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Fasted-rated Transpac boats off to Hawaii

A spectacular start in moderate breezes off Los Angeles sent Roy Disney's Pyewacket, Randall Pittman's Genuine Risk and Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory off to Hawaii shoulder to shoulder in the Centennial Transpacific Yacht race yesterday.

Nearly 100 spectator boats watched the three fastest-rated contenders in the 75-boat fleet disappear into the fog in a virtual tie, followed by 17 other boats in Divisions I and II.

The trio passed the west end of Santa Catalina Island 20 miles offshore -- the only mark of the 2,225-nautical mile course -- in 1 hour, 45 minutes with Pyewacket leading Genuine Risk by 100 yards and Morning Glory another 100 yards back.

Prior to yesterday's Division I-II start, a number of former Transpac entrants participated in a ceremonial start and sailing parade out of Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Calif.

As of yesterday's roll call, the division leaders were: Artemis (III), Kahoots (IV), B'Quest (V), Azure 40 (Cal 40), Between the Sheets (Aloha A) and Azure 441 (Aloha B).

For real-time updates, the Web site is transpacificyc.org.

Kayakers fare well at Pan American regatta

Hawaii kayakers representing USA Canoe/Kayak won five medals at the Pan American Championships, which concluded last week in Quebec, Canada.

Punahou graduate Andrew Bussey, a 2004 Olympian, teamed with Jeff Smoke to win the senior men's K-2 1000-meter event in 3:21.361.

Bussey and Brandon Woods, a Mid-Pacific graduate, were part of the U.S. K-4 crew that finished third in the 1,000.

Woods took a bronze in the K-1 1,000. He finished fifth in the K-1 200 sprint in 38.036, and was in the K-2 200 boat that placed sixth, two seconds out of first.

In the K-4 500, Bussey and Woods were part of the crew that finished fourth, five seconds out of first.

In the junior races, Eric Abbott and Patrick Dolan were part of the U.S. K-4 boat that earned the silver in the 200. The U.S. B crew, including Punahou product Cole Scott and Kamehameha's Kai Chong, finished fifth.

Abbott, an incoming senior at Punahou, and Dolan, an incoming senior at Maryknoll, also were part of the K-4 1,000 crew, which placed third. Scott and Chong's boat finished fifth.

The K-4 500 boat, with Abbott and Dolan, finished fourth.

Abbott and Dolan will represent the U.S. at the Junior World Championships in Hungary, Aug. 5-8.

Bussey and Woods, two of just five kayakers on the U.S. senior national team, travel to Croatia for the World Sprint Championships Aug. 25-28.

Hawaii finishes 21st in junior high rodeo

Hawaii finished 21st out of 29 teams at the National High School Rodeo Association's Wrangler Junior High Finals in Gallup, N.M., earlier this month.

Host New Mexico won the event with 6,355 points. Hawaii scored 660.

The top island finisher was Levi Rita of Haleiwa, who placed seventh in boys breakaway. His Sister, Shelby Rita, was 11th in barrel racing, and the siblings finished 17th in team roping.

Junior golf programs at Kaanapali

The Kaanapali Golf Courses are offering two more summer junior golf programs for youngsters 7-17.

The camps are July 25-28 and Aug. 8-11 from 3-5 p.m. at the Kaanapali Lessons Facility. The cost is $50 per session.

Also, juniors (ages 7-17) can play for free after 11 a.m. for the rest of this month and all of August when accompanied by a paying adult. For more information, call 661-3691(Maui); the Web site is www.kaanapali-golf.com