Trust and believe.

The mantra is emblazoned on the Team Bradley race jerseys, and the women’s outrigger canoe paddling team continued to embody the ohana-first approach en route to staking its claim as the most successful crew in the history of long-distance competition.

Team Bradley finished the Hawaiian Airlines Na Wahine O Ke Kai in 5 hours, 48 minutes and 28 seconds to claim gold for the third consecutive year and event-record 11th time.

Sunday’s event marked the 40th edition — and 38th crossing — of the 41-mile race from Molokai’s Hale O Lono Harbor to Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.

Outrigger Canoe Club (5:49:29) ended up almost a minute behind the leaders, while Team Maui Jim (5:57:35) made its Na Wahine O Ke Kai debut with a third-place finish. Lanikai Canoe Club (5:59:50) bested the six-hour mark to finish fourth, while Kawaihae (6:01:48) from Hawaii Island and Hui Nalu Canoe Club (6:02:06) also contended in the lead group.

“We were really thinking about (the crew’s historical significance and accomplishments) over the past two weeks just because we’re always trying to make the next move and bring up the next wave of girls to keep this team going,” said Team Bradley paddler Cherisse Agorastos. “It’s totally awesome, and trying to pull it off every year is a humbling experience because you never know what is going to happen. This is mind-boggling, and I hope we inspire the younger girls as they strive to be the best they can be.”

Agorastos was joined in the victorious crew by Andrea Moller-Bouwens, Kristin Foster, Lori Nakamura, Kaulu Lu‘uwai, Mahealani Botelho, Alana Goo, Nicole Pedersen, Kealani Bartlett and Claire Ing. The squad is coached by Kelly Fey, a former Team Bradley paddler who has been part of the group since the dominant run began.

This year’s field included nearly four times as many crews, 64, than the 17 that participated in the first Na Wahine O Ke Kai four decades ago. Sunday’s field featured paddlers from Hawaii, California, Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

Team Bradley took an inside, rhumb line approach to the course, while Outrigger navigated a southerly route that took the paddlers away from Oahu before the current and wind helped push the red-and-white canoe alongside the defending champions. While Outrigger tested Team Bradley in a head-to-head battle near Diamond Head, the three-peat was not threatened as the Bradley women pulled away down the stretch to cement the historic finish.

“Right when we neared Diamond Head, Outrigger was south of us, and they came up within a few boat lengths of us; we knew the race was on,” Agorastos said. “We were paddling hard all the way, and as soon as we got to Oahu, we really felt the current, so we came together and battled. Like our shirts say, ‘Trust and believe.’”

Team Bradley has now claimed three consecutive and 11 of the last 13 titles – including six straight crowns from 2005-2010 – and still owns the race record time of 5 hours, 22 minutes and 5 seconds established in 2008. With the win on Sunday, the dynastic crew pulled ahead of the dominant group of Offshore (Calif.) in the history books as the most successful crew in race history. Offshore also won the race six consecutive times (1986-1991) and was victorious 10 times out of 11 tries (1986-1996).

After the 2015 Na Wahine O Ke Kai was canceled due to strong winds and treacherous surf that was deemed too dangerous to race in, Team Bradley returned to the top of the paddling pack by winning the race two years ago by a six-minute margin over Outrigger, and won in 2017 by five minutes over Outrigger Canoe Club of Australia.

“I’m originally from Brazil, and through paddling, this has become my family,” said Moller-Bouwens. “We fight together so hard and bleed for each other; there’s never an ‘I’ on this team. Out on the channel, all paddlers are part of one big community, and it’s a very special experience.”

Team Bradley rarely practices together as a full squad as its paddlers live across the state. The team makes up for the lack of group training by working out on one-man canoes and cross-training under the guidance and scheduling of Fey, who recently “graduated” to coaching after paddling with the crew in years past. By sticking to the rigorous program, the team continues to compete at an elite level, while also getting stronger.

“This is so special, I can’t explain what it’s like to be a part of this team of so many incredible women,” Fey said. “I’m stoked that they put up with me! I do enjoy coaching, and it’s challenging, but very rewarding.”

Paddlers were cooled as winds strengthened throughout the day, and an increasing tide helped crews as they pushed toward Waikiki. As they crossed the Kaiwi Channel, reports from paddlers and officials indicated manageable relatively small swells that continued down the home stretch as the wind caused choppy ocean conditions.

In distance races, crews of 10 women apiece (six in a canoe at a time) are accompanied by motored escort boats and are allowed to substitute paddlers along the way to provide ample breaks and hydration.

The men will compete at the Hawaiian Airlines Molokai Hoe on Sunday, Oct. 7, and will follow the same course as the Na Wahine O Ke Kai in the final event of the 2018 outrigger canoe paddling season. Defending champion Red Bull Wa‘a from Hawaii Island, Lanikai, Outrigger and Hui Nalu represent the local favorites after strong performances in the long-distance season thus far.