Waka Ama: Title stays in familiar hands

Paula Yates and Joanne Wikaira get ready to hoist themselves into the team Matariki waka as their team mates continue to paddle. Photo / Te Hiku Media

A new breed of waka, a renewed club enthusiasm and a reformatted race plan were all on show for the relaunch of the Sugar Loaf Ocean Challenge OC6 race hosted by Mitamitaga Ole Pasifika Va'aolo at Tutukaka.

Despite this, the championship title stayed in familiar hands.

Nga Hoe Horo's renowned open mens crew, Herberts on Tour, won the event thus defending the title they won the last time the Sugar Loaf race was staged five years ago.

Steered by Conan Herbert, and with national singles reigning champion Tupu King included in a powerful crew, Herberts on Tour had to be at their best to take the title.

Paddling the new Moana Nui designed open ocean OC6 waka Papaku added to the challenge.

This year's Sugar Loaf Challenge race was a changes event, becoming the only true open-ocean changes race in the country, with the course extended from the 34km circumnavigation of Sugar Loaf rock to include paddling around the Pinnacles adding another 6km to the race.

Club president Charlie Roughan was pleased to get the event back on the Waka Ama race calendar. "The race has a long and proud history with the club. I think everyone who raced had a tremendous experience, it was new water for many of the paddlers, even some of our most committed club members had never been past Sugar Loaf to the Pinnacles before."

Conditions on race day were challenging but enjoyable and the addition of Yacht-Bot GPS trackers enabled shore-based crew and spectators to keep an eye on the unfolding drama once crews had disappeared from sight.

Matariki, the Parihaka women's crew, led from start to finish in the women's race and, with a 30-minute handicapped start and a determined crew effort, almost made it all the way to Sugar Loaf (16.5km) at the head of the field.

Nga Hoe Horo were chasing hard, though, leading the men's pack after taking time to find their rhythm.

Team Kina, the Mitamitaga open men's crew, had the lead at first but the pack were all within a 500m spread until the turnaround.

With a following sea and a 10-15 knot tailwind things changed dramatically on the return leg. Nga Hoe Horo took off, reaching speeds of up to 13 knots. Team Kina were second and the Miti Masters crew surfed their way to third place.

Results:

Herberts on Tour (Nga Hoe Horo) 3 hours, 30 minutes, 28 seconds; Team Kina (Mitamitaga Open) 3 hours, 35 minutes, 27 seconds; Miti Masters (Mitamitaga Masters) 3 hours, 38 minutes, 42 seconds; Parihaka Pirates (Parihaka Masters) 3 hours, 44 minutes, 43 seconds; Team Paua (Mitamitaga Open) 3 hours, 51 minutes, 23 seconds; Ngati Rehia (Senior Masters) 4 hours, 6 minutes, 13 seconds; Parihaka Matariki (Masters women) 4 hours, 24 minutes, 23 seconds; Taniwha Wahinez (Taniwha/Mitamitaga women's) 4 hours, 39 minutes, 12 seconds.