At least it's getting closer now.

The Lanikai Canoe Club remained undefeated this season after winning the John D. Kaupiko Regatta yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon, but it wasn't as easy as some of its previous victories.

"That was a big-time rally and we needed it," Lanikai head coach Dave Smith said. "We were behind the whole day. I was definitely worried that this wasn't going to be our day."

Lanikai leap-frogged both Kailua and Outrigger in the overall standings in the final three races of the regatta.

Lanikai scored 83 points in the 39 races of the regatta. Kailua placed second with 77 points, Outrigger was third with 76, and Hui Lanakila was fourth with 68.

"The same thing is happening at every regatta," Kailua head coach Kawai Mahoe said. "We're right there all the way, and then, at the end of the day, Lanikai figures out a way to pull it off."

Lanikai has won all six regattas put on by the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association this season, and Kailua has finished second five times.

Lanikai won six races yesterday, including four in the final seven races of the day.

After 32 of the 39 races were completed, Kailua had 70 points, Outrigger had 69, and Lanikai 58.

"We didn't have that great of a day," Smith said. "But we kept scoring points to the end, and that made a big difference."

Lanikai clinched it by scoring eight points in the final two races, while Kailua and Outrigger went scoreless in that span.

"It comes down to a numbers game," Outrigger head coach Kehau Kali said. "We didn't have crews in the last three races, so we just had to sit and watch."

Kailua won seven races, and also received the Chris Olds Memorial Trophy for scoring the most points in the youth races.

"We started out great with our kids," Mahoe said. "But I didn't get my hopes too up because I know Lanikai is such a strong club. It's like they have all the areas covered."

Outrigger reached its season-high with 76 points and tied for the regatta lead with 10 race wins.

"Usually when you win 10 (races), you win the regatta," Kali said. "We have the quality, just not the quantity."

Outrigger was particularly impressive in the open men's races, sweeping the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior races.

It was the first time Outrigger won the prestigious men's senior race this year. Members of the winning crew were Kapono Brown, Rob Harrison, Ikaika Harbottle, Mike Kane, Scott Hendricks and Karel Tresnak Jr.

"Every day is it's own day," Kane said. "At some of the other (regattas) not all of us were able to make it due to other obligations, but we all made it today."

Tresnak, who steered the sophomore and senior crews to victory, added: "We've been slowly putting it together. Today was the first time we had this many bodies, and we just got on a roll."

Outrigger completed the 1 1/2-mile men's senior course in 10 minutes, 34.41 seconds, to edge Hui Lanakila by three seconds.

The most efficient club of the regatta was Hui Lanakila, despite its fourth-place finish.

Hui Lanakila entered just 18 races, and won 10 — tying Outrigger for the regatta lead. By comparison, Lanikai entered all 39 races and finished just 15 points ahead of Hui Lanakila in the final standings.

Hui Lanakila was again untouchable in the open women's races, sweeping the freshman, sophomore, junior, senior and open-4 races.

The women's senior crew of Jennifer Asano, Jaimie Kinard, Mikala Bradley, Clementine Siaosi, Jessie Eames and Sarah Van De Vanter completed the 1 1/2-mile course in 12:17.13 to beat Outrigger by 33 seconds.

"Our coach (Raven Aipa) really pushes us," Asano said. "He tells us what kind of stroke rate he wants, and he changes things up on us every race. He always gives us something to shoot for."

Leeward Kai won the AA division for medium-sized clubs with 18 points, and Kai Oni won the A division for small clubs with 12 points.

The OHCRA Championship Regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"It's getting frustrating because I really want to win a regatta," Kailua's Mahoe said. "But Lanikai is definitely a force to be reckoned with."

The OHCRA Championship regatta will be dedicated to Michael Tongg, a former champion paddler and influential administrator for the sport of canoe paddling. He died last week after a battle with lung cancer.

KA MO'I WINS HUI WA'A REGATTA AT WAIKIKI

Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i won the Waikiki Beachboys Invitational Regatta yesterday at Waikiki Beach.

Ka Mo'i won eight races and amassed 76 points. Lokahi placed second overall and won the AA division for medium-sized clubs with 56 points.

It was considered an exhibition regatta in the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization, so not all the clubs participated.

Perennial power Kane'ohe and Manu O Ke Kai did not enter.

All the Hui Wa'a clubs will return to Ke'ehi Lagoon Saturday for its championship regatta.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.