KIRA Race #10 – Shaw and Partners Molokai Challenge

Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association is proud to announce the

SHAW AND PARTNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES MOLOKAI CHALLENGE 2023.

Results

Molokai Challenge 2023 Results Divisions

Molokai Challenge 2023 Results Overall

Race Tracking: https://dot.vision/molokaichallenge

Start List

Shaw and Partners Molokai Challenge Start List

COURSE: Molokai to Oahu. 32 miles (53 km) across the Ka’iwi channel.

START: Kaluakoi Beach on the west end of Molokai

FINISH:  Maunalua Beach Park, Hawaii Kai, Oahu (At the Keyhole on north side of the bridge).

DATE:  Sunday May 28, 2023

REGISTRATION: www.flpregister.com

TIMELINE:

April 30

12:00 midnight, early registration ends, late registration fee imposed.

May 13

12:00 midnight, Registration closes.

May 21

Escort boat waiver and registration form due.

May 25

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Race check in and packet pick up at Kona Brew Pub Hawaii Kai.

May 27

Kaluakoi, Molokai. Race check in for those who missed Oahu packet pick up (pick up race number and shirt only).

May 28 RACE DAY!

Pule: 9:00 a.m.

Start #1: 9:30 a.m.

SUP, Prone and others as designated by race committee.

Start #2: 10:00 a.m.

All female surfskis and OCs. All male 58+ solo. All 60+ male relay.

All mixed relay teams.  Select others as designated by race committee.

Start #3: 10:30 a.m.

All other male surfski & OC paddlers.

Course Closes: 4:30 p.m.

Paddlers must be around Portlock Point and inside China Wall or they will have to pull their craft off the water.

 Race One Awards Banquet: Hawaii Yacht Club is at 1739 Ala Moana Blvd., across from the Hilton Lagoon.

DIVISIONS: 

SOLO and RELAY:  Relay can have up to 3 person teams for single seated crafts and 3–6 person teams for double seated crafts.  There is not a different division for varying number of team members.

SOLO WITHOUT AN ESCORT. This year for the first time we are going to offer a category for paddlers to race without a personal escort. The paddlers that want to be included in this category must apply and be screened by a safety panel. If you are not known by the panel, you will be required to provide references and a resume. This category will require each paddler to have a tracking device provided by the race, a cell phone with a tracking app as backup, a PFD, leash and a VHF radio on your person. OC-1s must also carry a backup paddle. There will be additional safety craft on the course to take a bag of personal belongings to the finish and assist if you break down. The safety crafts are not on the course to provide fluids and nutritional provisions. The number of additional safety crafts will be based on the number of racers in this category; hence the entry fee will be higher than if you have a personal escort.

OC3 – OC6: Contact race director at jkfoti@gmail.com.

Craft Divisions: Surfski-1, Surfski-2, Prone Paddleboard, SUP, V-1, OC-1, OC-2, OC-3, OC-6

• Surfski-1, OC-1:
  • Solo – Male and Female (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd default to open/overall status). Age groups are:
    • Junior (18 and under), 19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–57, 58–63, 64-69, 70+
  • Relay: 2 or 3 paddlers per team. (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd default to open/overall status) Age groups are:
    • Male and Female: Juniors, 19-45, 46-59, 60+.
    • Mixed: Open
• V-1:
  • Solo – Male and Female: Open
  • Relay – Open (Male, Female or Mixed)
•   Surfski-2, OC-2:
  • Solo
    • Male and Female: Open
    • Mixed: Open
  • Relay: 3 – 6 paddlers per team.
    • Male and Female: Junior, Open.
    • Mixed: Open
• SUP (participation pending will add board size divisions):
  • Solo – Male and Female
    • Unlimited – Any board size: Open
  • Relay: 2 or 3 person teams: Male, Female and Mixed.
    • Unlimited: Open
• Prone (participation pending will add board size divisions):
  • Solo – Male and Female
    • Unlimited: Open
  • Relay: 2 or 3 person teams: Male, Female and Mixed
    • Unlimited: Open
• OC3 – OC6. Contact race director for more information.

Notes:

• Mixed divisions can have only 1 male paddler per single seat craft relay teams and no more than 2 male paddlers per double seat craft relay teams (for a 3 person team only 1 male). 2 males + 1 female will be counted as an “Open” crew and race vs. the men.
• SUP relay divisions will include a 14’ class if there is substantial participation.
• Relay Surfski teams are encouraged to find a suitable sized partner, or a ski with easily adjusting foot pedals so that no craft changes are needed. If substitute crafts are used, it is subject to paddlers finding an escort willing to change crafts mid channel. And, if substitute crafts are used, relief paddler must be facing towards Molokai when his or her partner paddles up for the switch.  OC-1 relay teams must use one canoe.
• OC-1 and Surfski solo: Top 3 will be recognized as open with age group beginning at 4^th
• SUP and Prone solo: If there is a resounding amount of entries, we’ll open up another board class and/or age group divisions, with top 3 overall being recognized as open, and age groups per board division beginning at 4^th
• All relay teams are entered in the age group of the youngest team member. Hence, youngest paddler determines your category.
• Relay teams in all disciplines will default top 3 to open with age group placing starting with 4^th

REGISTRATION, ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINES:

There will be a cap of 250 paddlers.

$20 of your entry fee goes to support FRIENDS OF MOLOKAI, a non profit organization that supports the only middle and high school on Molokai. To learn more about Friends of Molokai or to make a donation visit https://friendsofmolokai.com/

Early Registration:

• $250.00 per adult paddler with personal escort
• $550.00 per adult paddler without personal escort

Late Registration if space available:

• $350.00 per adult paddler with personal escort
• $650.00 per adult paddler without personal escort

JUNIOR DISCOUNT (18 and under)

• $100.00 Discount code when registering = MOLOJR

Prize Money. Up to $16,000.00 depending on number of entries: For Surfski and OC-1 Solo category only.

Molokai Protocol and Good Neighbor Policy                                                                                                                                        

• Observe a no wake (less than 5 mph) speed within 500 yards of any shoreline. There have been several instances of speeding escort boats almost hitting divers.
• No fishing of any type within 500 yards of shore.
• No Opihi picking.
•  No harvesting of lobster, it is out of season from May to August.
• No camping on private property or non-designated camping areas, including Make Horse Beach. The Molokai Police Department will be sending officers to cite unpermitted camping. There will be a legal, permitted set up at Papohaku Park.
• You must pick up your trash. It would be a great gesture of good will if you could leave Molokai cleaner than when you got there.
• The Shoreline area will be patrolled 24/7. Any escort boats not in compliance with the rules above will be recorded and will be marked for all future events that start or finish in Molokai. All Molokai event organizers have agreed to abide by the rules and ban any captains and their boats that do not respect the local protocol. Please kokua!
• SUMMARY = RESPECT MOLOKAI

Escort Boat Information.    

• All athletes/teams are responsible for providing their escort boat information and boating license # or credentials if USCG merchant mariner by Sunday May 21, 2023 in order for your entry to be accepted.
• Escorts must be a minimum of 17 feet
• IT IS MANDATORY that all escort boats check in with lead official on channel 72 before the start of the race. Any paddler whose boat has not been checked in cannot race and will not be considered part of the event or the responsibility of the event organizers. Water patrol will be on-hand to enforce this rule.
• Escort boats must have at least one spotter in addition to the captain.
• Escort boats must assist any paddler or boat in distress.
• All escort boats must have fixed VHF radios.  No hand held VHF radios allowed. Escort boats must check in with the head official boat prior to their paddler’s start time. Primary channel is 72 after the race start.  Escort boats must confirm connection with their paddler on VHF 72. Back up channel is 71.
• Race officials must be notified at least 24 hours prior to the start of the race of any changes to escort boat information.
• All escort boats must meet current United States Coast Guard Standards as defined by the USCG and must have passed the BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION SAFETY CLASS AND HAVE THEIR BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION CARD ON THEM AT ALL TIMES.
• *At the end of the race, escort boats must check out with the head official boat on vhf 72 when their paddler reaches Portlock Point and begins the turn into Maunalua Bay.

Things to consider when hiring an escort boat

1. Extra Riders: A helper/Safety Swimmer is helpful. Person must know how to Swim and be Boat Oriented. Rider(s) must Swim Offshore to Board Vessel. Major concern is Liability for extra Passengers on Board. If boat is Big enough to carry extra Passenger an additional Fee may be required.
2. Transporting race day provisions: To avoid hauling Provisions on the Plane or Swimming it out to the Boat. Make arrangements to have Provisions go to Molokai on Board your Escort Boat..
3. Obtain a Picture of the boat that will be escorting you and meet up with your Boat Captain once in Hawaii to identify what your boat looks like. There will be many Boats offshore at the start and very difficult to identify.  You can drop water and provisions to your boat in Oahu or request that your boat load up with water prior to the race.  You will be loading your boat from the shore in Molokai so think about this as you plan what you need.
4. At the end of the Race, coordinate with your Escort Boat to collect your personal belongings as the boats will not be allowed to enter the Marina. This is critical if you do not have a helper on board. There will be a water shuttle going to and from the boat ramp and Koko Marina to shuttle people and stuff back and forth as needed.
5. Make sure your boat shows up early enough to get your gear on board. JETSKIS AND THRILLCRAFT ARE NOT ALLOWED NEAR SHORE SO DON’T COUNT ON OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET YOUR GEAR TO THE BOAT.  PACK ACCORDINGLY.
6. Competitor is responsible to make sure their boat captain understands all these rules and regulations and turns in all appropriate forms.

Safety Precautions

• All escort boats must meet current United States Coast Guard Standards as defined by the USCG
• Make sure at least one person in your escort boat is CPR certified and has basic first aid knowledge and equipment.
• Make sure the tether to your craft has a quick release Wear brightly colored shorts and a hat.  Carry or wear a personal flotation device.
• Carry a Coast Guard approved personal location device on your person.
• Have all persons on your escort boat wear personal flotation devices. Inspect your escort boat, make sure it is safe.
• Make sure your boat has a bullhorn or megaphone so your boat can communicate with you.
• Make sure your boat has binoculars, flares, and other emergency equipment.
• Meet with your escort boat captain prior to the race to discuss the race morning loading plan, all safety procedures, race route, where to meet before the race starts so you can get your gear on board, and how to meet after the race starts.  Make sure the race number sticker is on both sides of the boat in a clearly visible area.
• Make sure you carry your boat captain’s contact info with you at all times on Molokai. This includes, boat description/name, Hawaii phone number, cell phone number, and home phone number and email.
• PWCs (personal watercraft ie jetskis) are not allowed on any of the beaches in Hawaii. Under no circumstances can a PWC beach itself onto any of the Hawaiian shorelines.

Need help finding an escort?                                                                                                                                                            

Contact LJ Benson with Escort Boats Hawaii at escortboatshawaii2023@yahoo.com or call/text 808 306-4121

Boat and Board Transportation from Oahu to Molokai:                                                                                                                

Option 1.  Make arrangements with your escort boat

Option 2. Pay for trailer/escort boat transport service from Escort Boats Hawaii. Anticipated cost = $220.00. escortboatshawaii2023@yahoo.com or call/text 808 306-4121.

Option 3. Make your own separate arrangements.

Travel to Molokai:

Mokulele Airlines at www.mokuleleairlines.com or www.makanikaiair.com.

RACE ONE Awards banquet: Hawaii Yacht Club is at 1739 Ala Moana Blvd., across from the Hilton Lagoon.

For questions and additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us at jkfoti@gmail.com.