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KHW Race 3 Report
Dylan Thomas <surfskikauai@…>
02/09/11 #10025
KHW RACE 3 REPORT. Kalapaki to Kapa'a (13 miles)
The pre event weather predictions once again played havoc for event organizers on the beautiful Garden Isle of Kauai. In the end the course for the KHW 2011 Race 3 event was reversed for the second time in as many races.
On race day the conditions did not bode well for the unprepared since the predicted 18 mph winds failed to show up, calling for an all out slog in very light glassy conditions which finally turned into some angled choppy Easterly mush.
The race took off in a blitz of pace with very few paddlers heading outside and most of the fleet opting for the belly of Wailua bay in search of something, anything, that would give them a lift on their rivals.
In the end after a lot of glassy water it came down to two. Maui Kjeldsen, of Kia Kaha and Dylan Thomas, of Namolokama Canoe Club. The push began about two and a half miles out when the two paddlers had each other within their sights and had the finish zone ahead, and involved both a deep dig into the fuel reserves and tactical navigation of the reefs off of Kapa'a before heading in between the channel markers to the finish line.
Maui, who had taken an inside line, had a lot of work to do to get out in front of Dylan, coming on the downwind angle from the outside line. The race along the back of the wave line resulted in a couple of swift offshore veers in an attempt to avoid disaster for both paddlers. Rounding the last corner Dylan pushed ahead on the face of a wave and put a solid 300 yards on Maui, only to face a bigger challenge, finding the finish line!
Maui had the finish line in sight all along and ended up crossing the finish line 35 seconds ahead of Namolokama paddler, Dylan Thomas. Full results at www.surfskikauai.com and www.kauaihoewaa.org
A great race and a great finish. This result means the KHW series has had three races and three winners, setting up for an exciting season of racing here on Kauai.
The next race takes place February 20th on the south side.
A hui ho
