Hui Lanakila's experiment resulted in victory in the Dad Center Canoe Race yesterday.

Team Bradley's experiment resulted in a runner-up finish.

Both teams walked away satisfied. For now.

"Any time you get a win under your belt, it's a good thing," Hui Lanakila coach Raven Aipa said. "We had some new paddlers in there with us for the first time, so we didn't know what to expect."

The race featured 49 all-female crews, and is considered one of the key preludes to the Na Wahine O Ke Kai world championship race Sept. 28.

Hui Lanakila completed the 25-mile course from Kailua Beach to the Outrigger Canoe Club in 3 hours, 6 minutes, 18 seconds. It was the club's second Dad Center victory (the other came in 2004).

Members of the victorious Hui Lanakila crew were Michelle Arnold, Mikala Bradley, Denise Darval-Chang, Jessie Eames, Arlene Holzman, Pauahi Ioane, Malia Kamisugi, Jaimie Kinard, Cheryl Skribe and Sarah Van De Vanter.

Arnold, Eames and Ioane are the only paddlers who were also on the 2004 winning crew.

"Our club is on a different level from what it was before, from workouts to nutrition ... a lot of things," Ioane said. "So if other girls want to be a part of it, that's a positive thing."

Darval-Chang, Kamisugi and Skribe transferred to Hui Lanakila this year.

"We have some new faces, and they're impact paddlers," Aipa said. "So we're looking at different combinations."

Hui Lanakila and Team Bradley battled for the lead throughout yesterday's race, while the rest of the pack was left behind.

"It was back and forth the whole way," said Darval-Chang, who steered the Hui Lanakila canoe. "Two strong crews."

Arnold added: "There was never a point when we were comfortable and thought we were going to win. We know how good Team Bradley is."

Team Bradley eventually finished in 3:06:49 — 31 seconds behind Hui Lanakila.

Team Bradley — which has a mix of paddlers from O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui and the Big Island — is the three-time defending champion of the Na Wahine O Ke Kai.

Yesterday, Team Bradley used just nine paddlers. All other crews used 10.

"We don't practice as much as other clubs, so this was like a training run," said Noelani Auger, who steered Team Bradley. "Given what we had, I'm happy with our performance."

Members of the Team Bradley crew were Auger, Cherisse Agorastos, Lauren Bartlett, Theresa Felgate, Kelly Fey, Margie Kawaiaea, Mahealani Lum-Batlik, Rosie Lum, Andrea Moller and Dane Ward.

Rosie Lum accompanied the crew on the escort boat, but did not paddle. Team Bradley is waiting for its 10th paddler — Shelley Oates-Wilding — to arrive from Australia next month.

"Having 10 paddlers probably would have given all of us a little more rest," Agorastos said. "But you make do with what you got. It was a good test for us, and we made it close."

Waikiki Beach Boys, which won the Dad Center race last year, placed third in 3:15:14.

Outrigger's masters crew finished an impressive fourth overall in 3:16:55. All paddlers in the crew were 40 and older.

"We've paddled for a lot of years," said Kisi Haine, who steered Outrigger. "We were good when we were young, and now we're old and OK."

Kaua'i clubs Namolokama and Niumalu placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Kaiola was 16th overall and won the masters 50 division.