Team Bradley is starting "a new page" in its paddling record book, but it is hoping for the same ending.

Even with a tweaked roster, Team Bradley is considered the favorite for the Na Wahine O Ke Kai championship race Sunday.

The 41-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, is considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe paddling for women's teams.

Team Bradley has won it the past four years, including a course record of 5 hours, 22 minutes, 5 seconds, last year.

"Every year is different," Team Bradley captain and steerswoman Noelani Auger said. "It's Moloka'i and anything can happen. We never go into it with any expectations. We know how hard this race is and so we consider every team out there to be competition."

More than 80 crews are expected to enter Sunday's race.

In truth, three Hawai'i crews are considered the top contenders: Team Bradley, Hui Lanakila and Waikiki Beachboys.

Team Bradley's roster for Sunday: Auger, Cherisse Agorastos, Lauren Bartlett, Mahealani Botelho, Kelly Fey, Kristen Foster, Alana Frazier, Andrea Moller, Lori Nakamura and Shelley Oates-Wilding.

Seven of them are returnees. The three additions are Foster, Frazier and Nakamura.

"This is kind of a new page for us and so we're excited to see how it works," Auger said.

Frazier said: "For them to say 'hey, we'd like you to paddle on our team' is a huge compliment. Who wouldn't want a chance to paddle for Team Bradley?"

The team features a diverse roster, with three paddlers from Kaua'i, three from O'ahu, two from Maui, one from the Big Island and one from Australia.

Because of the unique mix, they do not get to practice together as a full team.

However, the nine Hawai'i paddlers were able to unite for a two-day paddling adventure earlier this month that served as equal parts practice and fellowship.

On the first day, they paddled from Maui to Moloka'i. They then stayed together at a house on Moloka'i, then paddled from Moloka'i to O'ahu the next day.

"That was the best thing we could have done as a team," Bartlett said. "It really was a bonding experience. And the (Kaiwi) channel was big and nasty that day, so we really had to work together to get across."

Still, Team Bradley has not been invincible this year.

Waikiki Beachboys scored a convincing victory at the E Lau Hoe race two weeks ago. Team Bradley placed second.

"We're obviously fired up and a lot more confident because of that race," Beachboys coach Sean Monahan said. "But we're not going to get ahead of ourselves. We know who Team Bradley is. You can't win four in a row and not be the team to beat."

The Beachboys have never won the Na Wahine O Ke Kai race, and its third-place showing last year was the best finish in club history.

Monahan said he will use the same 10 paddlers who won the E Lau Hoe race: Laura Birse, Rachel Bruntsch, Dana Gorecki, Kimberly Ivey, Andrea Messer, Kaui Pelekane, Jen Polcer, Raye Powell, Kelsa Teeters and Annett Wichman.

Hui Lanakila is also seeking a breakthrough.

During Team Bradley's four-year Na Wahine O Ke Kai reign, Hui Lanakila has finished second three times and fourth once.

Hui Lanakila went through some personnel changes this year, and only five of the paddlers from last year's runner-up crew are returning.

Hui Lanakila's roster for Sunday: Michelle Arnold, Mikala Bradley, Violet Carillo, Healii Heine, Arlene Holzman, Emili Janchevis, Jaimie Kinard, Eko Lapp, Claire Townsend and Sarah Van De Vanter.

Other potential contenders include Hawai'i teams Outrigger, Kailua and Hui Nalu, California teams Lanakila and Newport Aquatic Center, and Australia's Outrigger Whitsunday.

There are no top teams from Tahiti entered this year.

Several teams from the masters 40-older division could be in the lead pack, including Keahiakahoe/New Zealand, Casco Bay, Hawaiian Kanaktion and Outrigger.