By Kyle Galdeira / Special to the Star-Bulletin
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 05, 2009
In what resembled a large beach party more than any sort of structured event yesterday at Waikiki Beach, thousands of paddlers and throngs of onlookers shelved any preoccupation with the economic recession and instead focused on a canoe surf session.
Host club Outrigger claimed the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association's 67th annual Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta -- the organization's traditional Fourth of July holiday event -- yesterday in its home surf off Waikiki Beach between the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Moana Surfrider hotels. Outrigger won 13 of the regatta's 39 races and amassed 100 points to claim the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) handily over Lanikai (85 points), Kailua (57 points) and Hui Nalu (47 points).
The Macfarlane is an exhibition regatta, and no official standings points toward state berths are awarded, as clubs can use open steersmen to deal with the wave bumps and varying currents.
"It is Waikiki, and a lot has to do with that -- you're always super fired up to win," said Outrigger coach Johnny Puakea. "Outrigger as a club really looks at this race as a big deal. So when we do well, it's really cool. It's a good motivational boost (heading into the final two OHCRA regattas) because of the fact that you need to have speed here to get onto waves. And a lot of times different crews are judging where they are at certain points of the race, and that gives you insight into where you stand."
Lanikai got out to a 53-39 lead over Outrigger through the day's first 19 races, thanks largely to its strong youth program, which accounted for six of the club's nine wins. However, Outrigger claimed victories in seven of the next 13 races to overtake reigning state champion and three-time defending OHCRA champ Lanikai.
As opposed to the traditional course layouts where races run parallel to the shore, yesterday's race lanes were set up perpendicular to the beach. In this course orientation, crews relied on their steersman, not only to keep them on track within the designated lane, but also to navigate the surf swells.
"We tried our best to stay in it and win, but we also tried to let everybody race ... we gave it our best to try to pull it out," Lanikai's first-year coach Jimmy Bruhn said. "Outrigger's always tough in this race, and the waves are breaking all over in every lane. There are waves for everybody to enjoy, and you can't beat a day like this for Independence Day."
In what served as the day's co-main events, the men's and women's senior races allowed their participants to compete for one of the many perpetual trophies awarded. Along with the victors' trophy, topped with an antique cup, came the ceremonial post-race champagne ceremony, where the winning crews sipped the bubbly and passed around their respective relics.
"I know a lot of the older guys have never won it, so we're looking forward to sipping that champagne!" said Kailua steersman Brad Wong, who successfully guided the club to its first victory in 23 years in the prestigious men's senior race on his first attempt. "This is my first senior men's race and first win, so I guess I'm 1-for-1."
Kailua finished the 1.5-mile course in 9 minutes, 56.17 seconds, more than 30 seconds ahead of second-place Outrigger. Kailua's crew also featured: Donovan Leandro, Spencer York, Justin Watts, Chris Tanaka and C.J. Day.
Outrigger claimed the women's senior race, finishing the four-turn, 1.5-mile course in 12 minutes, 12.11 seconds -- just a second and a half faster than runner-up Hui Lanakila. The winning crew included: Monica Salter, Traci Phillips, Mary Smolenski, Donna Kahakui, Jane Stevens, and steersman Walter Guild.
"I don't know how long it's been since our senior women have won here, but having them back together, doing well, and competing with (a strong women's program in) Hui Lanakila, they're fired up about that," Puakea said.
Hui Lanakila kept its perfect run going in the medium-size division, claiming the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) with 34 points. Healani was a close second (28 points), followed by Keahiakahoe (21 points) and Leeward Kai (20 points).
Anuenue edged Waikiki for the A Division (1-13 crews entered) trophy, winning by a 12-10 margin.
OHCRA returns to Ke'ehi Lagoon next Sunday for the annual John D. Kaupiko Regatta hosted by Hui Nalu Canoe Club.
The Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization holds its Koa Kai Canoe Club regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon today, and will hold its annual Waikiki Beach Boys regatta next Sunday.
In what resembled a large beach party more than any sort of structured event yesterday at Waikiki Beach, thousands of paddlers and throngs of onlookers shelved any preoccupation with the economic recession and instead focused on a canoe surf session.
Host club Outrigger claimed the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association's 67th annual Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta -- the organization's traditional Fourth of July holiday event -- yesterday in its home surf off Waikiki Beach between the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Moana Surfrider hotels. Outrigger won 13 of the regatta's 39 races and amassed 100 points to claim the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) handily over Lanikai (85 points), Kailua (57 points) and Hui Nalu (47 points).
The Macfarlane is an exhibition regatta, and no official standings points toward state berths are awarded, as clubs can use open steersmen to deal with the wave bumps and varying currents.
"It is Waikiki, and a lot has to do with that -- you're always super fired up to win," said Outrigger coach Johnny Puakea. "Outrigger as a club really looks at this race as a big deal. So when we do well, it's really cool. It's a good motivational boost (heading into the final two OHCRA regattas) because of the fact that you need to have speed here to get onto waves. And a lot of times different crews are judging where they are at certain points of the race, and that gives you insight into where you stand."
Lanikai got out to a 53-39 lead over Outrigger through the day's first 19 races, thanks largely to its strong youth program, which accounted for six of the club's nine wins. However, Outrigger claimed victories in seven of the next 13 races to overtake reigning state champion and three-time defending OHCRA champ Lanikai.
As opposed to the traditional course layouts where races run parallel to the shore, yesterday's race lanes were set up perpendicular to the beach. In this course orientation, crews relied on their steersman, not only to keep them on track within the designated lane, but also to navigate the surf swells.
"We tried our best to stay in it and win, but we also tried to let everybody race ... we gave it our best to try to pull it out," Lanikai's first-year coach Jimmy Bruhn said. "Outrigger's always tough in this race, and the waves are breaking all over in every lane. There are waves for everybody to enjoy, and you can't beat a day like this for Independence Day."
In what served as the day's co-main events, the men's and women's senior races allowed their participants to compete for one of the many perpetual trophies awarded. Along with the victors' trophy, topped with an antique cup, came the ceremonial post-race champagne ceremony, where the winning crews sipped the bubbly and passed around their respective relics.
"I know a lot of the older guys have never won it, so we're looking forward to sipping that champagne!" said Kailua steersman Brad Wong, who successfully guided the club to its first victory in 23 years in the prestigious men's senior race on his first attempt. "This is my first senior men's race and first win, so I guess I'm 1-for-1."
Kailua finished the 1.5-mile course in 9 minutes, 56.17 seconds, more than 30 seconds ahead of second-place Outrigger. Kailua's crew also featured: Donovan Leandro, Spencer York, Justin Watts, Chris Tanaka and C.J. Day.
Outrigger claimed the women's senior race, finishing the four-turn, 1.5-mile course in 12 minutes, 12.11 seconds -- just a second and a half faster than runner-up Hui Lanakila. The winning crew included: Monica Salter, Traci Phillips, Mary Smolenski, Donna Kahakui, Jane Stevens, and steersman Walter Guild.
"I don't know how long it's been since our senior women have won here, but having them back together, doing well, and competing with (a strong women's program in) Hui Lanakila, they're fired up about that," Puakea said.
Hui Lanakila kept its perfect run going in the medium-size division, claiming the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) with 34 points. Healani was a close second (28 points), followed by Keahiakahoe (21 points) and Leeward Kai (20 points).
Anuenue edged Waikiki for the A Division (1-13 crews entered) trophy, winning by a 12-10 margin.
OHCRA returns to Ke'ehi Lagoon next Sunday for the annual John D. Kaupiko Regatta hosted by Hui Nalu Canoe Club.
The Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization holds its Koa Kai Canoe Club regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon today, and will hold its annual Waikiki Beach Boys regatta next Sunday.