Healani Regatta 6/5/2011:
OHCRA paddlers got together for the first regatta of the season on a sunny day at Ke’ehi Lagoon. Paddlers old and new looked forward to seeing how their crews would shape up compared to other clubs. New this season was an official version of the 65+ category among the 42 events. For Anuenue, when the final open mixed event was over, it was clear there was a lot of room for improvement. Not a factor in the day’s “A” division competition, the club’s crews paddled hard but came up short using again the same borrowed canoe. Still as always, it was a nice day of racing with plenty of food and fun. Next week comes the annual Kamehameha Day regatta at Kailua Beach where hopefully results will be a little better.
Mixed 40s return to the beach.
Mixed open crew on their way to a third in their heat.
More regatta photos in the Regatta 2011 gallery and Anuenue 2011 gallery at pekelo.smugmug.com/sports/paddling.
Kailua Regatta 6/12/2011:
65s: Making the turn in the lead!
At the conclusion of the first regatta, Nappy commented: “Next week we’ll do better.” Thanks to a first place in the M 65s and a fourth for the mixed 40s crew, that’s exactly what happened. From worst to first, Anuenue topped the field in the “A” division for the day edging out Waimanalo. It was a beautiful Kailua day, and the race schedule was delayed only once for a huli in the women’s senior event. Back to work on Monday to build on the day’s results and keep the momentum going!
Father’s Day Regatta 6/19/2011
Building on last week’s success, Anuenue claimed another “A” division 1st place at the annual Leeward Kai regatta at Nanakuli Beach. Led by Nappy’s prime time 65+ youngsters, the club also had point scoring efforts from the women’s 65s and the mixed 40 crew. In a day marked by lots of fun in the sun, the loss of Honolulu’s Honaunau in a disastrous crash on the beach put a damper on the day’s racing. With breaking waves sweeping through lanes 10-12 intermittently, Honolulu’s Novice A women’s crew was unable to get out of a big wave resulting in a horrendous impact on the sand which exploded the front half of the venerable canoe and left two paddlers with injuries. From that point onwards, these outside lanes were not used and several races were run in heats.
On to Waimanalo for a three peat? More regatta photos for Anuenue and the day at pekelo.smugmug.com/sports/paddling plus a blog account about the demise of Honaunau at pekelocald.blogspot.com.
Waimanalo Regatta 6/26/2011
As usual, Waimanalo proved to be a challenge with weather ranging from sun to squalls and choppy water with shore break that resulted in a long and sometimes cold day at the races. When it was finally over with evening coming fast, Anuenue ended up tied with host Waimanalo Canoe Club for top honors in the “A” division. Scoring points were the 65s ladies and the mixed 40s. MacFarlane time coming up on the 4th.
MacFarlane 7/4/2011
The dice were rolled for the annual MacFarlane races, and the surf came up missing in action. Still it was a mellow sunny day on Waikiki Beach with plenty of fun for all. For Anuenue, the 65s wahine crew got the only points for the club with a second place finish. Lanikai was the big winner for the day knocking off host Outrigger.
Kaupiko Regatta 7/19/2011
Thanks to a come from behind effort by the prime time 65 ladies to get third in their race, Anuenue pulled into third for the day in the “A” division. Ke’ehi was hot and had a little less wind than usual. Nappy and Gaylord were racing on the Columbia river, and some other paddlers were missing for various reasons. Coming up is the final regatta of the season, the OHCRA championships in a week.
OHCRA Championships 7/24/2011
Once again the ladies 65s scored the only points for the club in the last regatta of the regular season. With their third place, Anuenue ended up tied for third in the “A” division. Good work, ladies! Despite not breaking into the scoring column, the competing crews (Men’s 65s, Novice As, Open-4, mixed 40s and open mixed) gave it their best season ending shot as no crews made it to States this year primarily because men and women’s 65s won’t be official until next year.
Mixed 40s push for the line.
Game face!
Open mixed paddle hard in the final race of the day and the season. More photos at : pekelo.smugmug.com/sports/paddling
Looking ahead as well as looking back, it was a regatta season with some competitive highs especially from the prime time 65s, lots of spirited efforts and good fun for all involved. Hopefully next season the club will have a renovated koa which will help us be more competitive as there is no question that our current borrowed koa has its limitations. Time to move on to long distance season!