week," said Sarah Vandevanter, a member of Hui Lanakila's senior crew which finished the 1.5-mile course in a little more than 13 minutes. "We're working on our versatility, and setting up for the (fall) distance season when you need more than six (paddlers to rotate). The senior race is very prestigious to us, and it's a wild-card race because there can be a dark horse on the line on any given day."
The crew also included: Pauahi Ioane, Sarajane Larkin, Michelle Arnold, Claire Townsend and Lori Nakamura.
Waikiki Surf Club claimed the A Division (1-13 crews entered) with eight points, and edged host Waimanalo (five points) and Anuenue (four points).
OHCRA will hold its annual Walter J. MacFarlane Regatta on Saturday to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday in the waters off Waikiki Beach. In what is essentially an exhibition event -- no regatta standings points are awarded as clubs can use open steersmen to deal with the wave bumps and varying currents -- clubs are able to rest some of their mainstays and allow younger or inexperienced paddlers the opportunity to race.
Lanikai Canoe Club won nine of yesterday's first 13 events, and finished with a regatta-high 12 wins to claim the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association's 40th annual Waimanalo Canoe Club Regatta yesterday in the waters fronting Waimanalo Beach Park.
The club, which has now won three of four regular-season regattas thus far, racked up 96 points to carry the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) and finish ahead of rivals Kailua (84 points), Outrigger (66 points) and Hui Nalu (40 points).
More than 2,500 paddlers competed in age divisions ranging from 12-and-under to 60-and-above represented 18 member clubs in the regatta, which featured 39 races spanning in length from a quarter-mile to 1.5 miles. Points were awarded to the top four finishers in each race, with five points going to the winner, three to runners-up, two for third-place contestants and one point apiece for fourth-place finishers.
"We're just trying to find places where our paddlers can be successful, and it seems to be working out," said Lanikai men's coach Kalani Irvine of the club's strategy of moving paddlers around on a weekly basis. "It's a game all the coaches play, and it worked for us today, but may not work next week ... we'll see. We're happy to be off to a good start, but we know the other clubs are coming after us."
Lanikai held a 68-51 lead over Kailua through the first 27 races until the latter chipped away at the deficit by notching four of its seven overall victories after that point.
However, Lanikai rallied for victories in both the men's and women's open-four races to nail down the win.
"Our kids did a really good job and we had a huge lead, but some way or another, Kailua just chipped away," said a relieved John Foti after steering Lanikai's male open-four crew to victory in the half-mile race. "It was critical that we do well the last few races. It goes a long way in sealing the deal."
Foti, along with crewmates Mike Judd, Brett Fillmore and Clifton Botelho, braved choppy conditions to navigate the course in 4 minutes, 10.3 seconds.
Despite falling short of its Windward-side rival, Kailua won seven races for the day, including an impressive victory in the men's freshman race, through which the crew completed the mile-long course in 7 minutes, 35.41 seconds. Crew members Spencer York, Moki Anderson, Justin Watts, Julian Wicker, Chris Tanaka and Jordan Wong posted the best time of all the mile-long race winners for the day.
"The second half of the day, we did better," said Kailua's second-year coach Kathy Erwin. "We had a lot of strong performances, and definitely picked up speed toward the end of the day."
Hui Lanakila finished fourth overall in the regatta standings, and dominated the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) to finish ahead of Keahiakahoe (24 points), Leeward Kai (22 points) and Healani (19 points). The women's program anchored Hui Lanakila's strong showing as the club claimed seven overall wins including victories in the girls 12 and 15, and women's novice A, freshman, junior and senior races.
"The crew has been completely different every week," said Sarah Vandevanter, a member of Hui Lanakila's senior crew which finished the 1.5-mile course in a little more than 13 minutes. "We're working on our versatility, and setting up for the (fall) distance season when you need more than six (paddlers to rotate). The senior race is very prestigious to us, and it's a wild-card race because there can be a dark horse on the line on any given day."
The crew also included: Pauahi Ioane, Sarajane Larkin, Michelle Arnold, Claire Townsend and Lori Nakamura.
Waikiki Surf Club claimed the A Division (1-13 crews entered) with eight points, and edged host Waimanalo (five points) and Anuenue (four points).
OHCRA will hold its annual Walter J. MacFarlane Regatta on Saturday to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday in the waters off Waikiki Beach. In what is essentially an exhibition event -- no regatta standings points are awarded as clubs can use open steersmen to deal with the wave bumps and varying currents -- clubs are able to rest some of their mainstays and allow younger or inexperienced paddlers the opportunity to race.