The best from the rest of the world may not be here this year, but the best in the world is back.

Team Bradley will attempt to win the Na Wahine O Ke Kai women's canoe race for a fourth consecutive year on Sunday.

The 41-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, is considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe racing for women's teams.

Team Bradley's 10-woman roster features five paddlers from Maui, two from O'ahu, one from Kaua'i, one from the Big Island, and one from Australia. All 10 are back from last year's crew that finished two seconds shy of the course record.

"One of the deals after last year was, if we came back to do it this year, we had to all do it together," Team Bradley coach John Puakea said. "I just wish we had more time together."

Because of the geographic separation of the paddlers, Team Bradley does not practice together regularly.

Instead, the paddlers are expected to train on their own - in one-person canoes and in the gym. It is a formula that has led to success in the last three Na Wahine O Ke Kai races.

"These girls are super self-motivated," Puakea said. "They've been doing this a long time, so they know what's expected. And let's face it, these are really good athletes."

Members of Team Bradley are Cherisse Agorastos, Noelani Auger, Lauren Bartlett, Theresa Felgate, Kelly Fey, Margie Kawaiaea, Mahealani Lum Batlik, Andrea Moller, Dane Ward and Shelly Wilding-Oates.

Their coach admits that the training regimen was scaled back this year. Last year, the top teams from Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti were in the field. None of those teams are among the 69 registered for this year's race.

"We were nervous about Australia last year — everybody was," Puakea said. "I think that made us put in some extra work. We didn't do as much this year, I hate to say, but our goal is still to go out and do it again. That's why I wish we had more time."

Because of the lack of international entries, the list of top contenders is smaller this year.

Hui Lanakila and Waikiki Beach Boys — neighboring clubs on the Ala Wai Canal — are considered the leading challengers.

Hui Lanakila beat Team Bradley in two of the "warm-up" races this season. However, Team Bradley did not have all of its paddlers for those races.

"Hui Lanakila is going way faster than last year," Puakea said. "I think they're actually the team to beat based on what they've been doing so far."

Hui Lanakila has never won the Na Wahine O Ke Kai, but finished second, second, and fourth in the last three years.

Conditions are expected to be relatively calm on Sunday, and that could be favorable for Waikiki Beach Boys.

"We're still not that experienced in the surf, so light winds would suit us," coach Sean Monahan said. "And, of course, we have to limit our mistakes. We've made some big mistakes in races this year, and it's cost us because Hui Lanakila is going real fast, and Team Bradley is so strong."

The top international entry is False Creek from Canada. It placed fourth in 2004, but skipped the last three Na Wahine O Ke Kai races for financial reasons.

This year's False Creek crew features several Olympic-caliber paddlers. They will have one Hawai'i member — veteran steerswoman Vi Coito.

"Financially, it's expensive for us to get here, but we also want to make sure we have 10 women with the ability to do well in this race," False Creek paddler Patti Lawson said. "We got sixth in 2001, and fourth in 2004, and we'd like to keep improving."

Dark-horse contenders include Kaua'i clubs Na Molokama O Hanalei and Niumalu, and Newport Aquatic Center from California.

MASTERS CREW ALSO HAS A WINNING STREAK

Kahiau/Hawaiian Kanaktion has a streak even longer than Team Bradley's.

Kahiau/HK has won a masters division title each of the last four years. It won the masters 40-older division 2004, '05 and '06, then moved up and won the masters 50-older division last year.

Kahiau/HK has six paddlers from Kaua'i, four from O'ahu, and two from Moloka'i. Like Team Bradley, it rarely practices together.

"The six of us on Kaua'i try to practice together," team captain Laola Lake-Aea said. "But for the most part, we try to keep each other informed of what we're doing through e-mails."

The oldest paddler in the crew is 57-year-old Mary Bartlett, and she is one of four grandmothers on the team.

"Hopefully we can be role models and show others that life isn't over at 50," Lake-Aea said.

Kahiau/HK placed 21st overall last year, and is aiming for a top-20 placing on Sunday.

Last year, several paddlers from Kailua were on the Kahiau/HK team. This year, Kailua created its own masters 50-older crew, and is expected to challenge for the division crown.

"It'll be like a race within a race," Lake-Aea said. "That's going to make it even more fun because those Kailua girls will be very strong."

Another race within the race will be in the masters 40-older division.

Outrigger Canoe Club and Casco Bay (Maine) are expected to be the top contenders, and both could finish in the top 10 overall.