The Waikiki Rough Water Swim Report by Bill Ireland (9/3/01)

Editor's Note: Thanks Bill for a great report!

The 32nd Annual Waikiki Rough Water Swim was on September 3, 2001 with the traditional blue skies, warm water (SCAQ Shivering Scale unknown -- poor data collection --Editor's Note: excellent statistics given throughout the remainder of the report though!), sea turtle sightings on the course, countless fish in the clear water and nearly 1000 competitors from at least 5 countries, and 15 states. The ages ranged from 9 to at least 82. The competition is well organized and uniquely challenging compared to the Southern California swims. While the WRS is scientifically measured (here are the numbers), with a first leg of precisely 677 meters, a middle leg of 2305 meters, and a finishing leg of 842 meters, totalling 3.824 meters, or 4,206 yards, or about 2.5 miles, the times are slower for the same swimmers than any 3 mile course on the SoCal circuit, whether it be the Gatorman, Naples, Catalina, or Santa Barbara. It is also only 2 days after the Maui Channel Swim which imparts an additional degree of difficulty for those doing the double. Apart from the distance, the field is highly competitive with a lead wave of over 350 swimmers swimmers with tremendous depth. While Bob Placak believes, and may be right, that the RCP Tiburon One-Mile has a more competitive elite field, the age group competitions for Masters and the depth of the field for most open water swimmers is unparalleled. The result of the depth of the field is to challenge each swimmer's tactical skills throughout the race in a way that most swims do not. Throughout the swim, individuals and groups are falling back, moving up, jockeying for position, and elbowing, bumping and grabbing -- presumably inadvertently. Finally, the swim also challenges each swimmer strategically. Which course to take, close to the buoys, outside, how to make the first turn, and most important, what line to aim for when swimming the tremendously long final leg to avoid the currents pulling out, while also avoiding the coral beds can make a difference of several minutes over the course of the race (this was empirically tested in the 1999 WRS with a time difference of 90 seconds from the final turn buoy based on which course was followed). In short, the WRS is the most complete and the most challenging ocean swim available for open water racers. And the water's warm.

While the race directors did not appear to compete in the swim, one careful observer noticed the familiar name of Clay Evans, our fearless leader, on the all time best times list for what was reported to be the Men's 25-29 year old division. While no one was sure how reliable the timing was back then (did they have stop watches?), in 2001, every swimmer had a computer chip affixed by velcro to an ankle strap so that their time was measured as they crossed the finish, resulting in swiftly available race results. Those results showed John Flanagan, of Honolulu, as the repeat winner for the men, at :52.40 with the top woman being from Queensland, in the middle of her antipodean winter, Trudee Hutchinson, and 14th overall at :57.31. She was followed closely by Amanda Beard.

Turning to the results that anyone reading this might be interested in, not surprisingly, the View Ocean Series leaders placed well. Alex Kostich, after being in the lead pack until the final turn buoy and then taking a sharp turn which slowed him down slightly, finished 30 seconds off the lead, 5th overall, and first in the Men 30 to 34 division. A great result! Jenny Cook was the winner in the Women's 40 to 44 division, 57th overall, and was the 10th woman in the race in a strong time of 1:04.11. She was also the first place finisher in the Women's Over 40 Division -- if there was such a division. Great swim -- she and Bill Ireland traded places several times as is their 2001 ocean swim tradition, before she crushed him after the 13th buoy. Chris Yontes finished 9th overall, at :56:23.90, and 3rd in the men's 35-39 division. Marc Willick was 6th in the Men's 30 to 34, and 32nd overall, at 1:01:03.5, followed by race rookie, Chappie De Haven, in 50th place overall, 8th in the 30-34, at 1:03:45. John Moffett went unrecognized by anyone from SCAQ but was shown by the results to have finished 359th in the Men's 45 to 49 division. There may be some confusion or it could be a different John Moffett - -no one saw any Gelson's swim bags. Finishing ahead of John, in what most would describe as an upset was Robert Philipson, 21st in the Age Group, and 327th overall despite starting in the 4th wave.

The Men's 40 to 44 division was the largest and most competitive division -- with 15 swimmers in the top 100, the highest overall placing 20th finisher, and the most swimmers of any division in the top 500. Bob Placak was the winner, followed not very closely by SCAQ stalwarts, Bill Ireland 11th in the age group, 73rd overall, and only 2 seconds behind the 10th finisher in the division in 1:05:17.8. Parks Wesson was 12th in the same age group, only about 30 seconds behind, and 83rd overall. Pat Dixon was 5th in the Men's 50 to 54, swimming goggleless as always, and 106 overall, with a time of 1:08.34.70. Mac Montgomery was 8th in the same division, 189 overall, with a time of 1:15.11. Bill Belding was 6th in the men's 55 to 59, 153 overall, with a time of 1:12:06.10.

In the women's 30 to 34, Cindy Miller of Rose Bowl Aquatics honored the long-standing tradition of first time swimmers buying a round of drinks after the race (thank you Cindy), and finished 4th in her division, and 168 overall with a time of 1:12.59.40. Jeni Buys cut her foot in the start, and still finished strongly, 5th in her age group, and 180 overall. Kathy Mann was 7th in her age group, and 187 overall, at 1:15:06. Cat Moore was 410 overall, and 14th in her age group, with a time of 1:34:51.00. Carmela Bader-Pinillos showed the benefit of all the pier to pier training swims and coaching tips, and her own hard work, in stroking to a 496 overall finish, and a time of 1:43:02.7, starting in the 3rd wave, and 25th in her age group.

Apologies to everyone whose results are not reported, and congratulations to everyone who competed.

Editor's Note: Yes, congrats to all!