The date for the 2008 Molokai Challenge has been confirmed: 18 May 2008.  And the course has been changed back to the old finish at the Hawaii Kai cove.

Returns to old course

In 2008, the race course will return to the traditional 32 nautical mile (59km) route, ending at the Hawaii Kai cove.  "Apart from anything else,"the finish is near great venues for the post-race party," according to Epic Kayaks, the race sponsor.

Molokai course - back to the old finish

The 2007 event saw a rare lull in the usually reliable trade winds and the race turned into a 64km slog on flat water with many paddlers retiring, dehydrated and seasick from the race.

Lewis Laughlin

Lewis Laughlin paddled a brilliant race in the flat conditions and won, beating a star-studded field including Hank McGregor and Dawid Mocke (who hit the wall in the face of an oncoming tidal current and, having lead for much of the race, came third).

Lewis Laughlin wins the 2007 Molokai Challenge (Photo: DeAnne Hemmens)

Live coverage

The 2007 Molokai race saw the first ever live coverage of an event on surfski.info - and we hope to innovate still further in 2008! 

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written by superted, November 20, 2007

Does that mean that this years route was a bad idea?

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Molokai Finish
written by Mark Sandvold, November 20, 2007

Hi Super,

After last years "Slog" as Rob so elequently called it we decided to go back to the traditional course with a true channel type of crossing or point to point if you will.

Even in smoking trades the course to Waikiki would add nearly an hour to an already long race. Sponors are ok with us finishing in Hawaii Kai as the overall majority of people that we recieved feedback from wanted the traditional route as well.

Aloha,
Mark

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