World's Best race at Hamilton Island's Coca-Cola Outrigger Cup

by Susan Boyd on 16 Jun 2003 The fastest five paddling teams in the world raced head-to-head for the first time in a gruelling 42km Coca Cola Outrigger Cup at Hamilton Island today.

In a race which saw the lead position change at least 12 times, defending champions Team New Zealand/Hawaii took honours with a two minute lead over a sprint finish between Tahiti and Gold
Coasters, Outrigger Australia.

Outrigger Australia captain, Chris Maynard who has competed at the Coca Cola Cup at Hamilton Island for the past 18 years (and won it nine times) said it was the most competitive racing ever.

'The conditions were pretty rough in places – and the competition was really tough – which we knew it would be. We were so close together all of the way,' said Chris.

The Curry-Kenny family will have a lot of celebrating this evening with Grant Kenny’s Master Men’s crew from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast (Qld) winning over Team Hawaii and Northern Beaches
(Sydney).

Lisa Curry-Kenny’s crack open women’s crew from Mooloolaba beat more than half of the men’s crews home over the 42km course with a convincing win of more than 13 minutes over Outrigger Australia
and Kaui Opua Hawaii.

In the Master Women’s division Team Hawaii beat Mooloolaba and Brisbane. The Senior Master Men’s division was won by Team Hawaii over the Gold Coast’s Northcliffe and Team Big Island Hawaii.

The winning teams will share a $40,000 prize purse. The Coca Cola Cup at Hamilton Island offers the world’s largest prizemoney in the sport of outrigger canoe racing.

Around 80 crews braved the 42km marathon today with the course passing through the protected waters of the Whitsundays as well as some open waters with seas of up to 2 metres.

More than 2000 paddlers have been competing at the three-day long regatta this weekend and now the only thing left on their agenda is to party at the farewell concert with Jimmy Barnes tonight.

Coca-Cola Hamilton Island Cup 2003
42km Marathon

MEN’S RESULTS

Open Men

Place Team Time

1. Team NZ/Hawaii 3:10:20

2. Tahiti Rai 3:12:02

3. Outrigger Australia 3:12:40

4. Shell Va’a 3:15:08

5. Ikaika, Sydney 3:17:17

Master Men

Place Team Time

1. Mooloolaba 1 3:26:11

2. Team Hawaii 3:28:39

3. Northern Beaches 3:32:40

4. North QLD Masters 3:36:22

5. Racing Thunder 3:51:53

Senior Master Men

Place Team Time

1. Team Hawaii 3:43:19

2. Northcliffe 3:47:13

3. Team Bigis Hawaii 3:49:18

4. Noosa 3:50:53

5. Taniwha Grizzlies NZ 3:51:50

WOMEN’S RESULTS

Open Women

Place Team Time

1. Mooloolaba 1 3:50:20

2. Outrigger Australia 4:03:19

3. Kai Opua Hawaii 4:03:45

4. Scatterchicks 4:03:51

5. Minamitaga NZ 4:07:48

Master Women

Place Team Time

1. Team Hawaii 4:09:53

2. Mooloolaba 4:17:37

3. Brisbane 4:17:42

4. Kai Opua 4:32:07

5. Northern Beaches 4:3:59