Maui Canoe Club
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In the Waves with the OC-4
Posted on June 11th, 2009 10 commentsWaves Today June 10, 2009
There were waves today and the numbers of people were such that the OC-4 could come into play. Richard Degroot seat one, Dale Webster seat 2, Shel Seat 4. Seat three was left empty due to the numbers and advice from surfers Hawaiian Mike and Sea watch Dave had given me. Load the front… keep the back light. As captain I took their advice.
The crew was strong and we could keep up with Kai i Hitu on the way out. We both jumped over some big waves. I turned back early to see if we could catch some waves. The surf had died down. We plied the beach a little. I was getting impatient and I heard the surfers mantra.. Try wait….which is what I did.
We came around and waited as the surge built up. I lined up and this monster 4 to 5 foot face loomed up and I yelled paddle hard. The OC-4 Nalu Hoholo lived up to her name. The back rose up and the nose pointed down. I think I could look down over Dale’s head and see Richards feet as my butt rose out of the seat. Keep my eye on the ama I said to myself as I steered into Kaonoulu beach with the roar of the wave directly behind us. “Turnig left” I shouted as Dale leaned on the iako. Lean left was the next command as we came across the face , turned and continued out to sea.
All of us were overjoyed with the experience. I asked if they were ready for another hardly getting the words out as they shouted Yes, Yeah! I headed out again and we stopped (Lava) while waiting for another set soon on its way. Dale asked Richard “Did you think that we could go head over heels. Richards response was Yes, for sure. I asked Dale if he felt being in seat three would be better. His response and therefore his position was changed.
Shortly after that along comes another surge giving birth to a monster. Here we go ! Back end up again. I start out Ok but the nose starts going left into the face. I try to pull the back around (more on that later) . I couldn’t get out of it. I second later I see Dale laying on the iako with the ama just about 11 o’clock over my head. The next thing I remember is being under water and smacking the top of my foot against the coral Well I knew where we were, The reef just in front of our beach.
At the surface I couldn’t see Dale or Richard over the upside down Nalu Hoholo and shouted “everyone OK?” I heard Dale and Richard shout that they were fine. Well I remember Mike Elam and I had talked about a huli practice on the OC-4. No need for me and my crew. All else went like clockwork. Richard gathered some paddles Dale and I kept the stern to the oncoming wave set. I called for waiting a bit until the set subsided. We ducked a few big waves hanging on to the canoe. Richard was on the shot end of the forward iako and Dale and I pushed up on the upside down ama and she flipped to upright quite easily. I told Dale to get in. He got in at seat four which was fine. Dale is a captain and so is Richard how lucky can you get. Richard and I got in as quickly as we could especially considering how high the gunnels are on the OC-4 even when one quarter full of water.
We paddled straight in with just a minor set behind us.Jonica was on the beach and saw it all. I good thing, She gave me just a short but correct piece of advise. “Shel you gotta poke right .. you can never pull the rear around in that kind of wave,” She was right. I had gotten used to and it almost became habit to pull the stern. With those forces… neva happen.
The summary: I scrapped my instep. Nalu Hoholo had lost her virginity , Dale and Richard checked off yet another huli with captain Shel. We had fun, practiced, and learned.
Another day in paradise.10 responses to “In the Waves with the OC-4”
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ken swan June 11th, 2009 at 07:30
i’m proud of you!!!! great job!!! and a huli as well!!! looking forward to seeing all of you in july!!!!
ken
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Milton June 11th, 2009 at 09:43
What a great story ! !
Most enjoyable.
Good wishes, and kind regards (from here on the “other Island”, L.I.).
– - MC
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Chris June 11th, 2009 at 11:50
Sounds like great fun !!!!
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Linda Edwards June 11th, 2009 at 12:35
Boys just wanna have fun…Wonderful story, glad you all had a great experience, and survived.
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Dale Webster June 11th, 2009 at 16:25
I couldn’t have expressed it better, Shel. I will ride the waves with you any time!!
I’ll bet the bigger paddle we had talked about would help poke. -
Sean and Ron Walsh June 12th, 2009 at 03:30
Congradulations to all three of you. Shel you write an exciting narrative. Hope we have some big waves like that when we return in January 2010. Would a Huli strap help? Get some Hydrogen peroxide on your coral cut. Aloha Sean and Ron.
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Bob & Robin Hungerford June 12th, 2009 at 06:49
We mainlanders (Seattle) knew Richard had it in him before he went West. He was our “Big Kahuna” before the great move to Maui with Elma and a few things. Sounds like fun, Maybe we can join you (from shore) upon our trip to Maui in Oct. Great story!!!
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Pamela Miller June 12th, 2009 at 10:06
I am SOOOO jealous I wasn’t there with you! Lots of GREAT practice going on there.
Pamela Miller
pamiller@blarg.net
425 893 8933 -
Jonica June 12th, 2009 at 13:51
Nicely written, Shel…great story! Gonna add one more little thing: What was meant by laoding the front didn’t mean to go out with only three in the boat and seat 3 empty. What it meant was to put your biggest person in seat 2.
That’s all
Loved your story,Shel! Thanks!
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Dave (seawatch) June 16th, 2009 at 19:52
Love the play-by-play, and so very much wish I could’ve been along for the ride(s).
Shel, sounds like you don’t need my help reading the wave take-off spots anymore!
I agree with Joni; wouldn’t go with empty seats in this one, you’d definitely want weight up front, AND seat 3 leaning on the iako when neccessary.
Hope to be at the beach again soon.
Aloha
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