The country’s premier waka ama competition, the Takapuna Beach Cup, took place on a brilliantly fine weekend at Takapuna Beach from 16-18 February. Events kicked off with 5.2km races around a triangular course off Takapuna Beach. The next day, competitors tackled the long distances: 42km (around Motutapu, Rakino and Rangitoto), 35km and 18km; the final day featured shorter races. Crews racing on the 97 canoes ranged in age from 16 to 78, and teams came from as far away as London (the crew trains on the Thames), Hong Kong, Hawaii, California and Tahiti as well as Rarotonga and Samoa and from all over New Zealand.