KUKUI‘ULA — Being late didn’t bother Maureen Murphy Sunday. “I’m still waiting for my partner who is doing transport duty from Salt Pond,” said Murphy while waiting to push off from the short course starting point at the Kuku‘iula Small
KUKUI‘ULA — Being late didn’t bother Maureen Murphy Sunday.
“I’m still waiting for my partner who is doing transport duty from Salt Pond,” said Murphy while waiting to push off from the short course starting point at the Kuku‘iula Small Boat Harbor. “At least we won’t have to be out there trying to hold a spot for the start.”
Sunday marked the start of the YMCA Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a 2009 OC1/OC2/Surfski season with about 15 one-man canoes being shepherded out to the starting line by a stand-up surfer and an escort boat.
Waves crashed onto the coastline and a cold wind blew in from the northeast as the blustery conditions of the past week were replaced by sunshine and a strong breeze.
“With this wind, the trip should be fast,” Murphy said. “But with the waves and the wind swell, there will be a lot of huli’s (capsizing).”
The Sunday race had one-man, two-man and surfski enthusiasts taking off from Po‘ipu Beach Park for the long course and from Kuku‘iula Small Boat Harbor for the short course, all paddlers finishing at the Salt Pond Beach Park.
According to the Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a Web site, Maui Kjeldsen, a longtime one-man enthusiast, took the Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a Island championships with Alana Frazer during the 2008 Island Championships on the North Shore.
During that first-ever course on the North Shore, Kjeldsen held off Mark Frazier by just under two minutes with Butch Keahiolalo taking third place in the Open division.
The next race is scheduled for Jan. 25 with racers in the long course paddling from the Kapa‘a Beach Park to Kalapaki Bay.
Short course racers will leave from Wailua Beach to end at Kalapaki.
Registration is scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m. with the race starting at noon.
The Island Championships will take place on Mar. 29 with the long course starting from Kalapaki Beach and the short course starting from Po‘ipu Beach Park.
Both the short and long courses will end at the Salt Pond Beach Park.
The Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a season will close with the Kaua‘i World Challenge, scheduled for Apr. 11.
For more information, visit www.kauaihoewaa.com
