Yesterday Southern Californian clubs met at Marina Del Rey for about a 10-mile race.We’ve been having some gloomy weather lately with overcast skies and slightly gusty winds in the late afternoon.For several weeks now our evening practices have been unfriendly to the crews and especially the steersmen.Small white caps generated by late afternoon winds put everyone on edge every time we went to sea. Yesterday’s race was no different.
Marina Novices coming across first
NOVICES
The novices enjoyed great weather as they banged their way along the course.As we listened to the blow-by-blow announcing on the beach, there was a report that one canoe had taken out several others which changed the complexion of the race entirely.Finishing first in the women were Oceanside, second Imua, third Kai Elua, fourth Marina.Novice men were Marina first, Imua second Kai Elua third and Hanohano fourth. Novice men Bradley it was Dana first, Kanaia second, Imua third and Kahakai fourth.Three 16/u boys teams entered finishing first through third. Dana entered a 16/u girls team.
Ardent fans and paddlers crowd the shoreline
OPEN WOMEN
As the open women lined up, the wind began to blow and continued unabated throughout the race.Marina Del Rey has a huge harbor, one of the largest in Southern California.The boating traffic kicks up so much backwash that it roils the offshore waters all day.There was a large sailboat race, which fortunately did not cross our path.In this washing machine the paddlers raced and as the day wore on, it only got worse.Winning the open women’s race was Lanakila who came back from a ten-boat deficit to NAC.They finally passed NAC at the harbor.Coach Jill Schooler Shore’s other teams scored first masters, third Bradley and third overall open.NAC Steersman Elaine Casper said, “We were doing so well and didn’t think they could possibly catch us.In the end we tried to keep them off, but they were too strong.”NAC always has a strong program and they will be back.Their other open team finished fourth overall.Oceanside OCC took first Senior Masters with a strong team, followed by Dana 2nd, Imua 3rd and Hanohano 4th.Hanohano won the Bradley division.
Steersmen listen enraptured as Cheance explains the nuances of racing.
OPEN MEN The Open men was won by Lanakila who had a great start and led the pack wire to wire.Coach Danny Ching switched to steering and had his uncle Josh Crayton, the regular steersman moved into seat two.Josh said it was strange paddling up front. He couldn’t sense the normal glide or the feel of the boat and had to take awhile to get used to it. Lanakila also finished fourth in the Senior Masters, second in Masters and first Bradley.Marina is coming on strong.They finished sixth last week with long time steersman Greg Shaghoian steering top crew for the first time in decades.He said, “Last week they were short of steersmen and asked me to steer the top team. Man I forgot what it was like going so fast with a good crew.It was so much easier to steer. I was comfortable and all my experience came back.”This week Marina’s top team moved up to finish fourth overall.Good job Marina coach Adam Mermel.They were in second all the way to the first turn, when Dana passed them.So that’s a good sign. Dana is also coming on strong too, finishing second overall and placing first and second in their Senior Masters. Coming in third overall and a mere six seconds behind Dana was Team California, whom I forgot to mention earlier. Good job Team Californial; no we haven't written you off. Imua finished fourth overall.Their other men’s teams finished second Bradley.
As expected by the time the men raced, wind increased and the ocean had kicked up a criss- crossed pattern of wakes coming from all four corners of the compass.At the beach, someone mentioned that it was a steersman’s race, which was really true, because during the first leg the ocean waves looked like spikes pointing toward the sky.The ama would launch up on the spike pretty high and drop into the trough.Earlier in the race it was still crowded and the steersman had to avoid each other, while trying to paddle through all that junk.One crew was doing so well just to the right of us, when they suddenly rolled over in the crowd.Everyone scattered.As I mentioned before, it always reminds me being in a bomber formation and someone suddenly gets hit and rolls over and you never seen them again. Weird.At one point in the race, I homed in on an identical triangular buoy just like SCORA’s and set up to turn on it.I couldn’t figure out why the crews in front of me were not turning on it. At the last second my stroker began yelling, “Don’t turn, don’t turn,” we figured out it was part of the sailboat-racing course
Stretching to the fullest extent a paddler solemnly goes through pre-race rituals.
OLD GUYS RULE
Pale Kai won the Golden Masters in a steady pace that never slackened all the way to the finish.They weren’t real fast, but they were on a relentless pace, which is what every coach dreams of teaching.Finishing second was Oceanside and in third it was Hanohano.Congratulations guys.
Kai Elua gets set to give a rousing cheer before they enter competition.
Seven year old Captian Garrett Crayton pilots the 70 ft Born to be Wild, assisted by skipper Jerry Marcil.
Madeline Jordan gets to relax after a hard day of racing.
Sr Mstr Crew with Elaine "Chaperone" Casper.
Following the open women’s race was the 70- footer Born to be Wild owned by Jerry Marcil and Associates.It looked like a navy ship following the fragile canoes.Docking his boat close to the awards, Jerry hosted a nice party aboard his boat.As we enjoyed ourselves on the deck of his luxurious boat, paddlers from NAC, Imua and many other clubs joined us to talk about the day’s event.Meanwhile across the road the Casa Escobar was in full swing as hundreds of paddlers talked and milled about.It was a fitting end to a nice day.Thanks to all the Marina members, especially their coach Adam Mermel and my friends Greg Shaghoian and Calvin Hirahara. Mahalo to the skippers and the SCORA officials.
MahaloAL
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