This is why i was asking - i have been told it is possible to surf in the Tahitian-style canoes, and have seen the videos of the free session, but i haven´t heard of any Molokai crossings in one.
I have never done the Molokai, never seen the water, so thought i would ask if it had been done. If not, why not? Sounds like a challenge….
Ah…yeah. It is done every year for many years. The men’s race is called Moloka’i Hoe and the women’s race is called Na Wahine o Ke Kai. The rudder can be switched between sides of the canoe by the steersman. There is also a sailing canoe, first in 600 years, called the Hokule’a that also does not have a rudder fixed on the hull.
Skills come with practice.
Gonna do a So Cal race rudderless this weekend I think (Hal Rossoff) odds are it’ll be flat for the most part and i’m still not gonna be able to steer. I can’t see doing the solo rudderless mainly because I haven’t seen a rudderless boat built to surf in conditions like we usually see in the solo, 2007 however may have been a good year.
Not sure how long it would take but it can be done.
There are many oceans races with V1 in Tahiti.
Each year, one of the Super Aito stages is a race Tahiti to Moorea channel crossing and back ! more than 50 km.
A few years ago a race was held between Huahine and Raiatea (same as the first day of Hawaiki Nui)…
So it can be done, but I’m sure that you will go faster with a rudder since aech stroke is for propulsion only.
Rudderless one man Molokai crossing has definetly been done. I can’t remember the year exactly - 1977, 1978 or 1979. It was during a very early Kanaka I Kai Ka crossing. Three one mans joined the kayakers. The race started at Laau Point and ended at Hawaii Kai. The paddlers were Paul Gay, Dale Hope(?) and I think Tommy Holmes. Doc Adams would have the correct info. Paul came in first paddling a Tahitan one man brought back from an earlier visit to Tahiti. I think the other two were more Hawaiian style canoes. These may have been the very first one mans to cross in modern times, not absolutely sure. It was a long, hot day. The water was near glassy, not that any other conditions would have stopped them. I know, cause I was there, escorting my Dad (Paul). It has always been an inspiration to me.
708 Posts
Why would you want to do that?
Sun, 02/03/2008 - 10:34pm
26 Posts
probably not. you cant keep a straight line in the surf on a rudderless especially in the channel. unless your a nuts tahitian paddler
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 12:03am
18 Posts
“unless your a nuts tahitian paddler”
This is why i was asking - i have been told it is possible to surf in the Tahitian-style canoes, and have seen the videos of the free session, but i haven´t heard of any Molokai crossings in one.
I have never done the Molokai, never seen the water, so thought i would ask if it had been done. If not, why not? Sounds like a challenge….
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 6:41am
115 Posts
Ah…yeah. It is done every year for many years. The men’s race is called Moloka’i Hoe and the women’s race is called Na Wahine o Ke Kai. The rudder can be switched between sides of the canoe by the steersman. There is also a sailing canoe, first in 600 years, called the Hokule’a that also does not have a rudder fixed on the hull.
Skills come with practice.
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 6:54am
234 Posts
Gonna do a So Cal race rudderless this weekend I think (Hal Rossoff) odds are it’ll be flat for the most part and i’m still not gonna be able to steer. I can’t see doing the solo rudderless mainly because I haven’t seen a rudderless boat built to surf in conditions like we usually see in the solo, 2007 however may have been a good year.
“If you’re not certified you’re not qualified”
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 6:31pm
446 Posts
Not sure how long it would take but it can be done.
There are many oceans races with V1 in Tahiti.
Each year, one of the Super Aito stages is a race Tahiti to Moorea channel crossing and back ! more than 50 km.
A few years ago a race was held between Huahine and Raiatea (same as the first day of Hawaiki Nui)…
So it can be done, but I’m sure that you will go faster with a rudder since aech stroke is for propulsion only.
Be water, my friend.
http://tuaruavaa.blogspot.com/
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 8:32pm
4 Posts
Rudderless one man Molokai crossing has definetly been done. I can’t remember the year exactly - 1977, 1978 or 1979. It was during a very early Kanaka I Kai Ka crossing. Three one mans joined the kayakers. The race started at Laau Point and ended at Hawaii Kai. The paddlers were Paul Gay, Dale Hope(?) and I think Tommy Holmes. Doc Adams would have the correct info. Paul came in first paddling a Tahitan one man brought back from an earlier visit to Tahiti. I think the other two were more Hawaiian style canoes. These may have been the very first one mans to cross in modern times, not absolutely sure. It was a long, hot day. The water was near glassy, not that any other conditions would have stopped them. I know, cause I was there, escorting my Dad (Paul). It has always been an inspiration to me.
Tue, 02/05/2008 - 8:12am