Posted on: Tuesday, September 10, 2002
PADDLING
Hawai'i teams shine in California
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i teams dominated the Catalina Channel Crossing last weekend at Newport Beach, Calif.
Hui Nalu Canoe Club won the women's race in record time on Saturday, then Team Hinano won the men's race on Sunday.
Hui Nalu finished the 27-mile course in 4 hours, 6 minutes, 20 seconds, beating the previous record by nearly nine minutes. OffShore of California placed second at 4:07:40, and Hawai'i's Outrigger Canoe Club was third at 4:08:20.
"We passed OffShore with about an hour and a half to go and then we steadily pulled away after that," said Hui Nalu coach Steve Scott. "The conditions were very good for Catalina. There's usually a wind in your face, but there wasn't any wind this time. And there were some small swells all the way."
Members of the winning crew: Julie Aio, Kelly Allen, Lorey Bode, Maile Chong, Catherine Fuller, Tammy Kaneaiakala, Cathy Kukea, Kaui Pelekane and Nikki Queyrel.
"We're still a work in progress," Scott said. "All these early races are a chance to try different combinations and see what works best for us. We're not going to make too much out of this."
The next race for women is the Hawaii Modular Space Na Wahine O Ke Kai on Sept. 29.
Team Hinano, which consisted primarily of paddlers from the Big Island's Kai 'Opua Canoe Club, topped a 1-2-3 finish for Hawai'i men's crews.
Team Hinano completed the 31-mile course in 4:05:49. The winning crew was composed of seven paddlers from Kai 'Opua (Bruce Ayau, Kafoa Halalatu, Ikaika Hauanio, Nate Hendricks, Scott Jones, Thibert Lussiaa and Nui Youderian), one from Lanikai (Jim Foti) and one from Wailea (Mark Cluney).
Team New Zealand/Hawai'i, which won the Catalina Crossing last year, was second in 4:06:05. Outrigger Canoe Club was third at 4:08:02. Hui Nalu (4:18:34) was sixth, Kailua (4:24:30) was 11th, and Hawaiian of Maui (4:33:10) was 12th.
'Anuenue, led by expert steersman Nappy Napoleon, placed second in the golden masters division (paddlers age 55 and older).
More than 60 teams participated in the event, which is considered the largest outrigger canoe race in California.
The next race for men is the Henry Ayau Men's International Race Sunday. The course will travel from Hawai'i Kai to the Ko Olina Resort.
The Hinano Moloka'i Hoe is scheduled for Oct. 13.
