The popular summer regatta season for outrigger canoe paddling is scheduled to start Sunday.

The Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization will open its 2009 season with the Kane'ohe Canoe Club Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon. The races will start around 9 a.m. and run to around 5 p.m.

The O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association is scheduled to hold its first regatta June 7 at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Both organizations feature age-group races ranging from 12-younger to 60-older.

The sprint races range in distance from 1/4-mile to 1 1/2 miles.

More than 3,000 paddlers on O'ahu are expected to participate in the regattas this summer.

Regattas will be held every Sunday through July. The state championship regatta is scheduled for Aug. 1 at Hilo Bay.

For information visit www.huiwaa.com or www.ohcra.com.

2009 REGATTA SCHEDULES

NA 'OHANA O NA HUI WA'A

May 24—Kane'ohe CC Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

May 31—Manu O Ke Kai CC Regatta at Hale'iwa Beach Park

June 7—Windward Kai CC Regatta at Waimanalo Beach Park

June 14—Lokahi CC Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 21—Kalihi Kai CC Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 28—Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i Regatta at Ma'ili Beach

July 5—Koa Kai CC Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

July 12—Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta at Waikiki Beach

July 18—Hui Wa'a Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

O'AHU HAWAIIAN CANOE RACING ASSOCIATION

June 7—Clement D. Pa'iaina Regatta at Ke'ehi

June 14—King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach

June 21—Leeward Kai Father's Day Regatta at Nanakuli Beach

June 28—Waimanalo Regatta at Waimanalo Beach Park

July 4—Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta at Waikiki

July 12—John D. Kaupiko Regatta at Ke'ehi

July 19—OHCRA Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi

SURF INTO SUMMER THIS WEEKEND AT BOWLS

More than 200 surfers of all ages will compete in the Local Motion Surf Into Summer this weekend at Ala Moana Bowls.

Preliminary rounds will run tomorrow and Sunday, and the finals are scheduled for Monday.

Most of the state's top amateur surfers are expected to compete.

PATACCHIA JR. AT NO. 9 IN WORLD SURF RATINGS

Fred Patacchia Jr. of Hale'iwa is Hawai'i's top-ranked surfer at No. 9 on the current ASP World Tour ratings.

The latest ratings are based on results of the first three contests of the 2009 season.

Among other Hawai'i surfers, Kekoa Bacalso is No. 18, Dustin Barca is No. 30, and Roy Powers is No. 35.

Kaua'i's Andy Irons is only competing in selected events in 2009 and is ineligible for the title.

Australia's Joel Parkinson is No. 1. Florida's Kelly Slater, who won a record ninth world championship in 2008, is currently No. 25.

There are seven events remaining on the 2009 tour. The next contest is the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro at Brazil, June 27 to July 5.