Vaka Eiva 2010

Vaka Eiva 2010 links

Build-up

• Cook Islands News supplement - includes full programme and introduction to teams

External Links:

• Official Vaka Eiva website

Events and results:

• Day 1 results (Sat 20 Nov)
• Day 2 results (Mon 22 Nov)
• Day 3 results (Tue 23 Nov)
• Day 4 results (Wed 24 Nov)
• Day 6 results (Fri 25 Nov)

Full coverage (day-by-day):

• Mon 22 Nov
• Tue 23 Nov
• Wed 24 Nov
• Thu 25 Nov
• Fri 26 Nov
• Sat 27 Nov

‘Perfect storm’ hits race
Cooks paddlers in the medals
Day 2 photos
Tree planting, Boiler swim part of festival
V6 Iron Vaka Eiva 2010 results from yesterday

Star studded Crown Beach Kings crew dig deep as they chase down the mixed local and international Boiler Boyz crew to place 2nd. 10112225

A freak squall threw 25-knot southerly winds and heavy rain that reduced visibility to 50 metres at the best of the best yesterday in the defining race of Vaka Eiva – the 18km open men’s V6 Iron.

The mini storm seemed perfectly planned to test them in timing, endurance, bailing, steering and courage all at once.

The squall struck 10 minutes into the race after the five leading canoes had put a gap between them and the rest of the field, and raged for an hour.

For the leaders it was a case of following Te Tupu O Te Manava’s Boiler Boyz International who claimed first place and never looked like letting it go.

For the rest of the field it was a case of punching into the weather and trying to stay on a tight course to Avana, which several tail end boats failed to do, one of them relenting and making a u-turn at Matavera to head home to Avarua.

The first few winning teams were all composite crews made up of invitational club members and international paddlers.

The Boiler Boyz (1:16:47) this year included three leading New Caledonian paddlers. Second place about 150 metres behind was won by the Crown Beach Kings from Australia’s Outrigger Canoe Club (1:19:47). Third went to the Kiwi team called Outrigger NZ (1:20:00).

In fourth was Ngakau Toa Vaka (1:20:17) with a “100 percent pure local” crew. NTV, 2009 winners of the V6 Iron, fought off a long challenge for more than half of the race from Te Tupu’s Number 2 team (1:21:23) right on their tail, and shook them off in the last few kilometers as they pursued and almost ran down Outrigger NZ.

Behind Te Tupu 2 were Team Makaira (1:25:41) from the Mana Pasifika OCC in NZ and in seventh place were Ngakau Toa Vaka 2 (1:25:41). In 10th place were Aitutaki Oe Vaka in a respectable time of 1:38:23.

The result of the V6 open men’s iron is a portent of things to come in the premier round island Pacific Cup relay on Friday. The relay is raced by crews of nine paddlers doing water changeouts three paddlers at a time. The intense local rivalry between Te Tupu and Ngakau Toa will come to the fore again on Friday as they fight for supremacy, while the top Aussie and Kiwi crews will be digging deep to cause an upset.

Full Vaka Eiva coverage, pages 9 to 12.

• John Woods

The Tumutoa crew from the Cook Islands Canoe Club in New Zealand carve it up on the ocean in their junior under 19 V6 12km race on Monday. 10112238

Cook Islanders were in the medals once again yesterday in an exciting day of V6 Iron races. The masters/senior masters and U19 men kicked racing off in the morning over 12km. Always a race to watch, the masters paddlers didn’t disappoint with a battle from the start. The strong Raiatea Hoe crew kept the lead until the turnaround buoy where Te Tupu masters snuck in and fought hard on the downwind leg.

“It was great teamwork, the guys pushed it in the surf,” said master steersman Sani Sosene. The Te Tupu men caught a couple of good little bumps on the home straight to give them the edge coming home in 59 minutes with Raiatea Hoe 36seconds behind, and a close finish between Mana Menz in third in 1.00.31 and the Natives in 1.00.38.

Hawaiian Canoe Club crew took out the senior masters division in a time of 1.05.46 with Anuenue steered by Nappy in second and NZ’s Fluffy Slippers in third. NZ crew King Justice took out the U19 division in a time of 1.02.43 with Te Tupu juniors just over two minutes behind in second and NZ crew Tumutoa in third.

Fifteen crews lined up in the open men’s race. A torrential downpour hit paddlers shortly into the 18km race but did nothing to affect the pace.

The Boiler Boyz International crew led by top Cooks paddler Reuben Dearlove, had Aussie crew Crown Beach Kings and Outrigger NZ breathing down their necks to the turnaround at Avana, but the firepower added by the three New Caledonian guns went into play with Boiler Boyz International gunning it on the downhill run to easily take line honours in a time of 1.16.47 with Crown Beach Kings with father/son combo Chris Maynard and Jackson at stroke and steering, second in 1.19, and a dogfight between local crew Ngakau Toa Vaka and Outrigger NZ for third with the Kiwi crew just inching ahead in 1.20 with NTV in 1.20.17.

There was a huge upset in the open women’s race with “unknowns” Te Karere Arikipuia from Porirua, Wellington paddling to a clear lead from the start, and top crews from last year’s Vaka Eiva, the Big Island Girls, Makana Alii and Paddle NZ(Lara’s lot) battling for second.

Spectators along the coast were baffled as to who the mystery crew in the lead was.

At the Avana turnaround Te Karere Arikipuia had a one minute lead on their rivals, which they extended on the downward run paddling to a clear win in a time of 1.30.28 over two minutes clear of last year’s winners Hawaii’s Big Island Girls in 1.32.52, and Hawaii’s Makana Alii scooping up third in 1.32.58.

Local crew Ngakau Toa Vaka had a strong fifth placing in 1.36.01 with Te Tupu women in seventh in 1.40.50. Winners Te Karere Arikipuia were ecstatic with their win, which was all the more amazing as the crew includes four sisters, NZ based Cook Islanders Mereana (who placed 2nd masters OC1 on Saturday), Mariana, Pania , and Teremoana Hodges.

“We’re doing this for our aunty. Her spirit was with us today,” said Mereana Hodges (niece of well known journalist Elma Maua who passed away earlier this year).

All eyes will no doubt be on this crew for the premier event on Friday. Hopefully they will conserve some energy as they also plan on doing the mixed Thursday Round Raro race with their brother and in-laws.

“The guys better step it up for that one,” laughed Teremoana Hodges.

• Serena Hunter

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Aitutaki Oe Vaka Crew crash their way through the waves at the start of the open men’s race at Vaka Eiva 2010 yesterday. 10112227

 

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Kiwi’s open men’s crew Team Kina get plenty of air during their 18km race yesterday. 10112228

 

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Aitutaki Oe Vaka under 19 crew power their way through their 12km race on yesterday. 10112236

 

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Hawaiian based Cook Islander Tapa Worthington leads the Te Tupu O Te Manava open men’s B team home in torrential rain. 10112221

 

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A combined under 19 men’s crew dig deep during their race on Monday. 10112237

 

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Ngakau Toa Vaka open men’s crew power through the surf. 10112223

 

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Light seas and wind greeted under 19 and master men paddlers before a freak storm tested the open men later in the day on Monday. 10112241

 

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Te Mana O Utataki open women paddlers from Aitutaki showed off their paddling prowess during Monday’s women’s V6 Iron race. 10112219

 

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V6 18km open women’s champions crew Te Karere a Arikipuia from New Zealand were unknown going into the race and after winning – they will be the talk in paddling circles. 10112220

 

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V6 18km open women’s champions crew Te Karere a Arikipuia from New Zealand were unknown going into the race but after winning – will be better known. 10112244

 

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Cook Islands crew Unsquashables grind it out. 10112230

 

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Local paddler Paul Mangakahia takes a well earned dip after his Te Tupu O Te Manava crew cleaned up in the master men’s division yesterday. 10112233

 

A tree planting ceremony is taking place this morning from 8am at Nukupure Park in Muri, to tie in with the Vaka Eiva 2010 paddling tournament.

The joint initiative by the National Environment Service (NES) and Muri Environment Care Group will see at least 20 trees planted, which will be looked after by the wider Muri community and landowners.

Today is a rest day for senior Vaka Eiva paddlers, although juniors are racing.

They will lead a small ceremony to the beach at Muri before racing.

Trees planted will stabilise the Muri beach while providing shade and shelter.

Each year Vaka Eiva paddlers will return to plant additional trees on Rarotonga.

NES staff have organised annual tree planting to coincide with the sport tournament, and to date more than 50 trees – mostly tamanu and miro – have been planted along the Takuvaine Stream.

Meanwhile, Trader Jacks Boiler Swim is also on today, starting at 5pm.

Everyone is invited to participate in the approximately 750m swim – both paddlers and supporters.

The swim will take place in front of Trader Jacks and entry will be a gold coin donation which will go to Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service.

• NES/MT

Results