JULY FUNDRAISER - 6TH ANNUAL OPEN WATER SWIM

Saturday 7/28/12

Namalokama Canoe Club Open Water Swim

Please check out the canoe pages at top of blog. 

            In addition to fundraising races throughout the season, most clubs raise funds with events that benefit the community as well; Namolokama Canoe Club has its Open Water Swim.  Lots of work and organization, Barb & Dick Smith are the ringleaders on this one.  Sixth consecutive year and people were able to pre-register and pay on-line this time.  Club members turned out the evening before to set up tents on the beach at Hanalei.

Walking the tent into position

            Day of the races members had the buoys set in the bay and registration tents were staffed by 7:00am.  The water, juice, fruit, and carb snacks were ready and the generator was humming quietly for the announcer (the first year we used a bullhorn).  The timing tent was ready with state of the art printout of names, race, and finish times; the chute for racers to finish in was set.

 Sign In Here

Late registration:  8 & under, 9-12, 1/2 Mile, 1 Mile, 2 Mile

no one reads the signs!

 

Computerized timers with all data, as soon as the swimmer crosses the line

his name, which race, and finish time are printed out

There was a Hawaiian oli chanted by the announcer Koko and then a prayer from Alpha, the local minister to bless the sponsors. Part of the sponsorship allowed some of the local kids to compete at no charge. They all got T-shirts and ribbons for participating.

Safety guys on one man canoes and stand up boards 
making sure everyone finds the finish line

The kids gathered for medals after their events
Always some fun stories, twin boys tied for first in the 9-12

Adults also received T-shirts.  Each category had a color-coded swim cap. 
ID numbers were on both their cap and their right arm.  

 The two mile hard core hopefuls went first: white caps

The one mile folks had orange caps

The two on the right waiting for their race to start
they both medaled in their class - brothers!

keeping warmed up before the race

Yellow caps were the half mile racers

 

The half mile race is the largest group. Several of the 9-12 age kids had opted for this race instead and competed with old timers and everyone in between.

Half mile medalists, Jane on left (another club mover and shaker)

and brother Stew visiting from Wyoming

Gil and Jim are the timers - working side by side again this year

           No one seemed to mind the cloud bursts, swimmers were wet anyway.  Once the last swimmer was in the timers were free including Gil and we were able to unfurl the big Mahalo to Laura.  (Dick was still swamped with swim, and Peter was off by now for a root canal!)

see Laura’s page at top

           Medals were handed out for first-second-third place winners in every age and race category.  The fat lady sang, people dispersed, club members broke down the tents and put them away – everyone was done before noon!

           Save the Pier folks were also at the beach.  Rotary Club has collected almost enough money to replace the structure on the end of the pier.  A few gnarled fishermen are fighting it because they might lose a few days while the work is being done!  Gotta love it, hang in there Rotary!