Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 12

Catalina Channel Crossing PHOTOS BY ROPATI Santa Barbara OCC Co-Ed Open 1st Women Unlimited, Dana Outrigger Canoe Club Lanakila OCC, Women Unlimited Women & Co-ed, Sept. 10 At the Newport Dunes, crews were scrambling to get ready for 30 miles of racing in the Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships. The starting line was at the end of a 2-mile warm-up paddle from the Dunes, located across from the Newport Aquatic Center, to the mouth of the Newport Channel. Lining the banks of the Channel are some of the most exclusive properties in Southern California. The race was to start at 8am a quarter-mile Fairway Gorge Paddling Club, 1st women Spec. canoe out from the channel entrance. There 75 outriggers line up on a glassy, rolling ocean. Behind the racers, a small fleet of escort, safety, and official boats ease into position. Billy Whitford, patrolling on Safety Boat 1, tries to settle the racers down and lines them up as straight as possible. Billy jokes that with all that adrenaline surging, it's hard to keep them from taking off. He pleads with them over his PA system to hold back and finally asks that paddlers hold their paddles in the air. Once satisfied it's as straight a line as it's going to be, he signals the OK for the race to start. The horn blows, paddles churn the Hokuloa OCC change out water, cheers erupt as the race gets underway. chop. Two hours into the race and the canoes The steersmen set their sights on the official are now spread out over three miles. The island lead boat's big red flag and follow it to an island is in sight, and the Catalina Casino is an easy now shrouded in low-hanging, grey clouds. landmark to aim for. The iconic circular building The crews settle into race mode, follow their was built to be a casino, but it never became one, change charts and swap in and out of the canoe instead it holds functions and is a place for the every 10-or-so minutes. community to get together. Out on the course, Billy and Race Guru/ The top three crews who took the lead just Logistics Master 'Uncle' Bud Hohl make their outside Newport were also the top three to way past the canoes and their escort boats, finish. The fastest crew to Avalon Bay was the checking in and helping out if needed. Santa Barbara OCC Co-ed crew who finished By mid-channel, the clouds had been pushed in 4:35:54. The second crew and winner of the out of sight from a slight northerly breeze that Women's Division was Dana OCC (4:38:57). also kicked up a swell on the ama-side of the Lanikila OCC, 3rd overall, were second in the canoes. Now crews paddle into the wind and 12 PACiFiC PADDLER OCTOBER 2016 Imua OCC Co-Ed Open Dana OCC Women Masters Unlimited Hui Nalu OCC change out Women's Unlimited Division and Hui Nalu from Hawaii placed third (4:49:17). The second crew in the Co-ed Division was Outrigger Team California (4:46:09) and third, False Creek Racing CC of Canada in 4:47:54. There were a couple of Junior crews in the day's mix. Dana Outrigger OCC Women, 19 & Under, finished in 5:45:04 and Lanikila OCC in 6:03:24. The great thing about this sport is that it's not just limited to the young. Paddlers in their 70s were also taking part. Another division claimed by Dana OCC was the Golden Masters Division. Dana's crew finished in 6:25:35. The only other

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