Kent Island Cup Relay 2006
[Photos] by Keizo Gates
Every year on labor day weekend paddlers from all over Hawai'i and the world travel to Kona for the Queen Lili`uokalani Long Distance Race, known as a precursor to Moloka'i, as the worlds largest outrigger race, and perhaps most notably for the parties. What you may not know is that at the same time 6000 miles away, paddlers from all over the Eastern United States and Canada travel to Maryland for the Kent Island Cup Relay. This race is the East Coast equivalent of Kona, with a 34 mile relay circumnavigating Kent Island on Saturday, a happening party that night, and exhibition races on Sunday.
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This years race was almost put to a halt due to Tropical Storm Ernesto blasting wind and rain in the upcoming days, but things cleared up just enough Saturday morning. The morning also brought on a course alteration due to flood water at the change locations. Instead of the typical four legs around Kent Island, each team did two different out and back courses from Kent Island Yacht Club twice. It offered a slightly shortened course, but allowed everyone to be comfortable and cozy at the club location in the misting rain.
Right off the line it was Washington Canoe Club, Manu'iwa, and team Map/Bridge battling for the top spot. WCC and Manu'iwa soon showed off their marathon paddling experience steadily pulling ahead with a fast and steady stroke. The two teams fought right to the end with Manu'iwa overtaking WCC in the last leg. The thrown together, but stoked team of Map/Bridge team pulled in a solid third; NCA came in fourth. In the Mixed division it was WCC who took the cake with the Greater Toronto Area/Canada team coming in second. A team from Washington DC and Florida called Lokahi came in third and host club Kent Island captured fourth. Philly Police pulled in fifth. Philly Outrigger won the Novice division and New York Outrigger followed up in second. Outstanding effort for the three teams who competed in the oc1 division.
All in all, Kent Island 2006 was a great event. I would encourage anyone looking to race on the East Coast to consider this race as one to be at.
Personal thanks to Bill and Anne Gassett getting me out to experience the East Coast paddling scene, Frankie Wonpat and Mitch (last name?) for helping me out with travel arrangements. Jim and Deb Hall for a great event. Plus the many wonderful paddlers I met.
Alohas,
Keizo Gates
KENT ISLAND CUP - OFFICIAL TIME
MEN'S
PLACE TEAM NAME LEG #1 LEG #2 LEG #3 FINISH
MEN
1 MANU/PHILLY 01:14:28 02:09:14 03:01:29 04:05:08
2 WCC 01:12:59 02:09:48 03:01:18 04:06:19
3 MAP/BRIDGE 01:17:47 02:12:45 03:07:24 04:14:07
4 NCA 01:29:50 02:29:39 03:29:16 04:42:50
MIXED
BOAT # TEAM NAME LEG #1 LEG #2 LEG #3 FINISH
1 WCC 01:23:24 02:22:15 03:21:04 04:35:55
2 GTA/CANADA 01:24:33 02:25:44 03:25:36 04:42:12
3 DCA/FLA - LOKAHI 01:31:05 02:29:22 03:32:02 04:44:23
4 KIOCC 01:33:24 02:35:29 03:41:17 05:00:26
5 PHILLY POLICE 01:36:52 02:40:06 03:48:12 05:08:42
NOVICE PHILLY OUTRIGGER 01:24:35 02:26:05 03:31:48 04:49:22
OPEN NYO/OPEN 01:38:15 02:45:12 03:59:09 05:22:27
OC1 BY 2
BOAT # TEAM NAME LEG #1 LEG #2 LEG #3 FINISH
Drake/McNett 01:29:21 02:32:28 03:35:01 04:31:07
Asqyque/Havens 01:36:37 02:40:14 03:46:22 05:02:42
Ziggy/Margo 01:49:24 02:58:05 04:12:25 05:33:30
Posted by keizo on Tue, 09/05/2006 - 1:18pm