10.0 DISTANCE RACES
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10.1 What length are the distance races?
10.2 What are the major internationally recognised distance races?
10.3 Are there sometimes more than 6 crew members in a distance race?
10.4 How do they change paddlers during the race?
10.5 So who decides when to replace paddlers?
10.6 What difficulties are had in making up a change chart?
10.7 Does the steerer also change over?
10.1 What length are the distance races?
Race lengths differ with age groups. Some countries and states do not have distance races for junior divisions for example. Open divisions and beyond have races which start at about 8-10km upwards. These can go up to 60km as in the case of Hawaii's Moloka'i to Oahu race and even up to 80km in the case of one race held in Tahiti, which can take up to 7 hours or more.
10.2 What are the major internationally recognised distance races?
These are growing in number around the Pacific. But the more established distance races include:
AUSTRALIA: The Hamilton Cup in June of each year, established 1983 and held over 4 days combining sprint races for six and solo canoes, culminating in a 42km marathon race offering prize money of AD$6000 for the first crews in open and master divisions, male and female.
CALIFORNIA: The Catalina Island Race held in September, established 1959 and held over 2 days. Women race 27 miles from Newport Beach to Avalon on the island of Catalina and the men race back the following day over 31 miles.
HAWAII: The womens Na Wahine O Ke Kei, held in September, established 1979, 41 miles, 66kms, starts from Hale O Lono Harbour on the island of Moloka'i, finishing at Waikiki on Oahu.
HAWAII: The mens Bankoh Moloka'i Hoe, held in October of each year, established 1952, 41 miles, 66kms, starts from Hale O Lono Harbour on the island of Moloka'i, finishing at Waikiki on Oahu.
HAWAII: The Queen Liliuokalani Race, held at the beginning of September each year. Established 1971. The largest long distance outrigger canoe race in the world. Held on the Big Island of Hawaii in the township of Kailua on the Kona Coast. Women paddle from Kailua to Honaunau Bay to the South, 18 miles away and the men paddle back on the same day. Following day has DC12 races (double canoe) and also solo canoe races. Fantastic cultural experience.
TAHITI: The Hawaki Nui Race, established 1992. One of the most interesting events on offer. Held over 116km over three days, held in the leeward islands, northwest of Tahiti. Canoes leave from Huahine to Raiatea finishing on the final day on the island of Bora Bora.
10.3 Are there sometimes more than 6 crew members in a distance race?
Yes. In cases where distance races exceed a certain length,a factor known as changeovers can be implemented. The basis behind this is that fatigued paddlers are replaced with fresh paddlers and this requires that their is a change of paddler. Races of this nature usually allow for crews of up to 9 per canoe in the case of mens crews and for womens crews, up to 10.
10.4 How do they change paddlers during the race?
In theory it's simple. A paddler rolls out of the canoe and a fresh paddler waiting in the water, grabs the canoe as it passes, pulls themselves in and takes over paddling. However, it requires many good qualities of strength, timing, swimming ability and a degree of nerve. Having a 40 foot canoe weighing over 1,500lbs being aimed pretty much right at you, requires nerve. You only get one shot at it.
The art is to enter the canoe with as minimum disturbance to the canoe's momentum as possible and start paddling as soon as you can.
10.5 So who decides when to replace paddlers?
A coach will generally have this worked out on a change chart and will be aboard a support vessel calling the shots. Generally speaking after the race starts there will be a period of time in which no change overs may be made, and this may be as much as 30 minutes. After which, changeovers can begin and you can change as many as you like at a time, but generally a maximum of three at any one change over is made.
Coaches will generally want to rotate paddlers every 15-20 minutes. Tired paddlers climb aboard their support vessel and then take on fluids and any carbohydrates they may need, and prepare themselves for their next session. Generally speaking the canoe will start and finish the race with the strongest crew combination.
10.6 What difficulties are had in making up a change chart?
Primarily in keeping the blend of paddlers in the canoe at any one time such that the canoe travels smoothly. In this respect keeping those who sit one and two, is crucial to this blend, as it is these positions which stand to create the biggest inconsistencies within the canoe. Having a good gene pool of paddlers to choose from with all around abilities definitely makes the job easier.
10.7 Does the steerer also change over?
Generally speaking, no. Steerers will paddle iron or without change, staying put for the duration of the race. This means they must stay well hydrated and in the case of the longer races, consume concentrated carbohydrates to keep going for over 4 hours. Crews generally have one specialist steerer, so if they do take a break it may be for a short time before returning to steer.