The Outrigger Canoe Club still has seven weeks to smooth out its rough edges for the Moloka'i Hoe.

But Outrigger sure looked smooth in the rough water yesterday en route to winning the Duke Kahanamoku Long Distance Race.

Outrigger completed the 26-mile course from Kailua Beach to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, in 3 hours, 1 minute, 24 seconds, to win it for the second time in the past three years.

It was the opening race of the long-distance paddling season for men's teams, and one of the preludes for the prestigious Moloka'i Hoe on Oct. 7.

"Surprising — I didn't think we were ready," Outrigger coach John Puakea said. "I would have been happy if we finished in the top five. But we were right up there (near the lead) the whole way ... I think the conditions might have had something to do with it."

The ocean was especially rough off East O'ahu, and several canoes flipped.

"It was victory at sea the whole way," Outrigger steersman Karel Tresnak Jr. said. "It was just crazy. The roughest I've ever seen it in a long time."

Tresnak said there were times during the race when the entire canoe went airborne, and other times where it nearly swamped.

"You felt like you were going straight up and down during some sections," he said. "Waves were coming from all over the place. It was survival."

Members of the winning Outrigger crew were Tresnak, Kapono Brown, Ikaika Harbottle, Rob Harrison, Scott Hendricks, Byron Ho, Mike Kane, Robi Solmssen and Tapa Worthington.

Brown and Worthington alternated in the stroker position at the front of the canoe, where they got a close-up view of the conditions.

"It was hard to paddle because you were getting hit from side to side," Brown said. "It's easy to get flustered when it's like that, but we kept it together. We knew everybody else had to go through it."

Team New Zealand/Hawai'i placed second in 3:03:52.

That crew featured various paddlers from around the state: Raven Aipa, Nick Agorastos, Heath Hemmings, Donovan Leandro, Thibert Lussiaa, Kea Pa'iaina, Andrew Penny, Bill Pratt and Mark Sandvold.

"We train mostly on our own and then try to get together (for practice) once during the week and then once on the weekend," Sandvold said. "I think we're OK getting second when you consider we don't get a chance to practice as much as some other teams."

Team New Zealand/Hawai'i led for the first half of the race, but Outrigger took the lead for good off Hanauma Bay.

"We got on this huge wave and rode it for maybe 200 to 300 yards," Tresnak said. "That gave us the gap we needed because that New Zealand crew is unreal."

A second Outrigger crew placed third overall in 3:07:10, and another Outrigger crew raced in a koa canoe and placed 16th overall.

"The biggest surprise was our second crew," said Puakea, who coaches all three Outrigger crews. "To get third overall ... it shows that we have a lot of capable guys."

Puakea added that the Outrigger crew that won yesterday is not necessarily the same crew that will paddle together during the Moloka'i Hoe.

"We feel like we have so much more work to do before Moloka'i," Puakea said. "The goal right now is to get faster. Winning this race doesn't necessarily mean anything for Moloka'i."

Lanikai, which won the Duke Kahanamoku Race last year, placed fourth yesterday in 3:07:52. Lanikai flipped twice in the rough water to drop out of the lead pack.

Hawaiian Canoe Club from Maui finished fifth, but was later disqualified for a violation by its escort boat.

Hui Nalu placed 14th overall and first in the masters 40-older division with a time of 3:27:43. Waimanalo was 17th overall and first in the masters 55-older division in 3:33:36.

Prior to the men's race, an 8-mile race for women's crews was staged at Kailua Beach. Kailua won with a time of 53 minutes, 49 seconds. Lanikai placed second in 54:29.

FINAL RESULTS

MEN (26 MILES)

1, Outrigger-1, 3:01:24. 2, Team New Zealand/Hawai'i, 3:03:52. 3, Outrigger-2, 3:07:10. 4, Lanikai-1, 3:07:52. 5, Leeward Kai-1, 3:10:28. 6, Lanikai-2, 3:10:46. 7, Kailua-1, 3:14:23. 8, Tui Tonga, 3:21:21. 9, Lanikai-3, 3:22:55. 10, Puakea Foundation, 3:23:55. 11, Puna, 3:25:08. 12, Hui Nalu-1, 3:27:43. 13, Kalihi Kai, 3:30:02. 14, Outrigger-koa, 3:33:04. 15, Waimanalo, 3:33:36. 16, Koa Kai, 3:33:42. 17, Lanikai-4, 3:35:05. 18, Leeward Kai-2, 3:35:40. 19, Waikiki Beachboys-1, 3:36:36. 20, Kailua-2, 3:37:05. 21, Kilohana, 3:40:03. 22, New Hope-1, 3:40:08. 23, Lokahi-1, 3:49:36. 24, Healani, 3:45:57. 25, Lokahi-2, 3:49:36. 26, Waikiki Yacht Club-1, 3:50:26. 27, Ka Mamalahoe, 3:51:26. 28, Hui Lanakila-2, 3:51:26. 29, Waikiki Surf Club, 3:55:59. 30, Waikiki Beachboys-2, 3:59:19. 31, Lanikai-5, 4:09:46. 32, Kailua HFD, 4:10:35. 33, Hui Nalu-2, 4:12:47. 34, Honolulu Pearl, 4:15:31. 35, New Hope-2, 4:30:38. 36, New Hope-3, 4:32:02. 37, New Hope-4, 4:36:07.

MASTERS

40-older: 1, Hui Nalu, 3:27:43. 2, Lanikai, 3:35:05. 3, Kailua, 3:37:05. 4, Lokahi, 3:42:26. 5, Honolulu Pearl, 4:15:31. 6, New Hope, 4:32:02. 55-older: 1, Waimanalo, 3:33:36. 2, Hui Lanakila, 3:51:26.

WOMEN (8 MILE COURSE)

Open: 1, Kailua-1, 53:49. 2, Lanikai-1, 54:29. 3, Kailua-2, 54:30. 4, Kailua-3, 59:21. 5, Lanikai-2, 59:58. Masters 40-older: 1, Lanikai, 1:02:18. 2, Kailua, 1:03:55. 3, New Hope, 1:06:12. Masters 50-older: 1, Hui Nalu, 1:01:07. 2, Waimanalo, 1:02:14. 3, Lanikai, 1:03:31.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.