Over 900 paddlers set for round Raro relay races

The Vaka Village will be packed to capacity today as teams taking part in the 10th annual Vaka Eiva Festivities prepare for the biggest races of the event – with more than 900 competitors to put paddles to water.

The long anticipated V6 Round Raro Relay Races start today, with two races happening throughout the day taking on a 36km course per race.

The Bob Worthington memorial trophy race will leave Avarua harbour at 8am for the open mixed and senior master mixed divisions.a

Teams who have taken up the challenge will paddle around the island beginning from Avarua harbour and ending in front of Trader Jacks.

The second and final race of the day will see the masters, senior mixed masters and the senior masters women divisions take to the water, battling it out to show strength in numbers.

Tomorrow marks the final day of races for the Vaka Eiva festivities and teams will battle it out for the chance to walk away with the women’s Pacific Paddle and men’s Pacific Cup trophies in the relay.

For Friday’s races, teams will break off into gender categories with the open women’s competitors heading out onto the water first at 8am.

Starting a little later in the day will be the open men’s races at 1pm.

The official closing ceremony for the week of races will start at 6pm where paddlers and supporters will be treated to a traditional kaikai following the presentation of medals and trophies and the coveted Presidents Cup.

Rounding up the week’s activities will be the Paddles Up official after party at Trader Jacks with entertainment by New Zealand performers KORA.

Vendors will be selling food, drink and local products on both days inside the Cook Islands Canoeing Association registration centre that is open to the public.

Members of the wider community are encouraged to head to Avarua harbour to join in the fun as the festivities near an end.