WAIMEA — Fairly calm seas with a hint of a swell saw quick times Saturday at the Warren Resquer Memorial Long Distance Canoe Race at the Waimea Landing. “We just happened to be here huli-ing pigs,” said David Cook. “Everybody
WAIMEA — Fairly calm seas with a hint of a swell saw quick times Saturday at the Warren Resquer Memorial Long Distance Canoe Race at the Waimea Landing.
“We just happened to be here huli-ing pigs,” said David Cook. “Everybody thought we were part of the race, but this is for Kulueti Taulanga’s baby’s first birthday.”
The first wave of three divisions included the women and mixed divisions followed by the men’s division starting following the conclusion of the first wave of women and mixed divisions to Kaumakani and back to the Waimea Landing.
“The wind is pretty good today,” said Hua Duncan, a Kilohana Canoe Club coach. “They’ll fight the wind all the way to Kaumakani, but on the way back, it should be smooth.”
Cook said the LeMans start where all crews leave the beach, had a huli, or spill, despite the relatively calm water and breezes.
“The good thing about the LeMans start and finish is the excitement,” Cook said. “A couple of years ago, there were canoes which were crashing into the pier because of the swells.”
Kane Turalde said there were a couple of late crews so the start was delayed about 30 minutes, but everyone made it into the water.
Na Molokama Open Mixed tripped the clock first, hitting the beach on a paddle of 1 hour, 16 minutes, 41.3 seconds in the first phase.
The team was edged out overall by the Hanalei Open Men who touched down on a 1:04:11.0 run, taking the top overall honors as well as the men unlimited division.
Puuwai Open Men challenged the Hanalei crew, touching down at 1:05:00.6 followed by Na Molokama Senior Master Men touching at 1:05:49.9.
West Kauai, getting a strong crowd support from the beach, touched down third overall in the first race, but second in the open mixed division, turning into the shore break following a 1:20:11 run. Third place in the division went to Niumalu Mixed Open on a 1:22:21.3 run.
The Niumalu Open Women crossed the line second overall, hot on the heels of Na Molokama mixed, hitting the beach on a 1:18:34.5 run for the first overall female team and the top berth in the women’s open class.
Puuwai Women followed on a 1:24:38.1 run with the Kukuiula Novice Women filling in third at 1:29:38.4.
Turalde said in addition to the race opening the Waimea Town Celebration, the Resquer Long Distance Canoe Race also opens the Garden Island Racing Association’s calendar of canoe races.
The race marked the start of the Watermen’s Weekend at the Waimea Town Celebration with more races scheduled today with the 1-man, 2-man, stand up paddle, and surf ski races leaving McBryde on the short course, and Salt Pond on the long course with finishers landing in Waimea.
Registrations for both races start at 9 a.m. at the Salt Pond Beach Park with the races starting at noon.
Visit www.waimeatowncelebration.com for more on the races. Visit www.webscorer.com for complete results of the Resquer race.
