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2001
Check Your Rudder 2001

CHECK YOUR RUDDER AT THE DOOR OC1 RACE

This race was held in 2001. We're planning on another edition in the future. Stay tuned!

Look for info about the race early in the year.

Jim Foti strokes for the finish

 

On a beautiful Waikiki day, a small but enthusiastic bunch of paddlers lined up for the start of Anuenue's First Annual Check your Rudder at the Door OC1 race on March 11th, 2001. Nappy changed the race course because of surf and wind conditions to a 3.1 mile out and back double loop starting at the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. Not only did this change give a variety of water conditions to challenge no-rudder skills, but it also proved to be fun for the spectators who could follow the action as the paddlers made the turn on the inside buoy to go out the channel again. The race was started by a blast from Babe Bell's famous pu, and Jim Foti jumped off to a lead that he never relinquished. Adding to the unique nature of the event, finishers were serenaded by club bagpiper Hardy Spoehr complete with kilt. Overall a good time was had by all with lots of food, music and door prizes including a new Makana Alii paddle donated by Fred DeLos Santos. Thanks, Fred! After lunch and awards, a group headed back to Hawaii Kai to get in one more run to take advantage of a great day out on the water. See you next year for #2!

Aaron Napoleon heads for the outer buoy

Robi Solmssen

Who needs a rudder! Fred DeLos Santos makes the turn.

Results:

Open:

  1. Jim Foti 23:27
  2. Aaron Napoleon 24:25
  3. Robi Solmssen 26:35

35-44:

  1. Joey Napoleon 25:38
  2. Jeff Cummings 31:59

45-54:

  1. Greg Poole 27:39
  2. Sam Alama 27:54
  3. Fred DeLos Santos 36:51

55+:

  1. Jerome Cox 33:01
  2. Clyde Hedlund 34:21

Nappy: Watch out you guys -next year I'm going to enter!
 
2001

Season Update

OC1 Season:

Aaron cruising on his Blade

Canoes at the ready: Hawaii Kai

Led by Aaron Napoleon, Anuenue's OC1 competitors turned in some solid performances during the Kanaka Ikaika season. Aaron was consistently near the top of the open division while brother Joey, Norm Bradley, and the brothers Solmssen represented Anuenue well week after week. Aaron and Joey teamed up in the Kaiwi Channel Relay (4th) while Aaron finished 6th overall in the individual event two weeks later and first in his age group. Nappy and Gaylord Wilcox were consistently in the top 3 in the 50+ long course division and also joined up to take top honors in the Catalina Relay and the Kaiwi Channel Relay. Pete Caldwell carried the flag for the club in the kapuna short course division along with Randy Fernley in the open category. On the wahine side, Reina Garcia was second overall in SC Novice A Poai Puni points for the season.

Aaron just before the finish in the Molokai Challenge

Nappy + shades head for the line (first in the 60+ for the Challenge)

OC6 Ironman events:

Open crew dominates

Two Anuenue crews made especially strong showings in the 2001 ironman events. Most notable was the mixed open crew steered by David Napoleon. This group absolutely walked away from the opposition in every event they entered. Also for two events, the Beach Boys race and the Kala Kukea, a group of open men got together that really clicked. This crew (Aaron Napoleon, Andy Penny, the Solmssen brothers, Norm Bradley and Joey Napoleon) scored two very convincing wins and brought up thoughts of possible future success during long distance season. In addition, various combinations of Nappy's prime time crew produced wins and top 3 finishes in senior masters and golden masters divisions in the various iroman season events.

Regatta season:

They're off and running at Nanakuli

MacFarlane 2001:

It was a good day for Anuenue at Waikiki with a lot of good waves ,strong finishes., and steering by David Napoleon and brother Joey filling in for Nappy who was still in Rotuma on movie assignment. David especially got an idea of what his Dad routinely has been doing all these years steering race after race and proceeded to crash later that afternoon.

The club ended up tied with Surf Club for top honors in the "A" division and if it hadn't been for a somewhat questionable decision about the winner in the ladies GM race, it would have beeen an outright win. Led by the Novice A women's victory, other crews with good races were the 12 mixed (second), 18 girls (second), GM women (second ??? but many thought won the race over host Outrigger), and open-4 men (second). The sophomore women scored a third as did the GM men.

How sweet it is!

Training for the next race!

Flash: After recalculating the points, Anuenue ended up on top after all to claim the undisputed win for the A division! Way to go, officials!

Now it's time to crank it up for the stretch run with two more Keehi regattas to nail down qualifying spots for Kauai.

These shots tell it all. End of the regular regatta season at Keehi Lagoon. On to Kauai and long distance season!

Catalina 2001

Part of the fun of the Catalina Race is hanging out on the island before the race (and after for the women)!

Faith and Catalina tile award

Dr. P: Cross training in the street

Nappy serenades the town from the roof

Gaylord: Ready for action on race morning

Nappy & Gaylord in sync and headed for the mainland

Defending champions repeat

Malia champs again

Moloka'i 2001

Moloka'i Hoe50th crossing: GM men on the way to a second in the division and 58th out of 104- not bad for the prime time crew! The open crew finished 10th overall with a solid effort in spite of a mid-channel huli thanks to a big rogue wave. Anuenue 2 (the up and coming not-so-novice young guys) nosed out their elders in 52nd. The women's crew also battled rough channel conditions with a strong, middle-of-the-pack finish.