[Photos] by Marjie Santos

[Results] at Kanaka Ikaika
[Y2Kanu Photos] by Rick Leton

[Results] at SoCal Ocean Racing

[Photos & a video clip from the start] by L., K., & M. Denton
Conditions were a mixed bag of wind directions as the long course competitors needed to go a tough paddle upwind first from Pt. Allen for about a mile to Wahiawa bay where they turned on a buoy. Hoping for downwind conditions following the turn worked according to plan until the expected flat portion for the last third of the race turned into another upwind battle as wind direction reversed. For competitors who paddled last year's Kauai World Challenge it was a bit of a flashback. Though short course paddlers did not have to do deal with the head winds in the beginning they did have their share at the end and every competitor got a good workout.

[Photos] by Marjie Santos
Cheryl's Valentines Relay was held on Saturday January 12th in Kona. This unique event is an OC-1 and OC-2 couples relay, though there is division for those lonely hearts without a partner. This event was a fund raiser for the extension if H.I.P.A.'s Honokohau Canoe halau, that will include racks specifically for the youth program, (kid's can't really take their OC-1 to school so they can paddle after school can they?).

[Photos 1][Photos 2]
It turned out to be an okay day for us. Some wind, a few rain drops, whales, reef, not too hot but still a lot of hard work. We started off with 2 water patrol boats experiencing engine trouble. Head official Kalela had to pull his boat out but thankfully he swam out to set the finish buoy. Mary was able to fix her problem and joined us at the start of the short course. Mahalo to Cary and Shauna, our certified lifeguards on jet skis, for running with the long course and being the turn “buoy” at Haycraft.

[Results] at Kanaka Ikaika
[Y2Kanu Photos] by Rick Leton

[Results] at SoCal Ocean Racing

[Photos] by Makana Denton
Sunday's course went from Poipu to Pt. Allen for the long course and Kukuiula Harbour to Pt. Allen. The conditions were light winds coming from the east and we had 50 paddlers entering overall.