My alarm beeps at 4:20 a.m. Ten minutes later I'm grinding coffee beans for my morning ‘c'upper’. Tiffany is at my doorstep at 5:10, and we leave the house at 5:30 heading towards Flemmings Beach and the start of the race from Maui to Molokai.
The last two summers, I have crossed the Molokai-Oahu channel in the form of a relay-team with Devin. This season I feel the urge to paddle solo. I know I am drawn to new experiences, and I always like to explore new mental and physical boundaries within. The crossing today will also be a ‘test’ whether I will consider doing the 32 mile Molokai to Oahu solo in July.
Mike Holmes, who lives on Molokai, is the skipper of my escort boat ‘Ahi, the Hawaiian name for tuna. We talk tactics and I keep my eyes and ears wide open to receive all the advice I can get. Tiffany forms the other half of my escort crew. She takes pictures, video and will help me exchange water packs with energy powders and electrolytes.
As I check up on my gear and food supply, we get a visit from a pod of dolphins. Wow! Seeing dolphins always makes me happy. Seeing them at this moment seems like an omen; a message that everything will be ok.
With a healthy-nervous-excited feeling, I paddle to the start around 8:10 am. Ten-minutes later we are on our way.
My mind is prepared for the worst case scenario, a five-to-six hour paddle. I paddle fast and strong to get onto a ‘bump’ and surf the ocean swells. There’s also parts of the route I cannot glide ‘south’ as I need to send my board ‘north’. Mike and Tiffany make sure I keep my focus on the ‘landmarks’, and Mike does the calculations on how to approach the ocean currents.
Whenever I surf a swell, I hear Mike's exciting voice, “Send ‘r down, AM, send ‘r down!" Or, “Way to go, AM, way to go!” Tiffany has her own motivational terms with loud ‘whoo hoos’ and "Duder… you rock”. Sometimes I giggle inside as I hear her talking towards the camera documenting the trip.
The few times I start feeling my muscles or fatigue, I switch my brain to better thoughts. Concentration is my friend out here as it helps me stay ‘in synch’ with the ocean flow.
Flying fish, mahi mahi’s and I imagine a little shark—who knows with Polaroid sunglasses and a little fatigue—cross my path. The ocean and ocean life is absolutely stunning. I make myself look around to imprint this moment to memory.
The northeast winds are just the way we want them, and I end up getting some really long glides. This is amazing and so much fun! It doesn’t feel like a race. At the very end, the tail wind is exchanged by a strong side-headwind for the last 50 meters. This hurts after about four-and-a-half hours of paddling, and it demands 100 percent of my powers. If I don’t ‘crank it’, I will be blown further and further away from the finish line.
At the finish it's time for hugs and hello’s. Everyone congratulates each other on their performance. I am exhausted and don’t really know what and how to think for a while. Some food, water and a shower help me to come back.
I hear that I am the only woman who crossed the channel solo this race. My time is 4 hours, 37 minutes. My result is not crowned with a trophy as I share the outcome with the men, but this feels like a personal victory. It is part of my own journey within; reaching out to new levels.
And... to answer my own question whether I consider paddling the Molokai to Oahu channel solo this year? Yes, I will.
Many Mahalos to my support crew Mike and Tiffany, and to Campbell for bringing me and my board back to Maui!
Opening up my email on Sunday the Skipper Mike is in my inbox. He sums up some history and the race from an outsiders point of view; allow me to quote it for you:
“Aloha Anne-Marie, I hope you are happy with the outcome of your race; it was an impressive performance! Years ago, no one would have ever thought a person would travel standing up from island to island on a paddleboard! It is an amazing accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. I spoke with Carlton, the paddler I escorted to Honolulu last week. He went south and said it was definitely the wrong course to take, although they had wave riding speed it took them further away from the finish line. I wish I had known the outer buoy didn't count for rounding or I would have had you cover the girl behind you, (two person team). Leaving Maui, she was 500 yards ahead of you and you passed them by 400 yards near Kaunakakai.  By being on the inside cutting the corner she was able to catch up but considering that she only paddled half as much as you did, yours was an impressive performance. I am proud to have been a part of it and would be glad to do it in the future. Many mahalos, Mike”.
Anne-Marie Reichman