Pacific Paddler December 2015 - (Page 28)

Catalina 2015 PHOTOS BY CHRIS SILVESTER The Catalina Crossing of 2015 saw record times for the women's 26 mile race from Newport Beach to Avalon. It also displayed a great battle among the top finishers of the men's 30 mile race back to Newport Beach. Glassy conditions and an outgoing tide greeted the women's and coed race on Saturday September 12th. This made for a record crossing with 1-2-3 women finishers, Dana Point Outrigger (3:46:12), Lanakila of Redondo Beach ( 3:48:54), and Hanohano of San Diego (3:57:33), all finishing under the four hour mark. Newport Aquatic Center (NAC) and Hui Wa'a from the Bay Area rounded out the top five. NAC also had the first coed finisher. The men's race on Sunday saw mild conditions but had to go against the outgoing tide for most of the day. Paddling Connection/NAC from Tahiti (4:03:58) took a more Southern line on the course and efficiently built a lead they never gave up. A great battle developed for second place with Na Koa Kona of the Big Island and Lanakila of Redondo Beach finding each other early. Shortly, NAC joined the same line and the three crews went back and forth across the channel. The men of NAC (4:12:01) established a gap before the harbor entrance to take second place. Na Koa Kona (4:15:00) took third and Lanakila (4:16:04) finished fourth. Team California (Masters 40) came in fifth. The adoption of the unlimited canoes continues to grow in Southern California as almost 50% of the crews raced in these lighter and sleeker designed canoes. Also, five 19 and under crews raced this year, all in unlimited canoes. Along with Tahiti, Hawaii, and California, teams came from Canada, Australia, Arizona, Washington D.C., and New York. A big thank you to Offshore Canoe Club and the gang of SCORA for their hard work hosting the race. TONY SERAFIN 28 PACiFiC PADDLER DECEMBER / JANUARY 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler December 2015

Pailolo Challenge
Na Wahine Cancelled
Hawaiian Airlines Molokai Hoe
Catalina 2015
Greater Montreal Outrigger Challenge
Na Holo Kai:Oahu to Kauai
American Samoa in the Channel
3 stretches every paddler should know
Ikaika Hawaii rowing program
Canoes are “Whos”

Pacific Paddler December 2015