2004 Vaka Eiva

• 19-26 November, 2004, my Fiji Outrigger Canoe team Taf'aga raced in the Cook Islands Vaka Eiva Tournament all around this island

And there's me sitting five in the round-raratonga race:

These next 3 photos are by Harvie Allison. You can see more at the Cook Islands Canoeing Association image page for Vaka Eiva. There's me peaking out at five-seat!

These next 5 are of Shelly's team at Vaka Eiva, Ocean Pacific. They were also taken by Harvie Allison. You can see Shelly's head peaking out at three -seat in the first one, and I think that might be her head bobbing about in the water in the last photo.

Here are some pics Tamarisi Digitaki took.

Whoah! And Checkout what happened to Rarotonga a few months after the race. That bar was the launch spot (and after party) for most of the races!

Sandy Hook, NJ, July 2005

My first OC1 race, and my second time in a one-man with a rudder. Here's a pic of me fighting for obscurity.

Liberty Challenge, July 2005

This race wanted to do since before I left Fiji. In the end, thanks to a French woman, an Aussie, and a couple nice Americans willing to hop in a canoe with me sight unseen, I was able to complete this race around the Statue of Liberty. A few pics of it here and here. We got stuck in someone's fishing line at one point and ended up dragging their bait and tackle hooked into our Ama for most of the race!