Tui Tonga canoe sails in first

Advertiser Staff

NAWILIWILI, Kaua'i — The Hawaiian sailing canoe Tui Tonga took a southerly course to win the Aston Race Series Na Holo Kai O'ahu-to-Kaua'i outrigger sailing canoe race yesterday.

The winning time was an hour faster than last year's time, but light winds plagued the crews, which were required to paddle for more than eight hours in the crossing of the 60-mile Ka'ie'iewaho Channel.

The race, running from Hale'iwa to Nawiliwili, covers close to 100 miles.

"It was pretty quiet," said steersman Mark Aguilar, whose Team Aloha Canvas in the canoe Alaka'i took second place.

Crews took chances, veering far north and south looking for better wind and better sailing angles. Crews said the southerly route ended up being the faster one.

Veteran steersman Nick Beck, who won several of the early Na Holo Kai races, said crews were forced to paddle hard to keep up boat speed when winds grew light.

"You just put your head down and go," Beck said.

The Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association's season will conclude on Kaua'i during the next few weeks.

1, Tui Tonga (Steve Baker, Leimomi Dierks, Mark Brewer Jr., Mark Frazier, Paul Frazier and Jason Dameron) 8:12:40. 2, Alaka'i (steersman Mark Aguilar) 8:19:13; 3. Kahiau (steersman Mike Kincaid) 8:22:23. 4, Kamakakoa 8:25:24. 5, Makakoa 8:44:02. 6, Kamali'i O Ke Kai 8:45:40. 7, La'amaomao 8:49:55. 8, Moa'e Ku 9:12:49. 9, Waipualele 9:48:00.