[ PADDLING ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua Canoe Club's Cindy Lou Razga made her way through an archway formed by her clubmates yesterday at Nanakuli Beach following her crew's win in the half-mile Women's Open 4 race.
Parity is a theme that clubs in the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association are getting used to this season. Hui Nalu proves paddling’s parity
By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comThe usual suspects are still at the top, but a few clubs are turning the competition up a notch or two on the old favorites this paddling season.
Hui Nalu compiled 70 points to win the 33rd annual Father's Day regatta. Waikiki Surf won the A division for smaller clubs with 17 points.
The paddlers who had camped out the night before got a special treat as dolphins swam through the waters in the early morning before the races.
The beautiful conditions at Nanakuli Beach Park continued and provided a fast day of racing. Ease of entry and exit out of the water moved the regatta at a much quicker pace than usual.
The day couldn't have worked out better for Hui Nalu coach Darryl Hara. The club's head coach had a great Father's Day and the ear-to-ear grin wasn't just because his son Dru steered the winning Boys 14 crew.
For a club that won for just the first time in six years, Hui Nalu is making its presence felt. Hara couldn't be happier with the way his club has responded since its first victory two weeks ago.
"What I tried to convey to everybody was just to turn it up a notch," Hara said. "We've always been here, but I think in some respects we were just participants and not competitors.
"We had such a bad week last week. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. To come out today and have them come back and kind of scratch their way through, it's an indication that it's going to be a really competitive season."
Overall, Hui Nalu captured nine of the 36 races. Outrigger won five races, but still beat rival Lanikai, who grabbed seven first-place finishes.
Hui Nalu wasn't the only club with a better performance. After a fourth-place showing last week, Outrigger Canoe Club rebounded to take second with 69 points. Lanikai (61), Hui Lanakila (53) and Kailua (52) rounded out the top five.
"Last week, we had a really poor showing in Kailua," Outrigger coach Mike Mason said. "We definitely improved and that's what we're looking for. We had a strong showing in our 15 age groups and then we were just real steady.
"We always look to win, but traditionally we've been a slow-starting club. So many of our younger people are involved in summer sports or in school. It takes a while to just get going. I'm really happy with how we are because it's early for us."
Only one point separated Outrigger and Hui Nalu going into the final two races of the day. Outrigger thought it had won the regatta as it squeezed by Hui Nalu for second in the Men's 35 race.
But Outrigger was disqualified in the Women's 35 race for interference with Lanikai. The infraction pushed Hui Nalu to its second win of the season.
The groans from the Outrigger tent were drowned out by the cheers of "We're No. 1" by the Hawaii Kai-based club.
But Hara was gracious about his club's come-from-behind victory.
"It was especially nice to see Outrigger back in the mix," Hara said. "We knew it was a question of time before they showed."
OHCRA's next regatta will be Sunday at Waimanalo Beach Park.
Lokahi triumphs: At Haleiwa, It was a little later than usual, but Lokahi finally tasted victory in the fourth regatta of the Hui Wa'a season.
Lokahi won eight of the 36 races in the AA division to score 62 points. Host Manu O Ke Kai grabbed second with six wins and 58 points, followed by Kaneohe with 56.
In the small clubs division, Koa Kai continued its dominance with its fourth consecutive win this season. Koa Kai earned 30 points in the A division. Windward Kai finished second with 23 points.