In what’s being called the closest finish yet, three outrigger sailing canoes landed just minutes apart at Kalapaki Beach Saturday afternoon. The canoes were competing in the annual Na Holo Kai outrigger sailing canoe race. The race began at 7:30
In what’s being called the closest finish yet, three outrigger sailing canoes landed just minutes apart at Kalapaki Beach Saturday afternoon.
The canoes were competing in the annual Na Holo Kai outrigger sailing canoe race. The race began at 7:30 a.m. at Hale‘iwa on O‘ahu’s North Shore, with competitors crossing the Kaua‘i Channel in a northwest direction towards Nawiliwili Harbor and Kalapaki Beach.
Marvin Otsuji from Kaua‘i’s South Shore captained the winning crew aboard Kamakakoa, a Quiksilver surfwear sponsored canoe.
The crew finished the course in an unofficial 8 hours and 18 minutes, approximately two minutes faster than second place La‘amaomao.
Paddler Nick Beck of Hanalei, who has steered winning canoes in the race in the past, said the three teams sailed closely together across the Kauai Channel, close enought to talk to each other. He said the dramatic finishing with three sailing canoes just minutes apart was probably the closest finish in the history of the sailing canoe race, which began in 1987 as a Year of the Hawaiian event.
The event is part of the statewide annual Aston Resort-sponsored outrigger sailing canoe series.
