TOCC: Outrigger Canoe Racing

TOCC competes each year in a combination of sprint and long-distance races.

Sprint races

Sprint races (usually reffered to as regattas) are scheduled from the beginning of June through the end of July (NCOCA Championship regatta). These regattas consist of over 30 individual events, ranging from 12-and-under to a Masters, 40-years and over, division.

A typical sprint course can be set up as either 250m or 500m in length, with a standard number of lanes being either six or twelve, depending on the event. Each lane is distinguished with a specific-colored turn flag at each end of the course. The distance a crew races is determined by the division entered; this, in turn, is based on their skill level.

Long distance races

Long-distance races start as early as mid-April, continue through May and pause briefly in June and July for sprints. The official start of the distance season, however, is the beginning of August. Races are scheduled each weekend until the US Long Distance Championship held in Newport Beach every Labor Day weekend. For most the US Championship concludes a grueling four month racing season, but for an elite few the World Championships hold yet another challenge. The World Championship is a 40.3-mile race between the islands of Molokai'i and Oahu in Hawaii. The women race at the end of September in the Bankoh Na Wahine O' Ka Kai (the women of the Sea) and the men race in the middle of October in the Bankoh Molokai'i Hoe.

There are several categories of long-distance races which make up a long-distance season:

Relays

5-to-12 mile races where a crew switches with another at a designated point.

Ironman

5-to-18 mile races consisting of just that one crew.

9-or-12 person

20-to-60 mile races where crews can make water changes or substitutions (with the aid of a motorized support boat)

See TOCC's 2003 race & practice schedules

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