The first-place trophy was not the biggest reward for the Waikiki Beachboys after it won the E Lau Hoe women's long-distance canoe race yesterday.

The gift of confidence was much greater.

"This is huge for us," Waikiki Beachboys paddler and club president Dana Gorecki said. "Every year we do E Lau Hoe, and something seems to happen to us every year to cause us to fall back. To be able to stay in the race this time and work through and win it is a huge boost for all of us."

Waikiki Beachboys completed the 32-mile course from Maunalua Bay to Nanakuli Beach in 4 hours, 22 minutes, 5 seconds.

Team Bradley placed second in 4:24:47, and Hui Lanakila was third in 4:30:42.

It was the final "warm-up" race for women's teams before the Na Wahine O Ke Kai championship race Sept. 27.

Team Bradley is the four-time defending champion of Na Wahine O Ke Kai. Waikiki Beachboys has never won the Moloka'i-to-O'ahu race.

"For us to be competitive with Team Bradley in a race like this solidifies in our minds that we can be there with the best," Waikiki Beachboys coach Sean Monahan said. "I think what this win does is fire us up mentally for Moloka'i."

The first three hours of yesterday's race featured favorable winds and swells, but the final 90 minutes put the paddlers against a fierce headwind.

From the start, it was a battle between the Beachboys and Team Bradley. Monahan estimated that the lead switched "maybe 10 times" between the two crews.

"We would catch a bump and get ahead, then they would catch a bump and get ahead," Gorecki said. "Just for us to stay in that cat-and-mouse game was big for us. We know how good they are at surfing, and our weakness, honestly, has been in the surf."

By the time the crews reached Barbers Point, Waikiki Beachboys had a slim lead. Then the headwinds arrived and the Beachboys slowly increased the lead down the stretch.

"We're generally pretty strong in those conditions," Monahan said.

Kaui Pelekane, who steered the Beachboys canoe, said: "We were kind of fired up to not let Team Bradley catch up with us."

Members of the winning crew were Gorecki, Pelekane, Laura Birse, Rachel Bruntsch, Kimberly Ivey, Andrea Messer, Jen Polcer, Raye Powell, Kelsa Teeters and Annett Wichman.

Team Bradley was satisfied with its race, especially since it was coming off a rare weekend together as a crew. The crew features paddlers from O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui and the Big Island, so they rarely practice together.

"We spent a lot of time in the water together last weekend; we're still learning each other and getting the feel for each other," said Noe Auger, who steered the Team Bradley canoe. "This was a good battle. The Beachboys are tough. If they have a race like they did today, they have a great shot at (winning) Moloka'i."

Team Bradley has three new paddlers this year.

Keahiakahoe placed an impressive fourth in 4:39:28. The impressive part was the crew's age — all the paddlers are 40 or older.

Forty-four crews completed the race.

FINAL RESULTS

1, Waikiki Beachboys-1 (Laura Birse, Rachel Bruntsch, Dana Gorecki, Kimberly Ivey, Andrea Messer, Kaui Pelekane, Jen Polcer, Raye Powell, Kelsa Teeters, Annett Wichman), 4:22:05. 2, Team Bradley, 4:24:47. 3, Hui Lanakila-1, 4:30:42. 4, Keahiakahoe, 4:39:28. 5, Outrigger-red, 4:43:20. 6, Kailua-yellow, 4:48:11. 7, Hui Nalu-gold, 4:48:15. 8, Hui Lanakila-2, 4:49:50. 9, Niumalu, 4:50:47. 10, Waikiki Beachboys-2, 4:56:47. 11, Healani-1, 5:05:17. 12, Kailua 50s, 5:09:36. 13, Outrigger-white, 5:10:30. 14, Outrigger Masters, 5:12:50. 15, Hui Nalu-black, 5:14:11. 16, Kailua-blue, 5:14:56. 17, Lanikai, 5:15:12. 18, Waikiki Beachboys-3, 5:23:36. 19, Lokahi, 5:25:28. 20, Keahiakahoe-2, 5:27:29. 21, Manu O Ke Kai, 5:27:51. 22, Niumalu 50s, 5:29:26. 23, Waikiki Surf Club, 5:29:46. 24, Kailua-novice, 5:31:19. 25, Hui Lanakila-kapakahi, 5:32:10. 26, Leeward Kai, 5:34:37. 27, Healani-2, 5:34:38. 28, Hui Nalu-nalu, 5:37:51. 29, North Shore, 5:38:04. 30, 'Anuenue, 5:42:27. 31, Waimanalo, 5:43:46. 32, Ka Mamalahoe, 5:45:20. 33, Kailua-1, 5:45:28. 34, Kai Poha, 5:46:10. 35, New Hope-2, 5:46:41. 36, Manu O Ke Kai Masters, 5:50:52. 37, Koa Kai, 5:53:06. 38, Honolulu Pearl, 5:54:58. 39, Waikiki Beachboys-4, 5:55:31. 40, Lanikai-2, 5:55:58. 41, Waikiki Yacht Masters, 6:03:25. 42, Waikiki Yacht, 6:07:19. 43, New Hope Masters, 6:12:29. 44, New Hope-1, 6:26:00.