The Newport Aquatic Center sent eight outrigger crews to the 54th annual Whitey Harrison Classic in Dana Point on Sunday, Aug. 9, and came home with podium finishes in four divisions, including a first-place finish by the Coed Masters team.

It was one of NAC's largest-ever showings during 9-man season, the club reported, with two women's crews, three co-ed crews and three men's crews making the trip to Dana Point Harbor for the 20-mile race hosted by Dana Outrigger Canoe Club.

The Coed Masters were the first NAC boat across the finish line and won their division outright. The Coed Open placed third. Both Open Men's crews grabbed second in their division despite racing a paddler short, with only eight instead of the standard nine. The Open Women's crew finished fourth, their best result of the season.

Then there were the Master Men. They flipped twice. They still took third.

"The Master Men nabbed third place in their division even after flipping two times!" NAC paddler and program writer Bobbie Reichenstein wrote in the club's race recap.

But Reichenstein saved her biggest praise for the 14 novice paddlers who completed their first competitive 9-man race, a milestone the club treats as a graduation out of novice status.

What is 9-man racing?

In a 9-man outrigger race, six paddlers sit in the canoe at any time while three ride an escort boat. Roughly every 20 minutes, paddlers swap via "water changes," jumping into the open ocean and pulling themselves into the moving canoe. The format tests endurance over distances ranging from 20 to 32 miles across the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association's three-race season.

Race-day conditions were clear and sunny with light winds, a departure from the Whitey Harrison's reputation for heavy morning fog. Winds picked up on the return leg, giving the men's race a downwind surfing finish.

What's next

The Whitey Harrison was the first of three long-distance races in SCORA's 9-man season. The season culminates with the Catalina Channel Crossing, a two-day event between Catalina Island and Newport Beach scheduled for Saturday-Saturday, Sept. 12-13. NAC's crews will look to carry their momentum into that home-water finale.

Upcoming Newport Beach community events:

  • Saturday-Saturday, Sept. 12-13 — Catalina Channel Crossing, Catalina Island to Newport Beach