The celebrated 2024 Cook Islands Canoeing Association Vaka Eiva concluded yesterday with the Round Rarotonga Relay V6 open men and women’s oe vaka races, showcasing the endurance and skills of the paddlers, and uniting local talent and international teams.

The outstanding local Te Tupu O Te Manava men’s crew smashed the rest of the teams by about a kilometre, racing in first across the finish line at Avarua Wharf in 2.50.59 hours.

Te Tupu took off to a blazing start with their starting six, Andre Tutaka-George, Reuben Dearlove, Cory Fisher, Teava Hunter, Raniera Ellison and Hiromana Flores. William Henry, Matthew Duffus and Arnold Theijssen were also part of the champion crew.

Dearlove said their strategy was to go hard, get an early lead and try to maintain it. He said everyone worked in really well together and the new guys really stepped up.

Te Tupu captain Andre Tutaka-George said the weather conditions were pretty flat most of the way around the island and once they got to Tikioki (Fruits of Raro), there was some swell.

“We made the most of it which helped us out some distance on the teams at the back. We had roughly about a kilometre on the guys behind us from Titikaveka onwards and we held that the whole way,” said Tutaka-George.

He said once the crew reached Black Rock there was a bit of head wind and they lost a bit of speed there but the boys managed to hang on.

“With the finish line being right there that motivated us to just keep pushing hard and were lucky by the time we got to Hula Bar, the wind kinda died down a bit that made it a bit easier on us to finish.”

Tutaka-George was extremely happy with the effort from the guys.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pinuela and Australia’s Dennes Boys had a good battle throughout with Pinuela just taking a lead about 3km out.

In the women’s division, Aotearoa’s Makoha took an early lead with Te Tupu O Te Manava, Ngakau Toa Vaka and Tiare Māori chasing.

Makoha’s captain, Rangi Rapana from Taupo Waka Ama, is no stranger to the Round Raro Relay, having won it a few years ago with local paddlers.

This year, the Makoha ladies crossed over the line first in a time of 3.29.21 hours.

Rapana said: “It was flat to start with then the rain came so we kinda had to battle with the local team Te Tupu. We always knew that they were going to be strong though – the local teams, we just had to keep our game together because a couple of times we were battling for the front so it was like ‘okay let’s keep our composure, let’s try and work what we can’.”

A competitive team, Rapana said out in the water they were just working for every little thing they could get.

“We were coming over for a wedding, so we thought we might as well bring a team,” she added

The other members of the Makoha oe vaka team included Jess McDuff, Maddy Dawe, Rachel Francis, Nia Ioaba, Terina Leubert, Inamaru Tere and Vesna Radonich.

Te Tupu steered by Tina Mitchell, who ironed the whole race, pulled away into second and also briefly took the lead.

It was very rough challenging conditions around Avana/Rutaki. Makoha pulled away coming around Arorangi, with Te Tupu followed by Tiare Māori and Ngakau Toa, steered by Talissa Koteka.

It was an exciting race finish with Tiare Māori right on Te Tupu’s tail, who finished second overall.

Te Tupu coach Serena Hunter said it has been a tough tussle with Ngakau Toa Vaka this season.

“They really stepped up and have provided awesome competition during the season, so we are happy with this win.”

Te Tupu O Te Manava claimed both the National Championships title in the men’s and women’s V6 Round Raro Race.

Results

Open Women’s: 1 Makoha Aotearoa 3.29.21; 2 Tiare Māori Cook Islands Outriggers Aotearoa 3.31.28; 3 Ngakau Toa Vaka (Ioana) Cook Islands 3.36.34; 4 Seimoana Manukau OCC Aotearoa 3.57.49; 5 Lost Paddlers International 4.12.23; 6 Hinemoana Aotearoa 4.13.49.

Masters Women 40+: 1 Te Tupu O Te Manava (Tina) Cook Islands 3.31.12; 2 Whaea Works Fakatu Marae, Nelson Aotearoa 4.07.46; 3 Tumu Ora Wahine Mixed Plate Hawaii 4.19.47; 4 Far North Queensland Australia 4.23.23; 5 HOCVS Wailea Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society 5.04.4.

Masters Women 60+:  Hawaii Canoe Club Hawaii 4.44.48.

Open Men’s: 1 Te Tupu O Te Manava Cook Islands 2,50.59; 2 Pineula Tamaki Makaurau Aotearoa 2.52.54; 3 Dennes Boys Cairns Australia 2.53.45; 4 Ngakau Toa Vaka Cook Islands 3.00.05; 5 Lost Paddlers International OM 3.27.02.

Marsters Men 40+: 1 Hei Hei Kala Hawaii 3.39.48.

Marsters Men 50+: 1 Te Tupu O Te Manava Cook Islands MM 50+ 3.37.20.

Marsters Men 60+: 1 Hawaii Canoe Club 3.21.19; 2 Pacific Wanderers Whakatipu Waka Ama, Queenstown Aotearoa 3.56.44.