It’s known as the dreaded huli.

Paddlers cringe when the term is broached as the notion of outrigger canoes flipping causes a rush of adrenaline similar to the voracity with which water engulfs a vessel once it overturns. Throughout the season, paddlers usually practice huli (flip) drills, during which the athletes work to right their canoe while feverishly bailing the boat of the hundreds of gallons of water that accumulate within mere seconds of swamping.

Avoiding the huli was a major point of emphasis at Sunday’s Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s Waimanalo Regatta in the waters fronting Waimanalo Beach Park. Crews were tasked with managing strong crosswinds and accompanying rain squalls that created choppy ocean conditions and led to a rash of huli canoes throughout the day. The open steersman rule was used through the first 11 races to allow inexperienced crews guidance through the tough ocean conditions from veteran steersmen.

"We’re lucky that we get to paddle in this kind of water in Kailua, and these are actually nicer conditions than it’s been for the past week," said Jordan Wong, who helped guide Kailua to wins in the boys 12 and mixed novice B events as an open steersman before eventually steering the club’s junior men to a runner-up finish in the 1-mile race. "It was rough, but we put in some good training and we used the home waters to our advantage."

Hui Nalu entered Sunday’s event as the favorite, having won the organization’s previous three regattas by a combined 10 points. While Hui Nalu won a regatta-high 10 races, Kailua’s mastery of the rugged conditions allowed the four-time defending OHCRA champion and reigning state co-champion to claim the winner’s hardware with 163 points. Kailua headlined the AAA Division (27-29 crews entered), while Lanikai (159 points), Hui Nalu (157 points) and Outrigger (142 points) rounded out the large-club group.

Kailua jumped out to an early advantage, establishing 71 points through the day’s first 17 races, while Lanikai (65 points) remained within striking distance of its Windward side rival. Outrigger, which endured multiple huli early in the regatta, struggled to post 48 points within the same span, and Hui Nalu suffered through a handful of disqualifications for burying the starting flag and finishing in the incorrect lane en route to 44 points early on.

Using a string of consistently strong finishes, Kailua extended its lead to 121-102 over Lanikai with 14 races remaining. Lanikai made matters interesting, though, winning the regatta’s final four races to create a three-way joust for first. With one race left, Kailua clung to a 159-154-152 margin over Hui Nalu and Lanikai, and notched a third-place finish in the mixed open event to clinch the victory.

"It took us a while to get momentum," said Wong, who also serves as a coach within the novice men’s program. "These are our waters, and we prepared a bit more for this regatta."

Keahiakahoe ran away with the AA Division (14-26 crews entered), securing 75 points and besting Leeward Kai (50 points) and Hui Lanakila (37 points).

Anuenue edged out the competition in the A Division (1-13 crews entered), notching 13 points to edge host Waimanalo (12 points).

Nearly 3,000 paddlers ranging in age from 12 and under to 65 and above represented OHCRA’s 17 member clubs in races spanning a quarter-mile to 11⁄2 miles. Winning crews earned 7 points toward the team standings, while second-, third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place finishers earned 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points.

OHCRA enters a bye week, and returns to the water July 4 for the annual Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta in Waikiki. Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a holds its sixth event of the season with the Na Keiki O Ka Moi regatta Sunday at Maili Beach.