In the scorching sun where the only place to cool off was in the inviting sparkling sea, 16 oe vaka corporate teams battled for top prize at Vaiana’s Bistro & Bar beachfront on Saturday afternoon.

The venue was perfect for a wonderful family day out for the V12 200 metre sprint races, which had been on hold for four years due to the Covid pandemic.

Paddling in first and claiming the fastest team was the oe vaka team of the day, FAVE Design, with a time of 45.97 seconds. They also took out the final overall winner of the day prize.

Funds raised from the annual Cook Islands Canoeing Association (CICA) Oe Vaka Corporate Race is used to assist national teams competing at international competitions.

Training has already started for paddlers to compete at the International Va’a Federation 2023 World Distance Championships which will be held in Samoa in August.

A team will also be paddling in the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands later in the year.

Results

Fastest Team of the Day - FAVE Design 45.97 secs; Best Dressed Team - Rehab Paddle Pops; First in Reverse winners - Viper Stingers 66.18 secs; Tug-o-War winners – Ministry of Corrections – Team Prison Break.

Battle of the Banks:1st Bank of the Cook Islands, 52.19 secs; 2^nd Capital Security Bank, 62.91 secs; 3rd ANZ Bank, 65.91; 4th Bank of South Pacific, 66.69 secs.

Final - Back of the Line: 1st - CIs Customs in a time of 58.46 secs;

2nd Capital Securities Bank, 60 secs; and 3rd CIs Printing Supplies, 61.46 secs.

Final Winners: 1st – FAVE Design in a time of 45.97 secs; 2nd Air New Zealand, 47 secs and 3rd Koka Lagoon Cruises, 48.36 secs.