While an errant course approach cost him a world championship last year, Connor Baxter more than made up for the mistake, posting a record time in the process.

The rising star of stand-up paddleboarding notched a third world title in four years and did so with a record-setting mark in the unlimited SUP division at Sunday’s 18th annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships. Baxter, who hails from Makawao, Maui, completed the 32-mile course — which spanned from Kaluakoi on Molokai’s northwest coast, through the treacherous Kaiwi Channel and finished in Maunalua Bay on Oahu’s south shore — in 4 hours, 8 minutes and 8 seconds.

"Last year, I took the wrong course and had (my title) taken away; the whole time out there, I was just thinking, ‘Gotta take it back, gotta take it back,’ " said Baxter, who pumped his fist upon crossing the line, then laid down on his board to take in the moment. "There were a lot of lessons learned after last year. Having that in my mind really pushed me harder. I’m super stoked to take it back with a new record and now it’s time to go and sit down!"

Baxter, who took home the $3,000 winner’s check for his effort, originally set the world record in 2012 with a mark of 4:13:26. In 2011, Baxter became the event’s younger winner as a 16-year-old.

Following last year’s third-place finish to eventual champion Travis Grant (an Australian who recently moved to Hawaii and finished a close second this year at 4:09:15), Baxter vowed to "paddle harder" when he returned in 2014. Baxter explained that he took a more traditional rhumb line approach to the crossing this go-around, referring to a navigational term denoting a straight line between starting and ending points of the race. Some competitors chose to follow a southerly course along Sandy Beach while others went north and used Diamond Head as a reference point before turning in to the tranquil Maunalua Bay.

Baxter and Grant were locked in a head-to-head battle as they crossed the channel, according to new GPS technology introduced this year that allowed race officials and fans around the world to follow paddlers online. Grant said he needed to take a break just before Koko Head to replenish his water supply. It was at that moment that Baxter established the winning margin as the paddlers rounded China Walls and began the all-out sprint toward the finishing buoys.

"We were together the whole way — at one stage, we were basically swapping swords, left and right," Grant explained. "It was a really cool, fun race. We both tried not to work too hard. I was running out of water and had to make a change — that’s where he got a gap on me. … Connor’s a really talented kid. I gave it all I had, and I’m really stoked for second."

Baxter said he pushed harder once he noticed Grant going to get more water approximately 8 to 10 miles before the finish line.

"I put my head down and didn’t really look back all the way to the finish," said Baxter, who noted that the day’s favorable surf and steady tradewinds also contributed to his record-setting run. "He had a little stumble and I had a great glide. … I kept surfing, kept catching bumps."

Last year’s runner-up, Scott Gamble (4:19:57), took home third place, while Kai Lenny (4:23:35) and Dave Kalama (4:24:44, winner of the men’s 40-49-year-old division) rounded out the top five unlimited competitors.

More than 300 of the world’s top traditional (prone) and SUP athletes representing 20 countries took part in the grueling test of strength and endurance. Competitors were treated to clear skies and steady winds that made for a smoother crossing than racers encountered in 2013.

Travis Baptiste repeated as champion in the stock SUP division, finishing in 4:23:54.

Travis overcame a broken pinky finger suffered in February and was also dealing with a peritonsillar abscess in the back of his throat the size of an olive that made it difficult for him to eat, talk or train and required multiple hospital visits and IV fluid treatments over the past two weeks.

"Coming in, I wasn’t feeling the best, but I pushed myself; luckily God was with me and it happened," said Baptiste, who said he would like to make the jump to the unlimited division next year. "One of my sponsors told me, ‘Hey, everyone’s going to be in pain tomorrow anyway,’ so while I wasn’t feeling 100 percent today, I had to push through it."

Matt Poole of Australia claimed gold in the unlimited prone division, finishing in 4:52:02, while California’s Jack Bark took top honors in the stock prone division (5:12:35).

"There’s so much of a good vibe and energy from everyone in the race. To accomplish (crossing) that ocean … the elements, the ups and downs, the highs and lows you go through, to get to the finish line is just awesome," Poole said.

Sonni Hoenscheid (5:12:38) of Germany outlasted Kona resident Jenny Kalmbach by a three-minute margin in the women’s unlimited SUP division.

Jordan "Magic" Mercer of Australia lived up to her nickname yet again and claimed the women’s unlimited prone division for the fourth consecutive year, crossing the line in 5:33:23. Hawaii’s Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, an eight-time champion in the event who has now logged 416 miles in her 13 channel crossings, finished nearly 22 minutes behind Mercer to garner runner-up honors.

"It’s just a grueling, grueling channel and to cross that line in position No. 1, I can’t explain to you how good it feels," said Mercer, 20, who struggled to contain her emotions after the race. "It felt so good to be getting those bumps, my board was running beautifully. I’ll be back again next year because there’s no better feeling in the world than winning the Molokai-2-Oahu."

Kathryn Taylor paddled to victory in the women’s stock prone division, grinding out the win in 7:42:56.