This is a Big Island classic with something for everyone. You could do an iron 8 miles, or 10 miles, or split it up and do half as a relay with a paddling partner. There’s even an option to do the iron yourself and have a partner do part of the relay with you so you can enter both iron and a relay so your partner can paddle a single leg.
This Saturday’s race followed on the tails of high surf warnings so hopes were up there would be some extra wave action. Kona being Kona however we didn’t get much of that swell but the wind tried to help out. The 9:30 am short course start saw the paddlers heading south into a building breeze out of Honokohau Harbor to Kamakahonu Beach where they would either swap with their partner or u-turn for the 8 mile iron short course. The 10:00 am start for the long course proceeded along the same line but further south to the coast guard 1.2 mile swim buoy then into Kamakahonu for the relay exchange or iron turn around.
Both courses had some south flowing current along Kiawe Point and paddlers on the inside grabbed a boost while pushing upwind. A navigational error by the lead pack on the long course sent some paddlers on an extra mile or so to correct their course error. Small wind bumps helped lift paddlers back north to the finish back at the harbor.
A raffle was held online to help raise money for the youth paddling program and the winners were announced on Instagram.
Congrats to the Keaukaha Paddlers (*and their relay partners)! The Juniors also charged the long iron course which was an amazing effort!
- Long Course: Keahi, Arron*, Eric, Jose, Jose & Brandi, Lewis Fleishour (KOYD jr. v1), Shai Badon Dellomes (KOYD jr. v1), Cother La’a (KOYD jr. v1)
- Short Course: Kyle*, Kanoe & Kama, Greg
Remember next week’s race is in Hilo on the 20th. Signup today:
