Proof that quality can overcome quantity, the Waikiki Beach Boys scored a stunning victory in the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization yesterday.

Waikiki Beach Boys — a club with zero youth paddlers — won the Kalihi Kai Regatta yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"This is a big accomplishment for us as a club; we have half the numbers (of paddlers) as some of the bigger clubs," said Dana Gorecki, president of the Waikiki Beach Boys. "You hear about it all the time — how important it is to have a kids program. I wish we could start one. But I think this shows the commitment of our paddlers and coaches."

Waikiki Beach Boys finished the 39-race regatta with 65 points.

Manu O Ke Kai placed second overall with 60 points.

Kane'ohe, which had won eight consecutive Hui Wa'a regattas dating to last season, placed third overall with 59 points.

The Waikiki Beach Boys prevailed despite fielding just 16 crews. By comparison, Manu O Ke Kai had 33 crews, and Kane'ohe 23.

Because of its limited numbers, Waikiki Beach Boys entered the AA division for medium-sized clubs.

Manu O Ke Kai won a first-place trophy for finishing atop the AAA division for big clubs.

But 11 of those 16 crews for Waikiki Beach Boys won their respective races.

Entering the last two races of the day, Manu O Ke Kai had 59 points, Kane'ohe had 57 and Waikiki Beach Boys had 55.

The Beach Boys went on to win the last two races — mixed 40-older and mixed open-6 — to win the regatta.

"I really did tell them the situation," Gorecki said. "I said 'no pressure guys, but this is where it stands. We need to win these last two races.' To their credit, they went out and won."

Waikiki Beach Boys won an overall regatta title last year, but it was at Kailua Beach — where open steersmen are allowed due to the rough conditions.

"That one was really exciting, too, but with open steersmen, it takes something away," Gorecki said. "Today, it's legitimate. It shows that a small club like us can do it."

As usual, the Waikiki Beach Boys dominated the open women's races.

The crew of Gorecki, Kelsa Teeters, Rachel Bruntsch, Jen Polcer, Andrea Messer and Kaui Pelekane won the prestigious women's senior race by a whopping 1 minute, 32 seconds.

They completed the 1 1/2-mile course in 12 minutes, 47.88 seconds. Runner-up Lokahi came in at 14:19.83. The fourth-place crew — 'Alapa Hoe — was still at the quarter-mile marker when Waikiki Beach Boys finished.

But the women of Waikiki Beach Boys were most excited about their breakthrough victory in the open-4 race.

The crew of Gorecki, Teeters, Pelekane and Laura Birse won the half-mile race in 4:27.62, to edge Kalihi Kai by six seconds. Kalihi Kai was undefeated in that race for the past two years.

"We have huge respect for what they've been doing," Gorecki said. "That's a big reason why we've been going so hard. In the senior race, sometimes it's hard to race the clock. In open-4, Kalihi Kai gives us that side-by-side competition and that extra push you need at the end."

It should be noted, however, that Kalihi Kai was missing one of its regular open-4 paddlers.

Waikiki Beach Boys also got key contributions from its men, winning the novice A, freshman and senior races.

The crew of Franco Arango, Dane Keohohou, Patrick Nguyen, Raymon Orange, Victor Bovino-Agostino and Patrick Switzer used a late surge to win the prestigious men's senior race over Manu O Ke Kai.

"What's really made a difference this year is our novice program," said Switzer, who is also the men's coach for the club. "The last two years we had consistent coaching on the novice level and the guys were learning good technique. And then the key is they're sticking around. They're moving up from novice and helping the open men's program."

Manu O Ke Kai, which has never won an overall regatta championship in its 25-year history, won five races yesterday.

Kane'ohe won six races, including five in the youth divisions.

North Shore won the women's novice B and women's 50-older races and scored 23 points to win the A division for small clubs.

The next Hui Wa'a regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Ma'ili Beach Park.Lanikai wins OHCRA regatta at Nanakuli

One week after having its win streak snapped, Lanikai came back with a vengeance.

Lanikai won the Leeward Kai Father's Day Regatta at Nanakuli Beach. It was the third regatta of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association season.

Lanikai won 10 races and scored 91 points to prevail.

Kailua won five races and finished second with 66 points. Kailua ended Lanikai's 15-regatta win streak last week at Kailua Beach.

Outrigger won the coveted men's senior race and finished third overall with 58 points.

Hui Lanakila won the prestigious women's senior race and finished first in the AA division for medium-sized clubs with 45 points.

Waimanalo scored 10 points to win the A division for small clubs.

The next OHCRA regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Waimanalo Beach.