The Hanalei Canoe Club picked up its second straight sweep by topping Na ‘Opio and the adult races at the Niumalu Regatta, Saturday at Kalapaki Bay. Hanalei accumulated 289 points to top the adult races and stayed ahead of the
The Hanalei Canoe Club picked up its second straight sweep by topping Na ‘Opio and the adult races at the Niumalu Regatta, Saturday at Kalapaki Bay.
Hanalei accumulated 289 points to top the adult races and stayed ahead of the Namolokama program with 128 points to Namolokama’s 105-point showing in Na ‘Opio division. Kilohana Canoe Club, placing second under Hanalei at last week’s Walter Smith Regatta,
finished third with 78
points.
In the adult division, Pu‘uwai Canoe Club filled in second place with 200 points followed by the Kaiola Canoe Club, which collected 177 points despite preparing for its Kaua‘i Business Canoe Race, Sunday.
The closeness of Na ‘Opio races was evident early in the regatta as Hanalei wrapped up top slots in the first two events before Namolokama, not racing in the first heat, made its move in the third event.
After finishing second to Hanalei (2:05.08) in the Mixed 10 and Under with a 2:07.56 paddle, Namolokama edged out the yellowshirts in the Mixed 10 with a 2:18.15 run, hotly contested by Hanalei at 2:19.10, less than a second off the pace.
But the opening race difference coupled with 11 first finishes in the morning events gave Hanalei solid footing heading into the adult races.
Niumalu Canoe Club, host of the Saturday regatta at Kalapaki, opened the adult races with a first finish in the Women Freshmen, crossing the 1-mile course on an 8:19.11 paddle followed by Kaiola (8:22.80) and Hanalei (8:29.21) and Pu‘uwai (9:04.01).
But Namolokama entered the fray with a first finish in the Men Freshmen with a 7:12.29 pace in the 1-mile course followed by Pu‘uwai (7:29.63) and Hanalei (7:37.37). Kaiola would have crossed at 7:29.04, but DQ’d.
The Hanalei yellowshirts did not get back on track until the 11th event of the adult races where they finally chipped out a first place in the Golden Women Masters (55+) with a 4:44.59 run over the 1/2-mile course over second finisher Kawaikini stopping the clock at 4:52.03.
Hanalei followed that with a first finish in the Senior Women Masters where it topped Kawaikini (5:01.87) with a first finish 4:24.31 paddle.
In the Senior Men Masters (50+), Hanalei held off a strong Kaiola crew (3:54.60) with its 3:53.73 paddle, first by less than a second. Pu‘uwai rounded out that event at 4:09.83 to top the only three first finishes it accumulated in the adult races.
That was all Hanalei needed to hold off any challenges during the adult races.
The regatta moves to Hanalei Bay this Saturday when Namolokama hosts the event. Also on the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association calendar is Na ‘Opio long distance races scheduled for Sunday at Kalapaki Bay.
For more information, visit www.gicra.com.
