Distance 2010:
With Moloka’i around the corner, Anuenue’s crews were on a fast track to preparing for the annual crossings. Three men’s crews (open, 40s, and Nappy’s prime time paddlers) have been training and entering earlier season distance events including the Duke race, Kailua Iron Challenge, and the Henry Ayau event. The ladies open crew finished in the middle of the pack in the E Lau Hoe race, and now are one week away from the Na Wahine O Ke Kai. The Kaiwi Channel is waiting!
Moloka’i 2010:
The women of Anuenue had to deal with less than ideal conditions, and the 84 entries led by Team Bradley led by Team Bradley had a real workout in a sluggish ocean. Nevertheless, the 32nd edition of Na Wahine O ke Kai was historic as Team Bradley made it six in a row and tied Offshore for the most consecutive victories.
For the men, it was a different story as the winds picked up and the swells were running 6-8 ft in the channel. Tahiti and Shell Va’a (first again for the fifth straight time and 15 seconds off their own record) were once again dominant claiming the first four places. Anuenue’s three crews were led by the Kawika’s gang (40th in 5:55:13), Nappy’s prime time crew (84th and second in the 60s in 6:28:59), and the novice boys (96th in 6:39:06). At the start, all three crews were together on the line with Joey Napoleon’s Kawaihae crew right alongside as well.
119 canoes for a new record # of entries
Test run time
Novice crew plus a little help from some youngsters.
Home stretch!
Lots more photos on pekelo.smugmug.com in the Sports/Paddling/Molokai 2010 gallery.