Capsize winners - crew tipped out, climbed back in and won the race

CHANGEOVER: In or leaving the boat are, from the front, Mariana Hodges, Eden Te Paa, Akayshia Williams, Rosie King, Cory Campbell and Kiwi Campbell. In the water are, from the front, Kodi Campbell, Rangi Riana Williams and Florrie Brooking.Takapuna Beach Cup picture

WAKA AMA

THE Horouta premier women’s crew capsized but came back to win a marathon waka ama race around Rangitoto Island.

They were leading the 42-kilometre race in the Takapuna Beach Cup open women’s race last weekend and tipped out about an hour into it, losing several places.

Coach and steerer Kiwi Campbell said the crew went about their work calmly after that and were surprised when they realised other teams were not out of reach.

“We turned to head home and they were just ahead of us,” she said.

A decision to go through a hole in a rock, rather than around it, paid off and the Horouta women ended up winning comfortably.

“Young muscle and energy, with old heads” was what Campbell put it down to.

“We’re a competitive bunch of women and we just wanted to grind down that lead.”

The team included 16-year-olds and others aged about 20, she said.

“We had a good mix.”

Campbell said seven of the crew were from Gisborne and three from out of town.

It was a changeover race, so paddlers could be substituted at various points on the course.

Four paddlers were in a support boat and they would await Campbell’s command to switch and, with the outgoing tide, strategy could be crucial.

Conditions were variable, with patches of calmness, some strong winds and chop, she said.

“It was like a washing machine.”

They kept steady heads after the capsize, Campbell said.

“We never set our sights too far ahead . . . we knew we were moving quickly.

“The last leg coming home was pure slog. We put our all into it.”

Some of the crew are looking ahead to the long-distance nationals in Auckland in April.

Further out are the world sprint champs at Hawaii next year.