Outrigger

Outrigger Canoe Racing is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. Clubs are based all over the world with thousands of participants who have discovered the pure excitement of this environmentally friendly competitive sport. Races are held worldwide with clubs traveling year round to compete. Outrigger Canoe Racing is a team sport which comprises of 6 paddlers working as one to propel past the competition demonstrating teamwork at its best.

The standard crew component is six to nine paddlers depending on the type of event. Bench one and two are typically the endurance paddlers who work together to set a consistent rate for the entire race. Bench 3, 4, and 5 make up the hull strength, keeping power up through rough water and concentrating on the boats blending overall. The steersperson directs the boat to the finish line by watching currents, wake, and other boats around the canoe for the best line to the finish as well as full concentration on how best to keep the boat upright in difficult situations.

Races can be short sprints of 500 meters, long courses up to 11 miles, or marathon events of 26 miles. Longer races require ‘changeovers’ which rotate paddlers and steerspersons throughout the course by exiting and entering into the canoe directly from the water while the canoe is underway. They are fast and furious!

There are many types of outrigger canoes made for all kinds of water and conditions. Outrigger canoes were originally developed by the Austronesian speaking peoples of the islands of Southeast Asia for sea travel and were used to transport peoples eastward through Polynesia and New Zealand during the Austronesian migration period. The Austronesian period dates back to 10,000 – 6,000 B.C.E. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Outrigger racing has transformed into a competitive world wide pastime.

In the past, handmade wooden boats cost upwards of $55,000 each. The sport has come a long way over the years and now has many top designers working with fabricators making fiberglass boats as inexpensive as $10,000 for the high speed and endurance races of today. With proper attention to upkeep; storage, waxing, polishing, winter skirting, proper binding, etc, outrigger canoes can last 10 years or more.