My alarm beeps at 4.20am the 24th of April. 10 Minutes later I am grinding coffee beans for my ‘morning cupper’. Tiffany is at my doorstep at 5.10. We plan to leave the house at 5.30 so we can head towards “Flemmings beach” (close to Honolua Bay) where the start is for the channel crossing paddle race: Maui to Molokai.
The last 2 summers, I have crossed the Molokai-Oahu channel in the form of a relay-team with Devin. This season I feel the urge to paddle solo. I know I am drawn to new experiences and I always like to explore new mental and physical boundaries within. Besides the personal desire, the crossing today is a ‘test’ whether I will consider doing the 32 miles race solo in July.
At 7.14am my phone rings. It is Mike. Mike lets me know that he just arrived in the bay with his boat. I kiss Dan goodbye (he got up at 5am to support me my last minutes on land) and we paddle our food, drinks and dry clothes to the boat.
Mike Holmes, living on Molokai, is the skipper of my escort boat ‘Ahi (Hawaiian name for Tuna). We talk tactics and I keep my eyes and ears wide open to receive all the advice I can get. Grown up in Hawaii, he has been around these oceans a lot longer than me! Tiffany forms the other half of my escort crew. She takes pictures, video and will help me exchange water packs (with energy powders and electrolytes in them). We (team TAM) charge the waves together surfing, windsurfing and supping. It is a good feeling to have her charging and supporting energy around.
As I check up on my gear and food supply, we get a visit from a pod of dolphins. Wow! Seeing dolphins always makes me happy. Seeing them at this moment seems like an omen to me; a message that everything is going to be ok.
With that healthy-nervous-exciting feeling I paddle to the start around 8.10am. About 10 minutes later we are ‘on our way’. I am excited to be where I want to be: Paddling the Hawaiian oceans while expanding my athletically horizon.
My mind is prepared for (worse case) 5 to 6 hour today. I want to paddle firm and strong without tiring myself out to quickly. I use the technique the ocean provides; I paddle fast and strong to get into a ‘bump’ (wind wave) and then glide (surf) the ocean swell. There’s also parts of the route I cannot glide ‘south’ as I need to send my board ‘north’. Mike and Tiffany make sure I keep my focus on the ‘landmarks’ as Mike does the calculations how to approach the ocean currents.
Whenever I surf a swell I hear Mikes exciting voice: “Send ‘r down, AM… send ‘r down! Or: “Way to go, AM… way to go!” I like hearing those comments. Tiffany has her own motivational terms. Loud ‘whoo hoos’ and ‘Duder… you rock” come from her lips. Sometimes I giggle inside as I hear her talking towards the camera documenting the trip. (I can’t wait to download these clips later)
I am positive on my mission and I feel how I want to be here and live this. The few times I start feeling my muscles or fatigue, I switch my brain to better thoughts. Concentration is my friend (and I think most important) out here as it helps me staying ‘in sinc’ with the ocean flow.
Flying fish, mahi mahi’s (an Hawaiian fish) and I imagine a little shark (who knows with Polaroid sunglasses and a little fatigue) cross my path. The ocean and it ocean life is absolutely stunning. I make myself look around to make an imprint in my memory.
The northeast winds are just the way we want them and I end up getting some really long glides while the finish line is approaching. This is amazing and so much fun! It doesn’t feel like a race… this may last for a while! At the very end, this joyous tale wind is exchanged by a strong side-headwind the last 50 meters before the finish. This hurts after about 4,5 hours paddling and it demands 100% of my powers. (If you don’t ‘crank it’, you are being blown further and further away from that finish line…)
Once at the finish it is time for hugs and hello’s. Everyone congratulates each other on their performance. I am exhausted and don’t really know what and how to think for a while. Some food, water and a shower help me to come back.
I hear that I am the only woman who crossed the channel solo this race. My time is 4 hours and 37 minutes. My result is not crowned with a trophy as I share the outcome with the men, but this feels like a personal victory. It is part of my own journey within; reaching out to new levels.
And... to answer my own question whether I consider paddling the Molokai to Oahu channel solo this year? Yes, I do.
Many Mahalos to my support crew Mike and Tiffany.
Mucho Mahalos to Campbell for bringing me and my board back to Maui!
The last 2 summers, I have crossed the Molokai-Oahu channel in the form of a relay-team with Devin. This season I feel the urge to paddle solo. I know I am drawn to new experiences and I always like to explore new mental and physical boundaries within. Besides the personal desire, the crossing today is a ‘test’ whether I will consider doing the 32 miles race solo in July.
At 7.14am my phone rings. It is Mike. Mike lets me know that he just arrived in the bay with his boat. I kiss Dan goodbye (he got up at 5am to support me my last minutes on land) and we paddle our food, drinks and dry clothes to the boat.
Mike Holmes, living on Molokai, is the skipper of my escort boat ‘Ahi (Hawaiian name for Tuna). We talk tactics and I keep my eyes and ears wide open to receive all the advice I can get. Grown up in Hawaii, he has been around these oceans a lot longer than me! Tiffany forms the other half of my escort crew. She takes pictures, video and will help me exchange water packs (with energy powders and electrolytes in them). We (team TAM) charge the waves together surfing, windsurfing and supping. It is a good feeling to have her charging and supporting energy around.
As I check up on my gear and food supply, we get a visit from a pod of dolphins. Wow! Seeing dolphins always makes me happy. Seeing them at this moment seems like an omen to me; a message that everything is going to be ok.
With that healthy-nervous-exciting feeling I paddle to the start around 8.10am. About 10 minutes later we are ‘on our way’. I am excited to be where I want to be: Paddling the Hawaiian oceans while expanding my athletically horizon.
My mind is prepared for (worse case) 5 to 6 hour today. I want to paddle firm and strong without tiring myself out to quickly. I use the technique the ocean provides; I paddle fast and strong to get into a ‘bump’ (wind wave) and then glide (surf) the ocean swell. There’s also parts of the route I cannot glide ‘south’ as I need to send my board ‘north’. Mike and Tiffany make sure I keep my focus on the ‘landmarks’ as Mike does the calculations how to approach the ocean currents.
Whenever I surf a swell I hear Mikes exciting voice: “Send ‘r down, AM… send ‘r down! Or: “Way to go, AM… way to go!” I like hearing those comments. Tiffany has her own motivational terms. Loud ‘whoo hoos’ and ‘Duder… you rock” come from her lips. Sometimes I giggle inside as I hear her talking towards the camera documenting the trip. (I can’t wait to download these clips later)
I am positive on my mission and I feel how I want to be here and live this. The few times I start feeling my muscles or fatigue, I switch my brain to better thoughts. Concentration is my friend (and I think most important) out here as it helps me staying ‘in sinc’ with the ocean flow.
Flying fish, mahi mahi’s (an Hawaiian fish) and I imagine a little shark (who knows with Polaroid sunglasses and a little fatigue) cross my path. The ocean and it ocean life is absolutely stunning. I make myself look around to make an imprint in my memory.
The northeast winds are just the way we want them and I end up getting some really long glides while the finish line is approaching. This is amazing and so much fun! It doesn’t feel like a race… this may last for a while! At the very end, this joyous tale wind is exchanged by a strong side-headwind the last 50 meters before the finish. This hurts after about 4,5 hours paddling and it demands 100% of my powers. (If you don’t ‘crank it’, you are being blown further and further away from that finish line…)
Once at the finish it is time for hugs and hello’s. Everyone congratulates each other on their performance. I am exhausted and don’t really know what and how to think for a while. Some food, water and a shower help me to come back.
I hear that I am the only woman who crossed the channel solo this race. My time is 4 hours and 37 minutes. My result is not crowned with a trophy as I share the outcome with the men, but this feels like a personal victory. It is part of my own journey within; reaching out to new levels.
And... to answer my own question whether I consider paddling the Molokai to Oahu channel solo this year? Yes, I do.
Many Mahalos to my support crew Mike and Tiffany.
Mucho Mahalos to Campbell for bringing me and my board back to Maui!
Here I am at the beginning of the day; happy that we have some wind blowing in our direction and slightly nervous what's exactly ahead of a solo paddle mission...
Skipper Mike and AM talk about the race-course. My new DaKine water pack is filled with powdered-food and electrolytes mixed with water
Molokai is still far way... one stroke and one glide (surfing a chop) at the time while staying focused
Hawaii is just so beautiful!
Tiffany and Conor (winner of the men's solo) striking a pose. All props up to Tiffany for all her support, her wild ocean swim to safe my water pack, the many many encouraging 'who hooo's' and off course documenting the day with photo and video cams
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