The Crossing, 2008

And it's over. The Tahitians took four out of the top five spots, and Shell Va`a set a course record for the third year in a row. We saw some of the guys, and they looked like hard-core awesome athletes. The initial results have Kamehameha at 81st (our team) and 85th (yellow) out of 106 teams. I'm happy with that.

It was a good crossing - especially compared to last year, where I puked the whole way across.

Moloka`i

The early crew flew over at 8am Friday. There were 21 of us in a 3 bedroom plantation house in what used to be Moloka`i Ranch. I guess it still is, but it's turning into a ghost town now that the Ranch was decided to starve the people out. We overwhelmed the septic system before the first day was out. Luckily there were lots of fields nearby for business, and a construction site with a porta-pottie a short walk away. It's a good thing we all get along.

First Hour
I start off on the escort boat with Rod and Eli. Conditions look ok; not rough at all like last year. Even though I have the patch on I'm still a bit stressed about the channel & am worried about getting sea sick again. The first run along the Moloka`i coast is smooth. We pass La`au Point, we do the first change, and suddenly, after so many months of prep, the race is on & I'm in some other world.

Alex is steering. Eli strokes the first piece, then Dave. I'm in seat four. This section is a bit of a washing machine, with the wake of 100 escort boats combining with the currents running through the channel. We take a more northern route, but it looks like the bulk of the pack is taking a southern route.

Second Hour
Dave, then Eli are in one. I'm in three. We turn south, and hit some amazing and fast runs. It's fun. Later, when we have to turn west, we slow down and struggle a bit.

Third Hour
Dave pulls a double in seat one. I'm back in four. We can see Diamond Head! I didn't think we would be able to see it so early. Seas are about six feet. The currents aren't super smooth. We can catch some big waves, but get tossed around a bit in between. Again, we run fast when heading south but bog down a bit when running west.

Fourth Hour

Rod moves back to steer, Eli pulls a triple, and things start to get rough. Rudy jumps into seat two, but the previous two didn't set the paddle right & it floats down the gunnel. Lance needs to bail, but the previous guy didn't attach the bailers when he was done. We stall. Water comes in, and it seems to take forever for to bail. We aren't balanced at all, and so I stay on the left for a long time 'cause the ama pops or we take on water every time I switch. We're all tired. It looks like Portlock is only an hour away, and I'm sure that we'll be there by the end of this hour. And though I had the same illusion last year, I fall for it again.

Fifth Hour
We still haven't passed Portlock. We won't even pass it by the end of this set. Mentally I'm ready for calmer waters, but the seas instead start to get tricky. We're all tired, I think, and this part is just hard.

Sixth Hour
Lucas gets in to stear a set, which is good experience for him. We finally pass frakkin' Portlock, and I was hoping for clean waves but it's still choppy. Not as rough as the previous hour, but not the smooth fast ride we were hoping for for the Hawai`i Kai run. The boats start to converge here. `Anuenue comes in fast on the inside. I don't see where Keahiakahoe was, they seem to appear out of nowhere; we walk on them for a bit, then they pull ahead. I'm in seat 3, it's a shorter blade, and my flexibility is shot. I hurt.

Final Run
We pass Diamond Head, and we're in home waters. Roz puts the first time crossers in the canoe - Lucas, Eli, Lance, and Anthony. Alex and I round it out. This run feels good. We can't catch up with Anuenue or Keahiakahoe, but we stay well ahead of the crews behind us.

Final time: 6 hours 24 minutes 50 seconds. That's about 22 minutes faster than last year, and a big jump in the rankings. Again, I feel good about it.

I was thinking this might be my last year for distance. I stress too much about being on the escort boat. The ocean is unpredictable, and some years the crossing is brutal. But this year felt awesome, I like our team, I would cross again with these same guys without hesitation ... so damnit, I guess I'll be back.

Ayau Results

HENRY AYAU CANOE RACE
SEPTEMBER 14,2008
Maunalua Bay to Nanakuli Beach Park
***** OVERALL RESULTS *****

Place		Team Name	State	Div	Time
1		Lanikai - Koa	Hawaii	ALL KOA	4:11:45
2		Kui Lanakila Pa'a	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:17:17
3		Kailua 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:21:50
4		Outrigger Koa 1	Hawaii	ALL KOA	4:23:06
5		Hui Nalu 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:24:24
6		Lanikai 3	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:27:09
7		Hui Lanakila	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:30:01
8		Kai Opua	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:32:54
9		Outrigger 40	Hawaii	MASTERS 40+	4:33:34
10		Waikiki Beach Boys 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:35:22
11		Keahiakahoe Black	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:36:15
12		Manu O Ke Kai	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:37:10
13		Kailua 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:37:12
14		Outrigger	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:37:58
15		Healani Blue	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:41:03
16		Lanikai 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:46:02
17		Kailua 50	Hawaii	MASTERS 50+	4:46:30
18		Hui Nalu 40	Hawaii	MASTERS 40+	4:48:02
19		Anuenue 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:48:56
20		Hui Nalu 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:49:51
21		Hui Nalu / Team Bradley	Hawaii	MASTERS 55+	4:51:06
22		Leeward Kai	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:51:38
23		Lanikai 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	4:55:29
24		Kailua 40	Hawaii	MASTERS 40+	4:59:10
25		Waimanalo	Hawaii	MASTERS 55+	5:00:23
26		Waikiki Beach Boys 3	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:01:00
27		Healani White	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:02:27
28		Anuenue 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:04:34
29		Lokahi 40	Hawaii	MASTERS 40+	5:05:02
30		Kamamalahoe	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:05:41
31		Koa Kai	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:08:18
32		New Hope 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:09:32
33		Lokahi	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:11:06
34		Outrigger Koa 2	Hawaii	ALL KOA	5:12:11
35		Koa Kai 55	Hawaii	MASTERS 55+	5:17:07
36		Lanikai 5	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:17:25
37		Kamahameha 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:19:34
38		Kai Paha	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:22:16
39		Waikiki Beach Boys 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:22:31
40		Keahikahoe - White	Hawaii	MASTERS 40+	5:28:12
41		Outrigger 55	Hawaii	MASTERS 55+	5:31:38
42		Kaneohe	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:37:08
43		Kai Oni	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:38:15
44		Imua	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:40:50
45		Honolulu Pearl	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:42:06
46		Alapa Hoe 1	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:44:03
47		New Hope 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:47:37
48		New Hope 3	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:51:48
49		Koa Kai 3	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:52:06
50		Kamehameha 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	5:55:10

51	New Hope 55	Hawaii	MASTERS 55+	6:20:20
52	Alapa Hoe 2	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	6:32:38
53	Koa Kai 4	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	6:57:44
54	Pure Light Racing	Hawaii	OPEN GLASS	7:16:21

Henry Ayau 2008 - Redemption

Our crew did good today in the 32-mile Henry Ayau. We needed it. Mentally, I needed it. I was starting to lose heart in the season, and wondering if I was even cut out for long-distance paddling. I love the culture, I love the guys, I love what it's doing to my body ... but I was seriously suffering in the races. I was tired of being humbled. You reach a point where you're just over it.

Today we ran solid lines. I kept up my strength the whole time (eating every change helped - one change a fruit cup, one change applesauce, poi on one change, etc). I was mostly in seat two and four. I feel good about how I stroked in two. Four was a bit more difficult; I couldn't find the groove as well back there.

In the end we finished in 5:10, roughly. The results should be up tomorrow. It's actually slower than we did last year in our B Crew, but it's hard to compare. The were only small swells, and plenty of areas were flat (though we seemed to ride more than last year). The vog was rough, and you couldn't see Wai`anae for a lot of the race - we just paddled out and into the haze.

The big boys shot ahead, but we caught a great line outside the first buoy and passed lots of canoes. The first change was rough, we lost ground. Gained it back while passing Diamond Head, and then had some great runs going towards Pearl Harbor. Alex took us way outside; I think we were in international waters. There were about three canoes we were battling with. I sailed past one, but couldn't shake the Koa Kai 55+ canoe.

A nuclear sub held up a lot of the boats behind us, and by `Ewa we were pretty much locked in place. We couldnt' catch the boats ahead of us, and then we had some rough spots & Koa Kai and then Lanikai shot ahead.

But it felt good, the whole time. No "what ifs?" or "If onlys." And now I feel a bit refreshed, a bit more prepared for the crossing.

Henry Ayau Line Up

Roz named the teams for Henry Ayau this morning. It looks good. We didn't have enough for a master's crew, so shes breaking it up by body size. I like that idea. Now I just need to perfect my mental telepathy and psychicly convince her that we need tall guys in seat two.

Red team

victor, eli, lance, mc, rob, alex, rod, jayson, scott

escort boat driver: holo

Boat coach: sherron

Assistant mark

Wa`a ; Force (kahoepawalu)

Yellow team

dave, lucas, rudy, john, steve, reid, hoku, jonathan, kulani

escort boat driver; mark

boat coach; roz

assistant; ulu

wa`a: Bradley (Manu Kai)

Liliuokalani 2008 Results

It was a hard race for us ... but I thought for sure we were dead last, and was surprised at the end when I saw how close we were to so many other boats, and even more surprised at how many we beat.

Iron open nonkoa

1. Team Livestrong No. 2 1:54:06
2. Outrigger No. 4 1:56:26
3. Paa 1:57:32
4. Quicksilver-Lanakila 1:57:46
5. Kailua No. 2 1:58:41
6. Tui Tonga No. 1 1:59:17
7. Kai Opua No. 3 2:00:16
8. Keaukaha No. 1 2:02:05
9. Hui Lanikila No. 5 2:02:22
10. Namolokama O Hanale No. 1 2:04:18
11. Outrigger No. 3 2:05:20
12. Hui Lanikila No. 6 2:06:26
13. Waikiki Beach Boys No. 1 2:06:41
14. Kailua No. 1 2:07:15
15. Kihei B 2:08:07
16. Healani No. 1 2:08:40
17. Leeward Kai No. 1 2:09:30
18. Waikiki Beach Boys No. 2 2:11:36
19. Puuwai No. 4 2:11:38
20. Kai Aniani 2:12:01
21. Noosa No. 1 2:12:16
22. Kaneohe-Blue 2:12:19
23. Kaipoha No. 4 2:12:22
24. Vancouver Ocean Sports No. 4 2:14:05
25. Kaiola No. 1 2:14:15
26. Lae Ula O Kai No. 5 2:15:34
27. Hong Kong No. 1 2:15:55
28. Kamehameha Hilo No. 4 2:16:15
29. New Hope No. 6 2:16:29
30. Kaneohe-White 2:17:26
31. New Hope No. 5 2:18:31
32. Keola O Ke Kai No. 1 2:19:09
33. Waikiki Beach Boys No. 3 2:19:27
34. Hawaii Cali Mix Plate 2:19:55
35. Lotus Sports Club 2:20:33
36. Honolulu Pearl No. 2 2:21:11
37. Kawaihae No. 2 2:21:54
38. Puuwai No. 3 2:22:07
39. Alapa Hoe Teal 2:22:40
40. Waikiki Beach Boys No. 4 2:23:55
41. Kahana No. 3 2:23:59
42. Imua No. 3 2:24:55
43. Santa Barbara No. 1 2:25:00
44. Vancouver Ocean Sports No. 3 2:25:43
45. Kukuiula No. 1 2:25:59
46. Waimanalo No. 2 2:27:22
47. Kai Oni No. 1 2:27:55
48. Kihei A 2:28:39
49. Ikuna Koa 2:29:07
50. Koa Kai No. 3 2:30:54
51. Shonan Outrigger No. 2 2:33:23
52. Hawaiian Outrigger Yokosuka 2:34:24
53. Hong Kong Outrigger No. 1 2:34:33
54. Alapa Hoe White 2:34:48
55. Hayama OCC No. 1 2:35:04
56. Kamehameha Honolulu No. 1 2:37:30
57. North Shore No. 1 2:39:40
58. Pukana O Ke Kai 2:41:40
59. Kaipoha No. 5 2:44:45
60. Santa Barbara No. 2 2:45:07
61. Hui Lokahi O Ke Kai No. 2 2:49:16
62. Makapo/NAC No. 1 2:51:05
63. Nca Outrigger No. 3 2:54:21
64. Team Arizona No. 1 2:59:44
65. Kawai 3:06:39

Iron open koa

1. Puna No. 4 2:02:40
2. Tui Tonga No. 2 2:05:53
3. Kai Opua No. 4 2:08:55
4. Outrigger No. 2 2:12:24
5. Kawaihae No. 1 2:18:42
6. Keoua No. 2 2:20:18
7. Keola O Ke Kai No. 2 2:22:48
8. Kai Ehitu 2:25:08
9. Newport Outrigger 2:37:25

Iron masters nonkoa

1. Lae Ula O Kai No. 4 2:10:18
2. Keahiakahoe No. 1 2:17:11
3. Lokahi 2:18:56
4. Kahana No. 2 2:19:42
5. Team Ray No. 1 2:21:42
6. Wai Nui Okanaka No. 5 2:33:09
7. Manu O Ke Kai No. 3 2:34:34
8. Wai Nui Okanaka No. 6 2:46:31

Iron masters koa

1. Kupaa Kailua Kai Kalama 2:14:52
2. Waikoloa No. 5 2:22:53
3. Alapa Hoe No. 3 2:35:32

Iron senior masters

1. Namolo Kama 2:11:12
2. Lanakila No. 4 2:13:21
3. Koa Kai No. 4 2:19:47
4. Kaiola No. 2 2:28:21
5. New Hope No. 2 2:31:24
6. Waikoloa No. 9 2:52:29

Golden masters

1. Waimanalo No. 3 2:13:36
2. Keauhou No. 1 2:18:54

Masters

1. Keauhou No. 6 2:01:58
2. Kai Opua No. 8 2:10:19

Senior masters

1. Keauhou No. 5 2:04:37
2. Team Leighton Kailua 2:07:17
3. Keaukaha No. 2 2:37:48

Iron golden masters

1. Noosa No. 2 2:13:50
2. Team Pacific 2:24:39
3. Keoua/Team Arizona 2:25:32
4. Keoua No. 3 2:31:35
5. Imua No. 1 2:32:06
6. New Hope No. 4 2:33:52
7. Kihei C 2:34:32

Grand masters

1. Outrigger No. 7 2:22:03
2. Anuenue No. 1 2:33:50
3. Waikoloa No. 7 2:43:31

Hawaiian racers

1. Tui Tonga No. 3 2:04:39
2. Mokunui/Big Isalnd toyota 2:05:50
3. Puna No. 5 2:09:46
4. Kaiola No. 4 2:10:33
5. Anuenue No. 3 2:11:25
6. Hanalei No. 3 2:12:01
7. Hualalai 2:14:11
8. Kai Opua No. 2 2:15:51
9. Kawaihae No. 5 2:18:22
10. Laka 2:19:19
11. Ka Mamalahoe No. 3 2:19:28
12. Na Vaa Hanakahi No. 2 2:23:13
13. Kamehameha Hilo No. 2 2:29:11
14. Pure Light Racing 2:31:33

Iron grand masters

1. Anuenue No. 2 2:17:36
2. Great Lake Grand Masters 2:23:48
3. Lanikai No. 2 2:27:21
4. Kamehameha Hilo No. 5 2:50:36
5. Havasu Outrigger No. 1 3:01:35

Nontraditional

1. Team Livestrong 1:55:28
2. Kona Athletic No. 1 2:14:30
3. Waikoloa No. 3 2:22:11

Unofficial

1. Kukio No. 1 2:34:12

Labor Day 2 - Halemaumau, Queen Liliuokalani Iron, and Buddhists

After our site visit the ladies of Opihikao brought out the food. We ended up hitting the road for the drive to Kailua Kona around noon. Later than I wanted, but we still had plenty of time to make it.

And then, from the road, we saw the volcano ...

The photos in the paper make it look like a really big steam vent. I didn't realize how much of an eruption it really is. I took a detour into the National Park to get a closer look.


This is the view across Kīlauea into Halema`uma`u Crater. Notice the blue skies on the left, and the ash and sulfur-clouded skies on the right. The whole Kona coast is hazy from the eruption.

Dave and I at the vent, on Day 2 of our five-day date. This was the longest second date of my life, with no runners-up even close. And it all went really well, too. I wish I had a photo of him with his ukulele; he's got a great voice, and spent a lot of his free time (not that any of us had much free time) practicing songs he'd learned.

We landed in Kailua Kona late afternoon, and met up with the rest of the Kamehameha team for dinner.


This is what we came for: The Queen Lili`uokalani Canoe Race - an 18-mile iron.

The women left first ...

Kamehameha: white boat, middle left

There were 132 canoes in the women's race, which ran from Kailua Kona to Honaunau. There was some useless drama the week before, and half our women backed out. The three Kamehameha women - Pam, LeAnn, & Ulu - picked up three other women to form a team. There were some novices in the boat, they had never paddled as a team, and they did really well - coming in at 2:47:57, and placing 62nd out of 74 in their division.

The men paddled back, leaving Honaunau around noon.

from left: Victor, Alex, Rudy, MC, Eli, Phil.

We suffered.


And I'll leave it at that.

We wandered Kona on Saturday night. I had heard that the post-race parties were out of control wild. I had a great time ... but it was hardly the wild nights of legend. Sunday we chilled. Monday Dave and I checked in to a "Buddhist Bed and Breakfast," which was really a plantation house in an old village. It was peaceful, but we were the only ones there. It might have been more interesting if there were other guests. As it was, there were lots of ghosts (not that I believe in ghosts) and coqui.

Kailua Men's Iron Challenge 2008: Interesting Water

After last week's Duke Race Jake told me that his favorite races were on the windward side, because the water was more interesting there.

I'm still getting used to "interesting" water. We train so much off of Waikiki that we're a bit spoiled, and we don't always have enough strong steersmen to take all the crews out past Diamond Head and into more challenging waters. Last weekend was my first time in big waves since last year, and so I wasn't totally prepared for this race at all! I did ok; for one of our guys it was his first time in water like this, and ... as he put it ... it was eye-opening humbling. But he kept going, and kept up with us, and sometimes that was all I could manage last year.

Our open crew line-up for the Kailua Men's Iron was Dave S, Lucas, MC, Scott A, Steve, and Alex. Three Novice A's and one B - we were an inexperienced, if older, crew! It's funny being a novice after 40. Each year your skills are going to increase, even if you're strength doesn't.

We had a good practice with this line-up on Thursday. I was playing around with my stroke, trying to work in more leg power. The only part of the Olympics I really watched with any dedication was the 1000-meter C2 sprint canoeing. It was stunning to watch how in synch the men were, and how much power they were getting from using their whole bodies in the stroke.

What I want to be when I grow up

I wanted to bring some of this into the wa`a. And I was dropping more off my seat and onto my knees, and paddling from a lunge position. It worked ... in the relatively flat waters off Waikiki.

It didn't work so well at all in choppy Kailua! We were drenched by a sudden downpour right at the start, and had water in the canoe before we even began. Still we hit hard, and made for the first marker - Mokoea islet, about 2.5 miles offshore.

Mokoea looks so close ...

And we learned real quickly that we weren't as solid as we thought we were! We kept up with the pack until the islet, but past that we watched the other canoes disappear into the distance. We weren't bad, we just couldn't get out groove on in this water. I was having trouble too, and was focusing too much on balance and not enough on power.

Our line was for the right hand side of Mokumanu, an island I never even knew existed until Saturday. Of course I had heard of it, but I thought it was probably just another pile of rocks. Turns out it's a 200' high big chunk of rock surrounded by big waves. And though it was only 2.5 miles beyond Mokoea, it seemed to take ages to get there. And I kept thinking, I'm a master. I'm over 40. I'm a flat water paddler. Why am I in this race? The other master's got to turn right at Mokoea. Why are we still heading another 2+ miles out to sea??? Next year I'm claiming my spot in the masters' crew!!!

and Mokumanu looks so far ...

We took on a lot of water, and had to bail more than the other canoes around us. It was frustrating, as each time Scott or I would stop to bail another canoe would creep past us. Still, it was necessary - last week we learned the hard way what happens when there is too much water in the boat!

OK, so I was tired and sore & vowing never to do this race again before it was half over ... but it was pretty cool seeing Moku Manu up close. It's a seabird colony, and as it's just off-shore of the Marine Corps base it's rare that anyone is allowed near it. A beautiful brown booby sailed past us on the ama side just before the island, and there were hundreds of shearwaters and terns flying around the rock faces. The far side of the island had some sketchy waves, but the leeward side was refreshingly calm & offered us (or at least, me) a nice break from the turbulence of the first five miles.



Life got easier for me on the five-mile downwind run toward the Mokuluas. The swells were still decent, but at least they were predicatble. I relaxed a bit more, and was able to put more power into my stroke. I think the other guys must have been feeling better also - Alex picked a good line to the outside, and we passed 2 or 3 canoes. Yeay. Finally. There was one bad point where I felt pretty light-headed and faint, but I had loaded my camelback with cytomax and a few gulps of that helped it pass.

Passing through the channel between the Mokuluas was fun, as usual. We caught one really fast wave, and that kind of made everything worth it. In the final sprint we were next to a Lanikai boat; we'd creep up on them and then lose power, and they beat us by a couple minutes.

We're still waiting for them to post results. Roz guesses that it took us 2 hours and 20 minutes. The lead canoes finished in 1 hour 50 minutes, so ... we've got some work ahead of us!

Duke Kahanamoku Race 08: Swamped

Our canoe swamped, half way through the race, and we had to be rescued at sea. Ten more minutes and we would have made the point and been in calmer waters.

But honestly, we were doomed before that. You could feel it there, at the end. In retrospect it almost seems inevitable.

5:00 am: Wake up time. I try to eat, but I'm too nervous & I can't even keep down a cup of coffee. I check the weather reports. There's a southwest swell, strong trades, and a tropical depression off the Big Island. It sounds like it could be messy. I have the usual why do I do this? reaction I always have on race days.

8:00 am: Kailua. The canoe is set and we're ready to go. Nothing to do now but wait. And wait. The race is delayed. We wait. The winds pick up. We still wait. I take a nap in the shadow of the boat.

10:00 am: Holo's Escort Boat. I take the first leg with Eli and Hala in the escort boat. Mark and Rob are on hand to help Roz out. The race won't start until 10:10. The seas are really big. I have the patch on, and hope that's enough. There are 47 canoes in the race. The start, I hear, is a mess. Too many va`a crammed too close together. At least one canoe hulis early.

We wait in the escort boat for Kamehameha to appear. And there we are, a few boats from the end. Damn. I'm not sure how we're so far behind already.

First Run: Waimanalo. Seat 3. I jump in just outside Bellow's Beach. Victor is stroking, and Alex is steering. He's never been in waves that big, but he handles them like a pro. The ama is popping constantly, but we catch it each time. We make good time, and pass some other boats. Our second crew isn't as quick, but we hold our place in the lineup. I can feel the adrenalin coursing through me like ecstacy, and I love these guys in our boat with all my heart.

Second Run: Makapu`u. Seat 3. This was the roughest part in both races last year. This year it was challenging, but it was actually far rougher before this. We're battling with Outrigger and Imua through the channel. We pass Beachboys on the inside, and that feels good. I feel strong, and am not ready to change when I 'm called. Funny how this feels so much less tiring than practice.

Escort Boat: We do a change just past the channel. Alex comes in, and Rod takes over steering. The three canoes are right on top of the rocks, and at one point we collide with Imua. I'm glad I'm in the escort boat for this; it looks scary as hell. I start to get a bit nauseous on the escort boat from being tossed around, and hope that I don't get seasick.

Third Run: Alan Davis. Seat 4. The waves are behind us, and we catch a few runs at the beginning. I had to rock and roll it into the boat from the water - a swell came just as the boat was approaching us, and I had to dive up (not sure how I did that) and swing off the `iaku like a little Chinese gymnast. I'm not sure how I did that either, but I land in the boat. But I feel light headed. We're not running cleanly, and I so don't want to get sea sick but I just can't shake it. I try not to focus too much on the future. Just make it past this, is all I'm thinking. Focus on technique, and don't pass out.

And then on the first change we huli --- outside Hanauma Bay, at almost the exact spot we did last year. The other guys hadn't even made it to the escort boat yet. I'm convinced it was too much water in the canoe. The waves were coming from the side, and the water in the boat sloshed up and put a few extra hundred pounds of force on the downwind side. Over we went. I pop out ok, but Phil seems to be stuck underwater. I can see his hand struggling to free himself, and he finally makes it.

We flip the boat up quickly, and Rudy and I try to bail. Water is coming in fast, but eventually we gett enough out to continue racing. We're all scattered. Phil looks bad, and is still in the water. I dive in and he takes my seat.

So I'm back on the escort boat, earlier than I thought I would be. We let the canoe run another fifteen or twenty minutes, and then Lance and I get back in the water and prep for our change.

Fourth Run: China Walls, Seat 3. I get in the boat, and things are not good at all. You could just feel it. Victor has slown his pace down a lot, but Hala in 2 is having trouble keeping up. I'm greatful for the slower pace, because I'm still a bit light. Behind me Lance is pulling strong. Rod is steering. We seem to be close to the rocks, closer than I like, and we're mostly paddling on the left trying to stop us from flipping and then fuck fuck fuck we're upside down and in the water again.

We get the boat up, but it's fucked. Big waves poinding against the cliff, and we can barely hear the person next to us. OK, we're all ok so far. We right the boat. Victor gets in and tries to paddle us out. I jump in and try to paddle from five. Lance is bailing, and the other guys seems like they're in a bit of a daze. Phil's shoulder is hurt, and he's cramping. Water keeps coming in. The canvas is broke where I am, and it won't close in seat six either, and every wave dumps water in the boat and it's faster than we can bail and we're not going anywhere with the paddling and then it's too late, not that we even had a chance. The boat is swamped. The gunnels are underwater. We can't get out.

Holo tosses us a rope. It gets tangled in the canoe. I can't hear Roz or Holo, and we have no idea what they're yelling at us to do. And I am so tired from hanging on, and I go under every other wave, and it looks like everyone else is struggle also. We try to tow the boat a bit, but the back rim, where the rope was tied to on Holo's boat, comes ripping off.

I don't know how long we were out there. No one had any strength left. I'm burned, I swallowed so much water - it was rough. Lance and I swim to a fishing boat that was nearby; Phil is cramping and can't let go of the canoe. But even if we had experience and technique down, our canvas was torn up and we were taking on water.

We all survived. We stuck together. That's the key. We're still a team. We had beers and barbecue after and processed it and found a few things to laugh about, amid all the drama.

But I'm gonna have some scary dreams tonight.

*************************

Monday: I am so sore and beaten up today. I slept well, though!

The results are in. I thought that 46 canoes started off from Kailua; only 38 finished the race. We saw at least one with a broken iaku, and had heard that another boat had gotten caught on the reef outside Diamond Head.

Lanikai finished first with 2:58.42, followed by Outrigger with 3:04.29. Healani, with Jake, Romos, and Aweau, finished at No. 22 with 3:35.33. Of the canoes we were battling with at the channel, Outrigger 55s pulled out ahead to finish at No. 28 with 3:45.23, and Imua came in at No. 34 with 3:57:14.

Kahanamoku 08

We have a solid crew for tomorrow: Victor, Eli, Rudy, Lance, Hala, Phil, Alex, Rod, and myself. Conditions might be rough, but we should be competitive.

I had hoped to join Dan and his mom on their circle-island drive today, but had a rare rational moment and backed out. It's a good thing, as we didn't finish rigging the boats until 2:30. I got in an hour nap, and a fair amount of eating, into the rest of the day. Did my prep work, and picked up all my gels and liquids. I still need to do some pre stretching, and do one more round of carb-loading. I'd be dying if I had joined them & still had to do all this tonight. I needed the rest, too - I've been fighting off that stupid cold that's been going around.

Had a busy day yesterday, and got to spend a fair amount of time with Dan. We went surfing in the morning, and Dan managed to catch one really solid wave - his first one ever! Had a lot of shorter rides after that. In the afternoon we went to Chinatown, then to the Nu`uanu Pali. Evening it was Waikiki Nei, which Peter has really punched up a lot. The result is spectacular; it should have a solid run. After it was a round of mai tai's at the Moana, then a seemingly long run of shopping. We had planned dinner tonight, but it's already to late for me ... so hopefully I get to see them again tomorrow before they leave.

Back to the race: last year it took us 4 hrs 18 minutes, in six segments, with rough conditions. Three of us were first-year Novice B (Lance, Chris, myself) and no second-year Novice A. This year we have four Novice A (Eli, Lance, Phil, mself) and the rest are more experienced. Should be a good run.

Foretaste of Kona

We had five boats in the water tonight - it looks like we might have a women's crew after all! My crew was Victor, Alex, Eli, Me,open, and Hala. It sounded like a superstar line-up, but we struggled. I'm not sure why. Eli thinks that Victor has a unique stroke, that he hits before you're expecting him to. That's a good thing, but we're not used to it and we spent the time trying to keep pace.

We juggled a bit and tried Victor, Eli, Hala, MC, with Alex steering. And we flew - the canoe seemed to fly off the waves. And that's pretty close to our Kona lineup (Victor, Eli, Phil, MC, Rudy, Alex). We should do well!

Roz will name crew tomorrow for this weekend's race. I think the four of us are in, but can't be sure. Hope so.

Now, though, I need to grab a nap. I am so incredibly tired, and was aiming to call in sick all week at work, for at least half a day, but there just wasn't the time. Dan gets in in an hour, so that's time enough for a quick refresher! Lucky thing tomorrow is a holiday.

Swim Lessons

Taking a friend to Ala Moana for swimming lessons this evening. He's 47, or somewhere about there, and sinks like a rock. He says.

This will be my third take at teaching an adult to swim. Hopefully this time's the charm ... I failed with the other two. One really did sink like a rock, and though I'm convinced he was doing it willfully I could never prove anything. The second squealed and refused to go further than thigh-deep in the water.

This time we have some motivation ... this guy paddles, and it's much better for paddlers to stay on top of the water during changes - and since long-distance practice starts Sunday we don't have much time left.

Last Week of Regatta Season

Kamehameha Men's Novice A: Lucas, Aka, Mark, Joe, Adam (open), MC

Not in Pic: Scott, Eli

Two more days until the Hui Wa`a Championships ... and we're in a three-way run to place for States. Beach Boys and Kamamalahoe are in; the third spot could go to us, Windward Kai, or Manu O Ke Kai. Everything is coming down to the wire on Saturday.

Of course we're going to get our asses creamed if we actually make it to States, so it'll be a mixed blessing.

I emailed the above pic to some friends; in return D__ sent me this from a hula they did at Kalani Honua ...

... and I'm keeping it as Exhibit A for the Defense next time someone tries to tell me that O`ahu is ruined and that Puna is the "Real Hawai`i."

Summer

It's Monday and I don't want it to be Monday. I want it to still be the weekend. It's going to take some serious mental effort to get me into work-mode this morning.

Friday started with a date with the enemy - a realtor and vacation-home owner from Lanikai. There were so many strikes right off the bat - he's a realtor, and I spend my days fighting with land speculators. He uses his home as a vacation rental. We prosecute guys like that if they try it in Conservation Lands. And he lives in Lanikai, a Stepford-community that is one tsunami away from being paradise.

Lucky for my soul, there were no sparks. It was a pleasant enough evening - there weren't any bad sparks either.

Saturday morning practice was nice and hard. We did sprints, and sprints, and then some more sprints. We kept our Novice A lineup (Eli, Mark, Me, Joe, Scott, Lucas) for most of the runs. A new guy, Mike, and Kaiwa sat in for Scott on some of the runs. The boat felt so fast, so strong ... we were all set for Sunday, so sure that we would do well and make up for last week's average performance.

Yeah. Didn't happen. Sunday morning we took a line on the wrong flag, and cut diagonally across the race course. We were fast, we were strong, and we collided quickly and mightily with two other boats.

It was ugly, there was lot's of cussing, and we were dq'd. It hurt. We really could have placed. Our steersman took it hardest, as he was the one who took the wrong sighting. We finished, and stayed together the rest of the race. At one point it looked like we could still make a decent showing, but we were in the wrong lane and had to brake to let a boat pass so that we could get back over.

But it was a beautiful day in Kailua, and we couldn't pout for too long. We had more scratches, and didn't put in some of our strongest boats, and in the end only the Women's Open 4 scored points. I'm not sure what happened - the first two regattas it looked like Kamehameha was going to put on a decent season.

We had a barbecue after, and that was fun. Steve made a killer jamabalaya, Scott grilled some dogs, Keola and Lucas played ukulele, Aka, Diane, and Roz danced, and beer and wine made everything better.

Third

Doh! The biggest news, of course, and the one that I keep reflecting on every couple hours, is that our crew took third in Sunday's regatta. That is the best we've done, ever. We're actually competitive.

Look, ma, I'm a contender! I've never said that in a sport before. Never even come close (except for the one fluke day in 1984 where our sculling team kicked Notre Dame's ass, but we all knew that it was because we got lucky and caught a fast running inside current ... we were the D Team. We didn't even merit a uniform, and Notre Dame was internationally known).

This was an honest win.

I sat in one, stroke, for the first time in a race. The first 1/4 mile was awful. My mouth was dry, I couldn't breathe, I was getting tired too fast, I was thinking it was a mistake to ever put me in that seat. I felt better the second 1/4 mile. I became more responsive to the crew, whom I could feel behind me. And when we made the turn at the 1/2 mile flag, and realized that we were ahead of most of the teams, something clicked inside. Wa`a lele we flew through the last 1/2 mile. Waikiki Beach Boys and Kamamalahoe still stayed a good five canoe-lengths ahead of us, and it will take serious work to close that final gap.

Men Novice A Results
1 Waikiki Beach Boys 08:11.3
2 Ka Mamalahoe 08:11.6
3 Kamehameha 08:45.3
4 Manu O Ke Kai 09:00.4
5 Kumulokahi-Elks 09:22.0
6 Lokahi 09:27.0
7 Windward Kai 09:33.0

Eil steered for Lucas, who was out. I replaced Eli as stroke, Mark moved to 2, and Joe joined the canoe. Aka and Scott filled us out. All seven of us, I believe, are here this coming weekend in Ke`ehi. I don't know who Roz will put in the crew - there are now seven of us, and six spots. It's a hard choice. I'm glad I don't have to make it.

Another Night Before

We had a decently hard practice today, and I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon away afterwards. Spent the evening trying to remix some electro funk. It's not coming along.

Our Novice A crew, though ... it feels strong. Lucas is out this week, so Eli is moving back to steer, I'm up to stroke, and Joe is in the boat. For once, I'm not anxious about the race in the morning. I'm eager. I've been ready since last Monday, chomping at the bit to see how we do in Hale`iwa.

It's a strange and new feeling. I've always been B-String , the boy in the dugout who gets to play a token inning in the 9th, . I've never been a contender, at least not for anything physical. I think I might be setting a new land record for "late blooming."

The lineup tomorrow is MC, Mark, Aka, Joe, Scott, Eli. It'll be my first time stroking a race.

I'm bringing Emily and Donna (from Fananu) up to Hale`iwa to watch. I talked to Rommel, but they guys all have basketball practice. I really want to get the Pááfeng guys involved, but it will be a slow process. One day I'll get them to watch. Then a second day. And, someday, they'll make a decision to come with us.

It's still a communal group. I won't get one. Tiomen will wait until there's consensus, and then bring the guys over. I'll be patient until then, and take it step by step. These guys, though - they grew up on the water. Their fathers were navigators. They could bring so much, and also preserve so much that might be lost with the life they're living.

One more hour to fuck around, and then I crash for the night ...

Memorial Day

We took fourth in the season's opening regatta! This is the best we've done during the regular season, and ... it feels good. It's nice to be battling with the lead canoes rather than the trailing ones.

Eli (stroke), Lucas (steer), MC, Aka, Scott, Mark

Lucas is gone next week, so I'm not sure who we'll have instead in the canoe.

Men Novice "A" Results
1 Ka Mamalahoe 7:43.39
2 Waikiki Beach Boys 7:49.43
3 Manu O Ke Kai 8:17.20
4 Kamehameha 8:25.67
5 Kaneohe 8:43.18
6 Kumulokahi-Elks 8:44.41
7 'Alapa Hoe 8:45.30
8 Pukana O Ke Kai 8:50.30
9 Lokahi 8:50.96

Next weekend is Hale`iwa, and if we stay focused we should be able to pass Manu O Ke Kai. I'm ready.

It was a good weekend overall. Kamehameha hosted, so we were busy from Friday evening to Sunday evening. Friday we paddled Manu Kai from Kamehameha to Ke`ehi. Saturday we set up at Ke`ehi. Sunday was race day. Sunday night we cleaned up and then cracked the beers. I was set to leave early, to sneak out the back, but I'm glad I didn't. We melded more as a team that night, and some of the divisions between the WYC guys and Kamehameha slipped away. Integration is a process, and we made some major progress this weekend.

First Regatta

Regatta Season starts this weekend, and we just got our line-up:

Event # 18 Sr. Mix Mst 45: Phil, Jan, Di, Vinnie, Barb, Dirky

Event # 19 Novice B: Rob, Chris, John, Fanua, Steve, David Jones

Event #27 Novice A: Eli, MC, Scott A, Mark, Aka, Lucas

Event #31 SO Men: Kulani, David, Anthony, Allen, Keola, Eddie

Event #33 SR Men: David, Rudy, Alex, Martin, Lance, geoff

Event #35 MM40:Rudy, Lance, phil, chris Z., John M., Rod

Event #36 W Open 4: Roz, Anita, Linda, Ulu

Event #37 M Open 4: Geoff, Martin, Joe C., Alex

Event #38 Mx Mst 40: Rod, Jan, Di, Chris Z., Feleicia, Dirky

I like our crew. We'll find out Sunday how we stack up.

Rio Calls

I did it ... I closed my eyes and hit send and used my miles to get tickets to Miami. Rio is only one stop away.

We have a full crew, and maybe two, for Rio Va`a. I'm thinking of spending the second week in Buenos Aires. I'd really like to see the Pantanal, but it looks hard to arrange on the time I'll have.

First, sometime this summer, I need to convince some friends to join me in Miami. A couple guys are possibilities, though I'm not sure how all the potential combinations would work out. Some would be disastrous.

Kai Poha Iron

We took second!

Kamehameha Masters Crew: John, Rob, Rudy, Phil, MC (Lance P missing)

And the wahine open took third, out of fifteen canoes!

That was unexpected, at least on my part. I was in four, which is a seat I normally like. It's easier to apply power, and you don't have the stress of being in 1 or 2.

The vog was pretty bad in town, and downright oppressive as we climbed over the plateau and into the North Shore. It seemed a bit clearer out on the water. Our crew had a decent enough start, but halfway to Waimea we lost a bit of energy and the crews we were battling with pulled ahead. We had a great burst of energy when we finally turned at the Waimea buoy. Half way home, though, we seemed to run out of steam. We were running so fast, and were stroking in unison ... all the good things ... and yet the other crews were pulling away. I know I felt myself start to drag.

They haven't posted the times yet, so I don't know how full the masters division was. There were still a lot of canoes ahead of us, but they must have all been youngsters. I was surprised when we got our ribbons.

So it feels good, and it was a nice way to wrap up the season. Regatta season kicks off this coming weekend - which means 8 weeks of (more or less) behaving on the weekends.

final shot: Coach Roz before the women's race.

Donuts are Bad

Or maybe vog is bad. Or donuts and too much coffee too late in the afternoon, combined with sprints on the Ala Wai on a day where the vog is so thick that the air seems to shimmer, is bad.

The upshot is that I upchucked in practice yesterday. We were doing time trials. I felt fine going in. The first 1/4 mile sprint, and it was like I was smoking again. I just couldn't get a full breath. After the 1/2 mile sprint, I tossed a little. I tried to make it subtle; I just leaned out close to the water and made like I was spitting. Only Geoff noticed.

Then I realized it was all going to come out.

Made it through the next two mile sprints, and then I had to wimp out and tell the coach. I wasn't even sick, is the funny thing. It was just, my body wanted those donuts out.

Lesson learned. No Donuts before Sprints.