The granddaddy paddler's race between Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokai and Duke's Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu ended today with no great surprises: Tahiti's formidable Shell Va'a team won its fifth straight — and just 15 seconds off its record-setting 2008 showing. The team finished the 41-mile crossing of the Ka Iwi Channel in 4 hours, 38 minutes and 50 seconds, about 13 minutes ahead of its nearest competitor.

Duke's beach was packed with friends and family of the competitors and visitors taking in the event. Pride was on display everywhere, especially for the strong finish the teams showed, paddling right up to the sand, well past the finishing line markers.

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