This is a survey that is being 'put out' by the organizers, our input will help!

[Send email to Susan Boyd requesting survey form if you have problems opening]

One of the important questions being asked is in relation to the distribution of prize money. There is a feeling that putting all the eggs into one basket for the one race, is not in the best interest of the event as a whole.

Essentially, what is being considered [and I take responsibility for pushing this envelope having started this notion over 3 years ago] is the following;

The 42km Hamilton Cup winners, will still be acknowledged as the respective winners of their divisions, and names engraved on trophies etc. However in respect of being 'Event Champions' and in order to collect a share of the prize money the following criteria will apply;

Overall 'Team' placings will be based on the following;

1. Times will be cumulative over the 500, 1000, 16km and 42km events.
2. Points will be awarded for placings.
3. Points will be the governing factor re placings, times used in the event of a 'tied' situation to determine one place over another.

The concept is already used in Tahiti in such races as the Aito and Hawaiki Nui Va`a. Essentially the benefits are as follows;

1. Encourages greater participation across all events
2. Greater opportunity for all to share in the prize money
3. Increased build up/anticipation in the lead up to the 42km race
4. Glues the entire event together/greater direction/cohesion
5. More attractive to sponsors gaining more value added days
6. Uniquely different
7. Ensures winners are multi-skilled and disciplined
8. Adds renewed interest and new element to the event as a whole
9. Would resolve issues of who is competing for the money and who is not
10. Greater media attention and hype would be generated
11. Creates two dynamics in the one event - money or the cup or both

I would suggest some consideration of crew numbers and checking would need to be considered ie would only 9 persons be permitted to be part of the crew competing for the money be mandatory, or could it plausible to have as many as 12 who can interchange between races?

In the long run, elite teams who may be DQd in a sprint race or any other, or have a 'shocker' in any one event, effectively throw the door open to lesser teams, and therefore there is greater potential opportunity for the money to be won by others, rather than the usual suspects.

Anyway have your say, but give careful consideration to the renewed vigour and interest this event will gain as a consequence.

...the upwind leg to Pentecost was hard going, as it is most years; and for those who have raced this course enough times will tell you, it's probably the most critical leg of the race.

We; Mooloolaba, had an injured Travis Grant steering and a last minute replacement paddler from NZ, ['Kingy', who did a great job] and while these aren't reasons enough for finishing better than 4th, you've gotta hand it the designer of the Southern Spirit...and I take nothing away from Northcliffe's performance; but how shall I put it, I wish we were paddling one so as we could measure our performance against them more accurately.

Below: Dave Schloss (1) Todd Cohen (3) and Steve West (5) entering on way to Pentecost. 'Kingy' (2) Matt Carter  (4) Travis Grant Steering. Photo Andy Wheatley.

This is something of a 'muscle' race and a 'steerers' race and Team Tiger's win is something of a testament to this [paddling a Mirage] as are most all past winners, in male and female divisions. But I can't but help conclude from talking to many and from observing how it moves through the water, that the Southern Spirit canoe is very probably, the ideal canoe for Hamilton Island waters.

Northcliffe steerer, Peter Dorries ran trials prior to Hamilton with the SS, and it was clear to him that the canoe was quicker than the Mirage in the conditions that mattered in the context of Hamilton Island waters. Their purchase and decision to use the SS at this years event, was a wise one indeed, which left us, Mooloolaba, licking our wounds somewhat. Will we be paddling a SS next year? If our club can afford the near AUD$20,000 price tag, 'Yes please'.

Below: Pentecost, finally. New Caledonia in 4th spot at this point, against the wall, the nose of Northern Beaches Southern Spirit just behind. Todd Murray (1) Steve West  (2) Adam Fisher (3) Todd Cohen (4) Paul Sloman (5) Travis Grant Steering. Photo Matt Carter

Which brings me to an important point; if the Hamilton Cup is as prestigious as we all believe it to be, not just in the context of the Australian race scene, but as an international event, is it not about time [Australian] clubs considered purchasing canoes suited to winning this event in the same way as Hawaiians purchase canoes suited to winning Moloka`i [as we also have traditionally done].

No, I'm not a sales rep for the manufacturer Ian Rawlings, AKA 'Lats' but I have always been of the opinion that this particular, unique 'from the ground' up designed and built Aussie OC6, has never been given a 'fair-go' on account of our love affair with all things Hawaiian. It's foam sandwich construction, molded seat and cockpit thwarts act to make for an extremely 'stiff' canoe, which beyond its other design merits, ensures minimal loss of forwards momentum due to longitudinal twisting. It's not that other paddlers don't already know of the merits of this canoe, they do, it's just that it has never been paddled by a crew that came so close to perhaps winning Hamilton before.

Below: Tood Murray (1) Dave Schloss  (2) Paul Sloman  (3) Todd Cohen (4) Steve West (5) and Travis Grant Steering pushing past Northern Beaches and New Caledonia on the way back from Pentecost to Hamilton Island. Photo Matt Carter

Back to the race...after holding onto Northern Beaches, paddling a Southern Spirit and New Caledonia [Mirage], we rounded Pentecost and got a sniff of some runners, put the Hammer down and pushed into 4th. We were chasing down Team Hawai`i back to Hamilton, who picked up the pace to overtake Northcliffe just before Fitzalan Island.

Had the race been over another 10km, the results of the top 3 places would I believe have been different, even the top 5, which you cannot say of all past years. If Team Tiger had paddled a SS would they still have won? Yes...I think is the answer to that one. How would the result of been affected if the top 5 teams had all paddled Southern Spirits? Now that's a good question. 

1 28 Team Tiger OM 3:02:17.14 (1) Mirage
2 12 Team Hawaii/NZ 1 OM 3:03:01.54 (2) Mirage
3 69 Northcliffe OM 3:04:29.16 (3) Southern Spirit
4 71 Mooloolaba OM 3:06:33.38 (4) Mirage
5 32 Northern Beaches OM 3:07:17.73 (5)  Southern Spirit

Below: Southern Spirit Photo Harvie Allison. Click to Enlarge. 

Paddling under the name of Team Tiger, an Australian crew is finally back on the podium with line honours. Their strength was evident in the upwind leg to Pentecost Island, a 14km slog. However, they were not allowed to run away with it, with a strong challenge from Northcliffe in their Southern Spirit canoe, followed by Team Hawaii. Around Pentecost and on the way back to Hamilton Island, Mooloolaba had moved up on New Caledonia (4th) and Northern Beaches (5th). Mooloolaba put  the hammer down, as conditions altered to being more suited to some chasing of bumps. In a short time, they moved past to slot into 4th spot and could clearly see Team Hawaii who seemed to have dropped off the pace.

Nearing Hamilton Island Team Hawaii picked up the pace and moved closer in on Northcliffe, passing them with about 4km to go, putting them into 2nd spot. On the home stretch to Catseye Beach, Mooloolaba pushed harder closing in on Northcliffe who were struggling in the current on the Hamilton Island side, but the positions were as good as cemented, Team Tiger crossing 1st, followed by Team Hawaii, Northcliffe and Mooloolaba, all with 1-2 minutes of each other.

In the Master Mens division, Danny Sheard's Mooloolaba crew won the day as did Mooloolaba's Snr Master crew. Mooloolaba's Open Women captained by Lisa Curry-Kenny again won the womens division. Without results to hand as a write this, this is alI I can provide, but visit the official website for results. Full story and report in the June Kanu Culture E-Zine.