KAILUA-KONA — The sea did not take it easy on the paddlers competing in the final west side Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta at Kailua Bay on Saturday.
Big swells came often, throwing several canoes around and causing general havoc in the Kamehameha Day regatta, hosted by Kai Opua Canoe Club.
Despite the conditions, the hosts went on to win their third consecutive regatta of the season with 194 points. Puna finished second with 168 points and Kai Ehitu rounded out the top three with 157.
“The conditions were tough but fun,” Kai Opua club president Bo Campus.
Kai Opua managed the win on Saturday despite missing nearly 20 paddlers who were in New York competing in the Liberty Challenge, a 15-mile race that takes paddlers by various Big Apple landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
The west side club also had to overcome two “nasty” DQ’s on the day, according to Campos, which erased a first and second place finish.
Overcoming a DQ from the previous race, Campos said the crew that stood out the most for him was the Women freshmen. Jessie Krause, Maile Leslie, Lorelei Nakagawa, Jenna Quinn, Tatiana Tan and Tiapepe Ulufaleilupe won their event in a time of 8 minutes and 33.96 seconds. The time was more than 15 seconds faster than the second place crew from Kawaihae.
Kai Opua took the points title easily, but were pushed on the medal table. Both Puna and Kai Ehitu finished with nine gold winning crews. However, Kai Opua more than doubled up the next closest club with 10 runner-up finishes, bulking up their point total.
Saturday’s race was also a noteworthy affair for Kai Opua because they honored former head coach Yurik Resetnikov, who was paralyzed in a body surfing accident at Sandy Beach while with Kai Opua for a race on Oahu last October.
Resetnikov was named a lifetime member to the club.
“Yurik was our head coach, his wife paddles with us and his kids paddle with us,” Campos said. “Kai Opua is a family, we are a club with a heart, and he is a part of that heart.”
With the last west side race now over, the clubs will head to the east side for five straight regattas. There will be 19 crews carrying unbeaten streaks to Hilo Bay.
“It is now Hilo for five and the clubs are getting stronger,” Campos said. “I can’t take any of them for granted. All I can do is wish everyone the best and hope my club can prevail.”
In Division B (1-14 races) Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club dominated the field with 46 points. Rounding out the top three were Na Wa’a Hanakahi (16) and Waikoloa (13).