The sailing canoe Ho'omana'o heads toward Waikiki's Duke's Beach.
Photo by Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin

And, once again, Ho'omana'o is the name of the canoe to remember in the race of the same name.

Ho'omana'o, sailed by the Eyecatcher Sunglasses team captained by Mike Field, won its third consecutive six-person victory in yesterday's 8th Annual Ho'omana'o Sailing challenge, co-sponsored by Steinlager and Outrigger Hotels.

The outrigger sailing canoe, which was built by the event's founder, Mike Muller, was the first to reach Waikiki beach after 75 miles, in 7 hours, 32 minutes, 2 seconds. The race began at Kaanapali Beach on Maui.

Field, Tim Twigg-Smith, Mike Judd, Jim Beaton, Thiebert Lussia and Dale Hope completed the course in 7 hours and 40 minutes.

Mild wind conditions made for slow times and hard work.

"There was a lot of time with no wind, so it was more a paddling race than a sailing race," Field said. "I just sat back and steered, but our paddlers did a great job. They deserve all the credit."

The Maui Canoe Sailing Association entry was a distant second. Moe' e Ku, captained by Cappy Sheely, finished about 15 minutes later.

"They took off from the start and got a good lead," Sheely said. "We gained a little bit about 40 miles into the race, but we couldn't catch them."

"Those guys were snapping our heels for awhile," Field said. "And Cappy's one of the all-time greats. You're out in front, but those guys know exactly what to do. That's why we mirrored some of their moves."

Sheely's crew included Mike Spalding, Kimo Knutson, Mike Gibbi, Malama Chun and Eric Barton.

Although his crew has won this event three-consecutive years, Field, a 27-year-old graphic artist who paddles for Waikiki Beach Boys, said it gets more challenging every year.

"This year there were a lot of kayakers who did the Bankoh challenge. Those guys are like pro athletes. They were all over the crews," Field said. "And there are more former Olympians, in canoe and kayak.

"Normally, when you go to Maui before the race you see people drinking," Field added. "This year we didn't see that. It's getting more competitive and serious."

Makakii, captained by Jackie Muller and crewed by Jim Foti, John Foti and Mike Peterson, won the four-person division.