Proving that seconds can be just as valuable as firsts, the Kailua Canoe Club won the John D. Kaupiko Regatta yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

It was the sixth regatta of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association season, and Kailua's second win of the season.

"To me, it just means that we're hanging in there," Kailua head coach Kathy Erwin said. "We had a lucky day. We had a couple of squeaker first places, where we just barely won. And then we had a lot of different crews score points."

Kailua scored 88 points in the 39-race regatta.

Lanikai placed second with 68 points, and a resurgent Outrigger was third with 66.

Kailua won six races, and placed second in 12 other races.

"We're trying to be consistent," Erwin said. "Just score as many points as we can throughout the day."

The top four canoes in each race are awarded points on a 5-3-2-1 basis. In short, Kailua's six race wins were worth 30 points, while the 12 runner-up crews scored 36.

Erwin noted that Kailua also did not have any disqualifications, while Lanikai had three.

Kailua scored key points in the masters races. In particular, the men's 50-older and women's 50-older crews had impressive races.

The men's 50-older crew of Paul Hewlett, Walter Hamasaki, Stephen Holbrook, Benny Quitevis, Nyle Warinner and Kamoa Kalama won their 1/2-mile race with a time of 3 minutes, 46.56 seconds. It was the fastest 1/2-mile time of the entire regatta.

"We do year-round training, a lot of one-man paddling," said Kalama, who is also the coach of the group. "It's pretty intense. A lot of the open paddlers join us when they can."

The women's 50-older crew of Erwin, Donna Meyer, Ann Farrell, Jeanie Mau, Lois Wise and Carleen Ornellas remained undefeated this season with a two-second victory over Lanikai.

Kailua clinched the overall regatta victory by winning the 37th race of the day — mixed 55-older.

"We're all seasoned paddlers, so no matter who's on either side of you, and no matter what the situation, it's competitive once you're on the water," said Pam Monahan, who steered the mixed 55-older crew.

Lanikai won seven races, but "fell flat" yesterday, according to head coach Jimmy Bruhn.

"One of those intangibles you don't expect," he said. "Crews that normally do well for us just didn't have it today for some reason."

The OHCRA championship regatta is scheduled for Sunday.

"We have one week to put everything back together," Bruhn said. "This was a tough one. Kailua came out real strong. So did some of the other clubs, and they all took points from us."

Outrigger won six races, including the prestigious men's senior race. The crew of Scott Gamble, Craig Gamble, Mike Kane, Billy Lawson, Kapono Brown and Jimmy Austin completed the 1 1/2-mile course in 10:51.85, beating Hui Lanakila by 11 seconds.

Outrigger is undefeated in the men's senior race this season.

"I don't know if I've ever paddled in a boat that's gone this fast," Austin said. "And it's starting to feel really good. But as far as this, it's still regatta season. The true test for us is distance."

Hui Lanakila won seven races and dominated the AA division for medium-sized clubs with 55 points. Healani placed second with 25.

The Hui Lanakila crew of Mikala Bradley, Arlene Holzman, Jaimie Kinard, Sarah Van De Vanter, Madisen Minkel and Lori Nakamura won the coveted women's senior race with an impressive 11-second margin over Outrigger.

"We fight for our seats (in the canoe) every week," Minkel said. "And we don't find out who gets to paddle until the day of the race, so it keeps everybody motivated."

Waimanalo won the A division for small clubs.

The host club, Hui Nalu, won five races and finished fourth in the AAA division with 46 points.

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

Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i won its first regatta of the season, capturing the Waikiki Beach Boys Invitational yesterday at Waikiki Beach.

Ka Mo'i won seven races and finished with 72 points. Koa Kai placed second with 66.

Waikiki Beach Boys won 11 races and scored 65 points to win the AA division for medium-sized clubs.

Ka Mamalahoe won the A division for small clubs with 27 points.

Each club was allowed to use open steersmen to navigate the canoes in and out of the Waikiki waves.

The regatta is considered an exhibition event for the Hui Wa'a season. Several clubs opted not to participate, including Kane'ohe and Manu O Ke Kai.

The Hui Wa'a championship regatta is scheduled for Saturday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.