"We had a great year,'' HCC coach Diane Ho told The Maui News. "We've been very good together as a club.''

After earning enough points last week to clinch the MCHCA title during the Mayor's Umeke Regatta, HCC added to its lead, racking up 137 points with 21 wins in the 41-race slate. Kahana claimed second place with 87 points, followed by Kihei in third with 72, Lae Ula O Kai in fourth with 53, Napili in fifth with 28, Na Kai Ewalu in sixth with 20, Wailea in seventh with 16, Hana in eighth with 15, and Lahaina rounding out the competitors with three.

HCC sustained two major losses early on in the day finishing third in both the boys and girls 13, but rebounded winning nine out of 10 events between the 16 girls and junior women races. HCC also swept the three women's open races for the first time this season.

Kahana and Kihei also made strong showings with five wins each.

HCC's win at Saturday's regatta brings their season total to 961 points. Kahana (601) beat out third-place finisher Kihei (552), followed by Lae Ula O Kai (383), Napili (170), Na Kai Ewalu (135), Wailea (117), Hana (102), and Lahaina (17).

Concerned less about point totals than securing spots for their crews at the upcoming state regatta, HCC fought to keep their 30 state championship qualifying spots with hopes of adding a few extra teams.

The six-time defending state champions fell from second to third seed in the Girls 13 division after losing to Hana and again in the Boys 13 after losing to second-seed Napili. HCC went on to win the men's 40 division, tying Kihei in season standings and forcing a race-off in which Kihei defeated HCC to take the first seed.

In the 55 men division, HCC was able to squeeze past Kahana, narrowly taking second place with a final score of 17-16. HCC finished the day with 30 teams, with hopes of purchasing two or three at states.

Kahana lost qualifying positions in the 12 mixed, 14 boys and mixed B's, leaving the team with just 15 state qualifiers. According to coach Kekai Keahi, however, Kahana will be looking to purchase five lanes in state competition.

"As a club, we were doing good, but lane-wise we lost four,'' Keahi said. "I wanted to keep them all, but I know I can't get all of them.''

Kihei managed to maintain all of its state qualifiers, tying Kahana with 15.

"We held on to all our seats,'' said Kawika Williams, coach for Kihei. "That was our main goal – to protect what we have.''

The state regatta will be held on Aug. 4 at Hanalei Bay on Kauai. HCC is expected to go head-to-head with Lanikai of Oahu who, according to Ho, qualified 38 teams – eight more than Hawaiian.

"Eight crews is a steep hill, but you never know what is going to happen,'' Ho said. "We're going to do our best for Maui.''

Coaches from all of the leading teams were confident that Maui clubs would come out swinging at the state level.

"Before, Maui was a non-factor,'' Ho said. "Now, you have to factor not only Hawaiian but all the Maui crews.''

"Maui County should do really good,'' Keahi said.