KAUAI CANOE REGATTA

Kauai's Garden Island Canoe Regatta At Hanalei Bay

Winners qualify for State Races here in two weeks

Leaving home at quarter to 7 in the morning for a long day at the beach

Regatta Day - from Pavillion out and left

From Pavillion to right

            So for years the kids have gone first and the other races roughly by age groups, ladies first in each category and then the men.  this year was a change up.  The 60s teams and newly created 65 team went before the kids.  The races started at 8:30 rather than 8am because there is always at least one sailboat that thinks it is ok to be anchored in the race lanes.  gil was in both the 65 and 60 teams (two max for state tryouts) and he was done by 9:00.  Of course, he didn't get home till 7pm anyway - it was Regatta Day!

Namolokama 65 men's team

Their only competition in Kauai is the Hanalei club

Namo is ahead from the start 

Hanalei is nowhere in sight as they head for the finish line

First Gold of the day - go Namo!

65 Guys L to R

Jim, Gil, Rex, Gene, Nick, Dick

             There was no 65 ladies team but the 60s had just Namolokama and Hanalie again.  Here Namo girls are waiting for their boat to come in.

 Unfortunately for Namo, Hanalei clocked them for a place at States

Season over - aloha Ladies, enjoy the time off!

Namo tent, Hokualele, on left, is a sister club with all kids out of Anahola

 Looks like Namo 60s guys are lagging a little here on the first quarter-mile leg

 Just kidding!  Beautiful turn at the other end and then they hit it.  

Another Gold and ticket to States.

Good job 60s!

60s Guys - L to R

Lance, Gil, Jack, Tom, Landis, Sully

           Well I didn't stay all day.  Of the twenty races entered by Namolokama, 10 won first and the other ten either 2nd or 3rd place.  Not bad for a little club.  (For comparison, Hanalei's bigger club had 44 entries and won 16 firsts.)  All the first place teams will race again in two weeks, right here. Stay tuned for that fantastic day of racing in Koa canoes.