7.0 SOLO OUTRIGGER CANOES
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7.1 Tell me more about solo outrigger canoes?
7.2 Are they also referred to as one-man canoes?
7.3 What length are solo outrigger canoes?
7.4 What weight are most solo canoes?
7.5 So what design specifications apply to solo canoes?
7.6 So there is no class racing as such?
7.7 Where are solo outrigger canoes actively raced?
7.8 What is the great appeal of solo outrigger canoes?
7.9 Are there solo outrigger canoe sprint races?
7.10 What are the major distance races for solo outriggers?
7.1 Tell me more about solo outrigger canoes?
Solo outrigger canoes are not a new concept, having been present throughout all regions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia for well over a thousand years. Used as a means of personal transportation or for the lone fisherman, the solo outrigger canoe was an essential possession of many an islander.
First raced and popularised in Tahiti, the solo outrigger canoe was very much a flat water lagoon craft not designed for the rigours of the open ocean. Open decked and built to be extremely light and fast, serious modifications had to be made to the structural integrity of the canoe to make it suitable as an open ocean craft.
Walter Guild of The Fibreglass Shop Hawaii, along with Brent Bixler in 1986, took a Tahitian lagoon style canoe and made modifications to it; enclosing the deck area, added foot peddle steering, beefed up the rigging and ended up with a prototype. Following this, a purpose built canoe was designed and constructed, named the Kaiwi Challenger, which then took the sport from the calm of tropical lagoons to the might and force of the open ocean. Subsequently other designs have flourished and the interest in the sport has been nothing short of phenomenal.
7.2 Are they also referred to as one-man canoes?
Yes, though it must be said that this is a somewhat sexist term, so the term solo canoe or solo outrigger is perhaps more socially equitable as outrigger canoeing is anything but male dominated.
7.3 What length are solo outrigger canoes?
As with any embryonic sport, experimentation has been a major facet within this division since 1989. Canoes as short as 19ft have been experimented with and started out as long as 27ft.
Some designers try to create a compromise canoe or an all around canoe, which performs well not only in flat water but also in the rough. Unfortunately these criteria and design requirements are diametrically opposed to each other and therefore an all around canoe is neither outstanding in one condition or another, merely reasonably good in most.
The short canoes of 19-21ft thereabouts with extra rocker (hull curvature) perform well in ocean conditions, but not so on the flat. Whereas the longer canoes of between 21-23ft with a little less rocker, perform better on the flat and still perform adequately on the ocean. Ideally, you need two canoes, one for flat water races and one for rough water.
In areas such as Hawaii, solo canoes are generally constructed with rough water paddling in mind, as these make up the bulk of the race courses and as such they are specifically designed to perform best in these conditions.
7.4 What weight are most solo canoes?
Weight has definitely become the crucial factor in design and the principal criteria which paddlers are demanding from manufacturers. Unfortunately, weight is directly proportional to the amount of money you want to spend. The more you spend, the lighter the canoe can be by use of exotic materials.
Standard fibreglass constructed solo canoes in the 23ft range can be between 17-20kg with the shorter canoes going down to 17-15kg. With the use of exotics it's possible to go as light as 12kg and maybe less. However longevity of the canoe and maintaining structural integrity and therefore safe usage of the canoe in a variety of conditions, remains a factor even when using exotic materials.
Lagoon styled canoes in Tahiti have reportedly been as light as 5kg, constructed from ply and kevlar, but are confined to flat water.
7.5 So what design specifications apply to solo canoes?
Interestingly, little attempt has been made to regulate design criteria for solo outrigger canoes. This is due in part to two factors:
1. That it is way to early to start putting regulations on design when the concept is so new
2. That most solo races are run independent of the major governing associations out of season and are therefore self regulated by enthusiasts and promoters.
However some major races do put a limit of some nature on design in order to ensure safety and so that those with less bucks to spend are not grossly disadvantaged and this is usually in regards to canoe weight only.
7.6 So there is no class racing as such?
None, as there aren't enough of any one design and no one body to regulate them. Solo outrigger canoeing is very much a maverick, free spirited sport, not unlike surfing where rules are generally not applied to the nature of the canoe you use. Just as long as it is of a single outrigger design and paddled with a single blade, you're in. The only acception is during the IVF World Sprint Championships, when all competitors must use the choosen canoe for the event.
7.7 Where are solo outrigger canoes actively raced?
Increasingly in all parts of the Pacific. The major participants are currently Hawaii and Tahiti, with strong growth now happening in New Zealand, Australia, Oregon, Canada and California.
7.8 What is the great appeal of solo outrigger canoes?
Fundamentally it provides the paddler with freedom to be their own boss much like any other solo paddle sport. Transportability via car roof rack and the ability to paddle when you want, where you want, gives you the chance to train at hours that suit you and an opportunity to improve your paddling technique.
The other important factor is the speed at which even a beginner can take to the craft and quickly find themselves paddling in an ocean environment, without the fear of entrapment that can occur with sit inside kayaks and without the inherent instability problems of a surf ski/kayak.
This is making it a very popular choice for individuals wanting to take up paddling on the ocean who live in an area where the sport is practised. As race venues expand and manufacturers vary the nature of solo outrigger canoes they manufacture, the sport is sure to continue growing at a rapid rate. It is currently estimated that the solo outrigger division is the fastest growing paddle sport in Hawaii, surpassing that of kayaking and surf skis.
7.9 Are there solo outrigger canoe sprint races?
Yes. They tend to be of shorter duration than that of six person canoe sprint races, being between 250 and 500m as turns are not included.
7.10 What are the major distance races for solo outriggers?
All countries where the sport is practised to any degree, have major distance races, including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Tahiti. In terms of major international events only Hawaii and Tahiti have truly international events at present.
Tahiti stage the Super Aito (Budweiser Channel Va'a race) in August, which is staged between the island of Moorea and Tahiti, a distance of 36kms. The event is open to those who finish in the top 25 of a series of races held throughout Tahiti and neighbouring islands and then, by invitation, a select number of international paddlers.
In Hawaii the Kaiwi Challenge race, is a race from the island of Moloka'i to Oahu, over some 66kms (42 miles). This race however allows for change overs. Men are permitted 2 paddlers working on a rotation basis, using a support boat and women up to to 3. Held in May of each year.