Neither the daunting task of overcoming an early deficit nor sluggish ocean conditions could prevent Team Bradley from making history.

Team Bradley battled back to catch, pass and fend off the Waikiki Beachboys to claim its record-tying sixth consecutive Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the 41-mile women’s outrigger canoe paddling race from Molokai’s Hale O Lono Harbor to Waikiki’s Duke Kahanamoku Beach. Yesterday’s 32nd annual event is considered the world championship of outrigger canoe paddling, and featured 85 crews representing Hawaii, California, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

According to official spotters in the water, Waikiki led for approximately 35 miles — the majority of the channel crossing, which was made even more difficult due to the lack of ocean swells that usually help push crews toward Oahu. However, Team Bradley was able to catch up and then pass the "Beach Girls" off Hawaii Kai as the crews rounded Oahu and passed Maunalua Bay, and extended the margin further as the canoes rounded Diamond Head.

"What was challenging was the hard, sticky water," said veteran Team Bradley crew member Kelly Fey. "Outside Maunalua Bay, they got far ahead of us. We had a few good changes, moved in, caught a few good bumps and, little by little, caught them. I’m so happy to be back on land."

Team Bradley stretched its final lead to nearly 3 minutes, and crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 54 minutes and 13 seconds. Waikiki finished strong, posting a time of 5 hours, 57 minutes and 12 seconds, while Surfer’s Paradise of Australia finished third (6:03:49).

"We knew it was going to be a hard day," said Team Bradley’s Lauren Bartlett. "There’s only so much you can do (when you’re behind). We remained positive on the boat, and then we just started pushing, because we weren’t going to lay down. We never think (winning) is going to happen. We’ve been so lucky."

The victory tied Team Bradley with OffShore Canoe Club of Newport Beach, Calif., for the longest winning streak in race history. OffShore claimed six straight wins from 1986 to 1991.

Team Bradley — an experienced group of paddlers hailing from Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island that bears the name of outrigger canoe maker Sonny Bradley — still holds the record in the event at 5 hours, 22 minutes and 5 seconds, which it set in 2008.

Yesterday’s victorious crew also included Dane Ward, Noelani Auger, Cherisse Agorastis, Andrea Moller, Kristin Foster, Alana Goo, Shelly Oates-Wilding and Lori Nakamura.

For Waikiki, yesterday’s finish marked the second consecutive year in which the club finished second to Team Bradley.

"It’s heart-breaking," said Waikiki club president and crew member Dana Gorecki. "The girls left it all in the canoe. Give credit to Bradley for staying focused even when they were behind. They just beat us there. It hurts."

Rounding out the top 10 in the open fiberglass division were: Hawaiian Kanaktion (6:07:22) in fourth place; Team Australia (6:08:57) in fifth place; Kai Opua (6:11:35) in sixth place; Outrigger (6:12:42) in seventh place; Team Venus Va’a of Tahiti (6:13:20) in eighth place; Newport Aquatics of California (6:24:11) in ninth place; and Niumalu (6:27:15) in 10th place.

Other notable crews included:

» Team Revolusun — a crew composed of paddlers from Hawaii and New Zealand — finished fourth overall and claimed the masters 40-and-over division with a time of 6 hours, 4 minutes and 52 seconds.

» Outrigger "Koa" finished 20th overall in 6 hours, 38 minutes and 53 seconds to claim the koa canoe division, where crews compete in the traditional wooden boats as opposed to the lighter, faster fiberglass vessels.

» Kailua Canoe Club’s "Kailua 50’s" crew made it three consecutive victories in the masters 50-and-over division after finishing 21st overall in 6 hours, 39 minutes and 34 seconds.

» The Oceans 10/Hawaiian Kanaktion masters 40 crew finished 26th overall in 6 hours, 45 minutes and 30 seconds. The crew included JoJo Toeppner, the only paddler to have competed in every Na Wahine O Ke Kai.

The men will take on the channel crossing on Oct. 10 for the annual Molokai Hoe. Team Primo represents Hawaii’s best shot at stopping Shell Va’a of Tahiti and its quest for a fifth consecutive championship.