Although Kerapa wasn't making excuses for the team's result she said they had trained for 25km and the shorter distance had definitely affected their performance.
"Normally the girls are just starting to get their mojo going and starting to amp up at the 15km mark but with this race it was pretty much finished before the girls really got started.
The race was won by last year's champions, Gisborne team Manu & Jemima.
Kerapa said despite the result the team enjoyed the regatta with the conditions ideal for paddling.
The team still had a number of long distance races before the end of the year but would start to focus on the sprint nationals at Lake Karapiro in January next year.
She said the team also had a long-term goal of heading to Hawaii in 2012 to compete in a number of regattas.
The W1 open men's division was won by Hemi Wahapango followed by Paddy Riemene and Steve Roulston. The open women's division was taken out by Amy Robertson with Miriana Hodges and Mereana Hodges finishing second and third respectively.
Full results in tomorrow's Daily Post