Anyone here doing the race, or have friends in Hawaii gearing up for Sunday? The energy has been building for the last couple weeks, and now that the forecast is looking favorable, it is ramping up big time.
The Makapuu warm-up race went off 2 days ago, in a building NE wind and south swell that made the run to Portlock really light up, everyone drank deeply from the downwind chalice, yet the thirst only builds!
Pat Dolan was the only big name on the start line and he romped through his local playground in typical fashion, crossing the line at the Hui Nalu boathouse a half mile clear of the competition in a new forest green 18 pound Vega. Aussie James Porter took out second place four minutes later, winning the "not Pat" division in front of locals Kai Bartlett/ Borys Markin and Durban challenger Tyron Maher.
The international field got a small taste of the complex near-shore Oahu waters, as the racers were shunted around a turn buoy perhaps a half-mile into the Kaiwi channel that forced a critical decision early in the race: Stay wide in the bigger surf and shoot the rhumb line to the corner of Hanauma Bay? Or use the swell angle to head in towards Sandy beach, then work the rebound off the cliffs to sneak an inside line in hopes of staying out of the current?
I chose the latter, and felt pretty good about it 15 minutes later when I spotted race director/local legend Jim Foti hauling ass across Sandy's on an OC2 with youngster Luke Kaminskas in the front seat, who may not be old enough to have a driver's license! The inside line was paid an unexpected bonus crossing the mouth of Hanauma bay, where a massive eddy briefly flattened the bumps into a cauldron of boiling froth that slung the paddlers out into the final downwind stretch down "The Wall" from Hanauma to Portlock. This section is always lively, but it can be hard work on a more easterly tradewind direction when the reflected waves are bouncing more directly back out to sea. In those conditions every wave is hard work as you must punch over and through big chops, like skiing down a mogul field. Sunday's run was exceptionally fun and easy with steep paddles-up holes criss-crossing at perfect angles allowing for endless linkups and dry cockpits.
The last section of the course from China Wall through the reefs of Maunalua Bay has infamously crushed the dreams of countless paddlers over the decades. Like Homer threading the needle through Scylla and Charybdis, the homeward bound Molokai racer must choose between two monsters: Option A is to swing wide in relative safety but at the price of a longer course, worse current and often stronger headwind. Option B is to stay tighter to the shoreline and enjoy exhilarating surf runs, with the dark cloud of destruction hanging over one's head. A word of caution to those who may cleverly decide to seek a middle compromise: As Mr. Miyagi counseled us, if you do not commit to one path or the other, you may find yourself squished like grape.
And speaking of getting squished, a shout out here is in order for the tireless dealer reps and local repair guys that make this race happen. Thank you so much for making sure we have these amazing toys on which to paddle this incredible race, and thank you for only briefly cursing under your breath when we break stuff doing dumb things before fixing it for us in the nick of time and sending us on our way. Really, thanks a million. At the start line Sunday, the low tide coral heads claimed one paddler's rudder, and Epic rep Kenny Howell was able to run back down the road to his truck, swap the rudder and get the paddler to the start line, although he himself was not able to make the gun. What a guy!
Thankfully for the Makapuu dash, our Scylla was taking a rest day, probably saving up her energy for the main event. Playful chest high waves lined up perfectly through the inside, making it an easy choice with no sacrifice required for the competitors who had done their homework. I certainly enjoyed the view watching the surf battle between the Jim/Luke OC2 and OC1 vet Mario Mausio as they charged right through the heart of the reef system, rooster tails flying!
So now all eyes turn to the big day on May 26- even with a favorable forecast (east trades, 15+) it is impossible to say what exactly we will find in the channel. The tide is minimal on the half moon, so racers will need to look elsewhere for the extra push to claim the huge cash purse offered by the sponsors for a record breaking crossing. On the ladies side, we've got only 10 women so far taking a crack at the title and massive payday. Calling all dark horse crushers!
There is an interesting swell pattern forecast with medium sized south and northwest crossing paths in the channel, combined with the tradewind swell it will be anything but straightforward for the paddlers, with great opportunity for the open water veterans to connect the dots. The pros will be linking it up all the way home, but the mid packers have to take an honest look in the mirror and ask ourselves "Do I have the power and endurance to chase down the bumps for four hours?" It's easy to be a surf hero closing on Portlock during a Makapuu run, but it's a totally different story with 3 hours of hard work already sapping the body, mind, and spirit. Especially since the channel has so many different sections, with the runs being easy rarely, hard mostly, and forget-about-it at the moments when you desperately wish it were otherwise... It is a big chessboard out there and not at all obvious when and where to apply your precious physical energy and mental focus.
I want to extend a warm welcome to everyone that comes over for this race, especially to the scores of Australians that save up and make the trip often enough to keep the thing afloat. It is a big deal to commit, especially since we've been skunked for wind more often than not over the last 15 years. Here's hoping everyone has a terrific crossing, and all around excellent vacation. Long live Molokai!
- Patrick Switzer
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