The Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboarding World Championships crosses the Ka’iwi Channel that connects the Islands of Molokai and Oahu. This 32-mile journey across the 2,300 foot deep channel has challenged athletes since the first organized outrigger race in 1952.

Competitors can choose to race on either a traditional paddleboard or a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) as a solo paddler or as a 2-man or 3-man team. Solo paddlers can choose to paddle in either the unlimited class (no size limit and with a movable rudder system) or stock class (12 feet or under for paddleboard, 14 foot or under in SUP with fixed rudder).

CLASSES RECOGNIZED:

• Men’s Solo Unlimited Paddleboard
• Women’s Solo Unlimited Paddleboard
• Men’s Solo Unlimited SUP
• Women’s Solo Unlimited SUP
• Men’s Solo Stock Paddleboard
• Women’s Solo Stock Paddleboard
• Men’s Solo Stock SUP
• Women’s Solo Stock SUP
• Men’s Team Paddleboard
• Women’s Team Paddleboard
• Men’s Team SUP
• Women’s Team SUP
• Men’s Foil
• Women’s Foil
• Foil OPEN Team
• 3-person team PB and SUP Men, Women or mixed no age groups.  3-person teams are not open for elite paddlers and are under the discretion of final approval from the race director.  If you have any immediate questions please contact the race director at[email protected]

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL

Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships will provide a safe and enjoyable race weekend experience for all attendees and our Molokai and Oahu communities.  Covid-19 guidance and mandates will change between time of registration in March and race date July 24, 2022.  We are prepared to  make adjustments and follow all guidelines presented by the State and County officials.  For this reason,  M2O will provide specific guidelines to registered participants as we lead into race weekend.  The island of Molokai is under the Maui County guidelines.  here is the direct link for timely update:  https://www.mauicounty.gov/2370/COVID-19-Coronavirus-Information

 

GENERAL RACE RULES

(any violation may result in disqualification or time penalty)

1. All paddlers must wear official event jerseys (provided at no charge) during the entire race, failure to do so will result in an automatic disqualification. Escort boats and boards must have race number stickers. (to be picked up at REGISTRATION)
2. Race packets which include race jerfdsseys, race numbers and stickers must be picked up at Thursday Registration at Duke’s Waikiki. If you cannot make it please advise the race staff at [email protected].
3. Teams may only use ONE board.
4. No drafting after the first 15 minutes of the race. Drafting is defined as being in the wake of a craft or fellow paddler for more than 1 minute in any 5 minute span.
5. Any assistance from boats other than passing of food or liquids will result in automatic disqualification. The escort boat must be in neutral for all food drops and team athlete exchanges.  NO APPROACH to boat by paddlers with propeller/engine facing the athlete. At NO time during the race can an athlete touch his escort boat. This applies to ALL solo athletes preparing for feed or bottle exchanges.  Relay changes are made in the water and never from the boat.  This rule is in place for both safety and a no tolerance rule for intentional wake riding.  VIOLATION will be a 10 minute penalty for each infraction observed or documented.  There will be 12 Official Safety Boats on the water.
6. JETSKIS or Personal Watercraft are not acceptable escort boats nor can they be used in addition to athlete/team escort boat support.  The Molokai shoreline is a protected reef and Jet Skis are prohibited.   The race will have permitted PWCs for official race timing and safety at the finish.
7. Paddlers must stay with their escort boat at all times, even in the event of the boat having a mechanical failure. Any attempt to complete the race without an escort boat will result in an automatic disqualification.
8. Safety of all participants is the top priority. All athlete and boat waivers must be signed and suggested safety precautions must be reviewed.
9. Escort boats cannot fish while escorting.  Paddler will be disqualified.
10. All paddlers should be securely tethered to their boards.
11. Stand up paddlers must complete the entire race standing up. Kneeling or sitting for more than one minute at a time will result in a time penalty to be determined by race officials. Aid exchanges not included.
12. You may switch boards in the event of an equipment failure; however you may not change equipment class. In the event of equipment failure, the broken equipment must be presented to race officials to verify the failure, and a time penalty may be assessed.
13. The race may be canceled if ocean conditions are deemed too hazardous by race officials (no refunds on entries).
14. All paddlers must attend the pre-race briefing on July 23rd, 2022 at 5:30pm at the Kalua Koi Villas for last minute instructions and input on weather.
15. Meet on the beach at 6:30am on race morning, July 24th for final instructions and group prayer.
16. All racers must be respectful of the rules and property of the entire Kalua Koi complex. THERE WILL BE NO CAMPING ON THE KALUA KOI GROUNDS OR BEACH IN FRONT OF THE OLD HOTEL. There is a campsite at Papohaku Park which is about 3/4 of a mile south of the Kalua Koi area. There is a bathroom and shower, you will need to file for a camping permit with Molokai Parks and recreation. We will provide a shuttle to bring athletes to the dinner and the start of the race, but, you must notify the race director, Mike Takahashi if you will be camping. THIS is a great spot with sandy bottom to connect with your Boat Captains and escort boats.
17. ON the Kalua Koi grounds please stay on walkways and official public access.
18. PADDLERS must stay with their escort boats at all times and Escort Boats must stay with their paddlers at all times – EVEN if the boat breaks down. ANY ATTEMPT to complete race without a boat will be an automatic disqualification and potential ban from future events.
19. ALL escort boats must have ship to ship radios (VHF). No handhelds will be allowed. ALL radios must be mounted. RACE officials must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of any escort boat changes.  ALL BOATS MUST HAVE CURRENT REGISTRATIONS.   DOBOR will be making random checks race day.
20. Any paddler whose boat has not checked in prior to race will not be allowed to start the race.
21. If you withdraw from the race, you must radio the HEAD OFFICIAL BOAT on VHF 72 and let them know that you are withdrawing from the race. If your escort boats’ radio is broken, then physically check with the HEAD OFFICIAL BOAT, which will be stationed at Port Lock Point after the first finisher comes in.
22. In the event of a large south swell, a buoy will be placed off the reef at Portlock Point.  All paddlers must keep the buoy to their right. There will be a 20 minute penalty if you do not round the buoy.
23. Any Paddler that has not not rounded Kawaihoa Point after 8 hours will agree to be picked up by their escort boat and brought to the finish line. Anyone that drops out of the race must have their escort boat notify the head official boat.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MOLOKAI AND BOATING

MOLOKAI PROTOCOL AND GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY

1. Observe a no wake (less than 5 mph) speed within 500 yards of any shoreline.  There have been several instances of speeding escort boats almost hitting divers.
2. No fishing of any type within 500 yards of shore.
3. No Opihi picking.
4. No harvesting of lobster, it is out of season from May to August.  This is a DQ offense for your paddler.
5. No camping on private property or non-designated camping areas, including Make Horse Beach.  The Molokai Police Department will be sending officers to cite un-permitted camping.  There will be a legal, permitted set up at Papohaku Park.
6. Please pick up your trash.  It would be a great gesture of good will if you could leave Molokai cleaner than when you got there.

START INFORMATION:

1. Racers must pick up a GPS tracker on race morning prior to the start of the event.  There will be tables set up near the pool area from 6:00 a.m.  You will not be counted as a starter unless you have picked up your tracker.
2. All trackers are water resistant and will be in a waterproof pouch with an attached string.  Feel free to secure the unit to personal bags (on the Top of your bag) but please have the unit secure on the boat deck.  The tracker needs to be exposed to the sky, please do not store it in a bag.
3. Athletes will leave the tracking device on their escort boat at all times.   PLEASE note that the geo tracking units will track for service and satellites and then in time turn off all LEDS – even though the unit is on.   THIS WILL SAVE on battery life.  ONCE THE tracker has been picked up athlete will only need to get the tracker on the boat in a safe place.
4. You must return the tracker to the timing tent after your race is done.  Anyone that does not pick up or turn in their tracker will be considered an unofficial entry.  Return tracker to the timers tent at the finish line.
5. Have your escort boat check in on VHF channel 1 by 7:00 to let the safety team know they are present.  Remind them of this at when you get your stuff on board.
6. There will be two starts. The paddleboard (solo and team) start at 7:30 am, the SUP (solo and team) at 8:00 am.  Foil start to be determined.  The race starts between two buoys about 150 yards from shore. The start boat will raise a red flag about 2 minutes before the start.  He will lower the red flag.  The race starts when he raises the green flag.
7. Race Prayer will be at 6:30
8. Paddleboard athletes need to have equipment off the beach and on their escort boats before 7am on race morning. Escort boats will wait off to the south side of the starting area.
9. After the paddleboard start at 7:30am, the escort boats will follow behind the final paddler until 30 minutes into the event or until the HEAD OFFICIAL boat gives the OK. The escort boats are then free to support their paddlers.
10. Sup athletes need to have their equipment off the beach and on their escort boats no later than 7:30am. SUP escort boats will wait off to the south side of the starting area. Remember the start line is on the North and the loading of boats is on the South side of the course.
11. After the sup start at 8:00am, the team escort boats will follow behind the final paddler until 30 minutes after the start or until the HEAD OFFICIAL boat gives the OK. The escort boats are then free to support their paddlers.
12. FOIL Solo and Team start will follow after SUP.  Note that the start time for 2019 race was after 9 am.
13. ANY PADDLER that has not rounded Kawaihoa Point after 8 hours will agree to be picked up by their escort boat and brought to the finish line.

RACE ORGANIZERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY VESSEL AND / OR BOAT CAPTAIN IN PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT.   DUE TO SAFETY REASONS THE RACE OFFICIALS HAVE PULLED VESSELS  OFF THE COURSE.

Any VIOLATION OF RACE RULES may result in disqualification or time penalty.