The good conditions of the ocean blue made for good racing around Rarotonga for the Vaka Eiva V6 Mixed Relay Round Raro oe vaka races.

Thirteen canoes hit the water yesterday morning at Avarua Wharf for the 36km oe vaka relay race around the island.

The Cook Islands local crews dominated the open mixed series claiming the top three fastest times.

Ngakau Toa Vaka mixed open crew blitzed across the finish line in a thrilling time of 2.57.42 hours, winning the coveted Bob Worthington Trophy that will be presented on Friday.

The Vaka Eiva race record for the mixed Round Raro is a blazing 2.45.17 that was set in 2010 by team Okotai which included the late Bob Worthington’s sons Paka and Tapa.

Second across the finish line yesterday was Te Tupu O Te Manava in 3.11.12 hrs, and Ngakau Toa Vaka coming in third in 3.25.18 hrs.

The juniors marathon races will start at 7am this morning out at the stunning Muri lagoon at the Rarotonga Sailing Club. The prizegiving will be held this evening 5.50pm at Margaritas.

The hotly contested V6 Round Raro Men’s and Women’s races will be held on Friday, starting from Avarua Wharf.
The men will steer off first at 7.30am, followed by the women at 12 noon. Dennes Boys from Cairns, Australia, are favourites in the men’s division and Makoha Poerava, comprising some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top masters and open women paddlers, a hot favourite in the women’s. This race will also serve as the National Round Raro Championship for the local crews.

Results

The results for the V6 Round Rarotonga Relay Mix are as follows:

Open Mix Division: 1 Canoe 3 Ngakau Toa Vaka (Talissa) 2.57.42; 2 Canoe 96 Te Tupu O Te Manava (Nicole) 3.11.12; 3 Canoe 33 Ngakau Toa Vaka (Vaea) 3.25.18; 4 Canoe 38 Far North Queensland 3.26.04; 5 Canoe 39 Haeata Ocean Sports 3.30.39; 6 Canoe 10 Penguins from Port Stephens 3.56.5.

V6 Mix 40 Division: 1 Canoe 31 Hokianga Natives Nga Kaitiaki Waka 3.3421; 2 Canoe 37 Far North Queensland 3.37.55; 3 Canoe 32 West Beaches Gee-Force 3.47.30; 4 Canoe 9 Hawaii Canoe club 4.0837.

V6 Master Mix 50 Division: 1 Canoe 40 Gold Coast Outrigger Canoe Club 3.41.44; 2 Canoe 99 Te Tupu O Te Manava 3.48.42.

V6 Master Mix 60 Division: 1 Canoe 35 Hawaii Canoe Club 3.31.44.