Lanikai Canoe Club paddles to victory yesterday off Waikiki.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

Lanikai successfully defended its men's open title, winning the rough and tumble, accident-plagued 26-mile race from Kailua to Waikiki.

The men's champs finished the wind-swept, big-wave contest in two hours, 42 minutes and 45 seconds. Outrigger Canoe Club placed second, 2:22 behind.

Kailua's women won the six-mile race, held off Windward Oahu, finishing in 48 minutes, 49 seconds - 23 seconds faster than Koa Kai of Honolulu. Rough seas resulted in at least six boats capsizing or swamping. Two of the craft required help from rescue boats.

"We spun out a couple times. The waves really got big," said Kailua crew member Crissy Ornellas.

While each event had swampings and dropouts, yesterday's biggest mistake came as the 39 men's crews assembled off Kailua Beach for the start of its race.

Without any official signal to proceed, one unidentified canoe eased forward slightly. This move resulted in the entire fleet paddling off, with Waikiki as its destination.

"No one signaled for the crews to move out. There was no reason for this false start to happen," said Joan Malama, president of the governing Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.

"I hope crews get this type of mistake out of their system before the Molokai Hoe on Oct. 13. The Molokai-to-Oahu race is too important of an event for an error such as this to happen."

Committee boats rushed ahead, catching and stopping the pack after a harrowing two-mile ride along the coast.

Paddlers were instructed to regroup and to start once again, but this time following race committee instructions.

Because of big seas and heavy wind between Waimanalo and Portlock, four men's crews withdrew and asked that their canoes be towed to shore.

Like Kailua in the women's race, Lanikai's men led their event from start to finish.

"We were always a little ahead," Lanikai crewman John Foti said, "but at no time did we feel comfortable. Outrigger gave us a battle. They were always nearby and pressing.''

Lanikai would catch a wave and surf ahead. Then Outrigger would hop a swell and close the gap. This paddling/surfing exercise went on from Makapuu Point to Diamond Head.

"Lanikai was the better crew today," said Outrigger's Walter Guild, "but we're peaking for the Molokai Hoe. And that's still weeks away. What this race tells us is how much work (training) we have to do."

Out to dominate, Lanikai signed on Tom Conner, one of the state's best steersman, to drive its second-team boat.

"We may have arrived two or three minutes earlier," Conner said, "but a wave flipped us over just past Hanauma Bay. We lost time righting the boat."

The Conner-driven Lanikai II still placed a respectable fifth overall in 2:52:09.

One Hui Nalu canoe flipped twice. "The waves approaching Hanauma Bay were huge - about six feet. I hung on for dear life," said Hui Nalu crewman Tony Dela Cruz.

All of the six-paddler canoes were outfitted with spray shields, which were held firmly around each paddler's waist. This prevented much of the water from rushing into the boat during upset.

"Bailing (water out of boat) was still necessary," Dela Cruz said.

In addition to open division winners, older paddlers were recognized.

Women division winners included Kailua masters (35 years), Koa Kai senior masters (45 years) and Lanikai golden masters (55 years).

Men's winners were Lokahi masters, Kailua senior masters and Anuenue golden masters.

Lanikai crew celebrates victory.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin