The women of the Waikiki Beachboys Canoe Club experienced the dawning of a new era yesterday.

They unveiled a new canoe and rode it to a historic victory in the Dad Center Canoe Race.

They completed the 25-mile course from Kailua Beach to Kaimana Beach, Waikiki, in 3 hours, 4 minutes, 10 seconds. A record 50 crews participated in the long-distance race for women.

It is the first time that a Waikiki Beachboys crew — men or women — won a long-distance race.

"I think it's huge," coach Sean Monahan said. "This is the first distance win ever for the club, and it's something we've been working on for a long time."

It was also the first women's race of the 2007 long-distance season, so Waikiki Beachboys is suddenly one of the teams to beat for the Na Wahine O Ke Kai world championship race Sept. 23.

"This is definitely big for us," said Dana Gorecki, who is president of the club as well as a paddler on the winning crew. "We've come close before, but just to know we can actually win a race like this now is a big thing for us."

Members of the winning crew were Gorecki, Susan Brown, Rachel Bruntsch, Frances Lichowski, Andrea Messer, Erin Offenhauser, Kaui Pelekane, Jen Polcer, Raye Powell and Kelsa Teeters.

Each team could rotate 10 paddlers, although only six can be in the canoe at a time.

Waikiki Beachboys paddled to its breakthrough victory in a new Mirage canoe named "Makana O Laulima."

Several former veteran paddlers of the club donated money to help cover the $12,000 price tag. The canoe was blessed last week, and the women had only one day to practice in it prior to yesterday's race.

"It must be a special boat," said Brown, who steered the winning crew.

The ocean was relatively calm for most of the course, except for a rough patch off East O'ahu.

"It was pretty flat and really hot — a hard race," Gorecki said. "But there were some (wave) bumps here and there and we got some good ones."

The only scare for Waikiki Beachboys came midway through the race when Hui Lanakila took the lead in the choppy ocean off Makapu'u, and held it for several miles.

"We had to keep our head in the game and stay focused," Offenhauser said. "We wanted to stay in our own canoe and not worry about what any others were doing."

When the ocean turned calm again, Waikiki Beachboys caught Hui Lanakila off Maunalua Bay and slowly increased the lead the rest of the way.

"We kept a steady pace the whole way," Teeters said. "But when they passed us, we knew we had to bite down and stay in it."

Hui Lanakila coach Raven Aipa said: "They went on the inside and we stayed outside, and that's where they got us. It was a good race. We had no mistakes, they just beat us."

The Hui Lanakila crew of Michelle Arnold, Jennifer Asano, Mikala Bradley, Jessie Eames, Gail Grabowsky, Arlene Holzman, Jaimie Kinard, Jane McKee, Katie Slocumb and Sarah Van De Vanter finished second with a time of 3:06:07.

Hawaiian/Team Bradley placed third in 3:09:48, and Na Molokama O Hanalei from Kaua'i was fourth in 3:14:44.

Hawaiian/Team Bradley won the Dad Center and the Na Wahine O Ke Kai races last year. That team features paddlers from around the state, and not all of them were able to compete yesterday.

"We didn't see Team Bradley at full strength today, and Hui Lanakila will make adjustments," Waikiki Beachboys coach Monahan said. "So we're going to have to improve because we know they will."

A Kailua crew won the masters 50-older division, and was an impressive 14th overall. They also beat all the masters 40-older crews, although the 50-older division could rotate 12 paddlers instead of 10.

Outrigger won the masters 40-older division, and another Outrigger crew won the koa canoe division.

Most of the clubs from around the state — men and women — will participate in the Queen Lili'uokalani Long-Distance Races on the Big Island this weekend. Races are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Kailua, Kona.

TOP FINISHERS

OPEN

1, Waikiki Beachboys-1 (Susan Brown, Rachel Bruntsch, Dana Gorecki, Frances Lichowski, Andrea Messer, Erin Offenhauser, Kaui Pelekane, Jen Polcer, Raye Powell, Kelsa Teeters), 3:04:10. 2, Hui Lanakila-1, 3:06:07. 3, Hawaiian/Team Bradley, 3:09:48. 4, Namolokama O Hanalei, 3:14:44. 5, Keahiakahoe, 3:15:59. 6, Lanakila-California, 3:16:18. 7, Kai E Hitu, 3:17:24. 8, Lae'ula O Kai, 3:17:56. 9, Lanikai-1, 3:18:01. 10, Hui Nalu Yellow, 3:18:02. 11, Waikiki Beachboys-2, 3:18:35. 12, Kailua-1, 3:19:57. 13, Hawaiian, 3:20:13. 14, Hui Lanakila-2, 3:21:13. 15, Healani Blue, 3:21:52. 16, Puna, 3:21:54. 17, Niumalu, 3:26:27. 18, Kaiola, 3:26:45. 19, Hui Lanakila-3, 3:28:53. 20, Waikiki Surf Club, 3:28:54.

MASTERS 40-OLDER

1, Outrigger (Kisi Haine, Jennifer Horner, Mary Smolenski, Paula Crabb, Lisa Irish, Debbie Ing, Wendy Wichman, Genie Kincaid, Karin Hansen, Jennifer Bossert), 3:24:57. 2, Lanikai-2, 3:25:51. 3, North Shore, 3:32:59. 4, Lanikai-4, 3:33:45. 5, Puna, 3:34:47.

MASTERS 50-OLDER

1, Kailua (Lois Wise, Patty Eames, Donna Meyer, Patsy Vasquez, Deb Robinson, Katy Bourne, MJ Smiley Gumbert, Margie Goodno, Vanessa Weiss, Carleen Ornellas, Laola Aea), 3:20:13. 2, Lanikai, 3:41:40. 3, Ka Mamalahoe, 3:55:36.

KOA CANOE

1, Outrigger (Lindsay Chang, Julia Fiedler, Erin Emberson, Natalie Sokol, Keala Kilcoyne, Marisa Wriston, Jen Raams, Tiare Salassa, Robin Beck, Tracy Bradley), 3:33:29.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.