Cynsational Woman and her Wing

August 22, 2024 / Race Wing

Cynthia ‘Cynbad’ Brown is an inspiring and avid waterwoman from Maui who recently participated in three challenging crossing events held annually around the Hawaiian islands. She made the podium in the wing disciplines of each event, the results of which ensured she was runner-up in the newly formed Koa Kai (Triple Crown) final standings… and she’s over 60 years-of-age

“I toppled and floundered for the most painful 25 minutes of my entire racing career. My escort boat was watching nearby. I thought about crying, swearing and giving up, but I had trained and fought so hard for this race that I couldn’t quit.”

CYNTHIA’S RESULTS:

Paddle Imua: 2nd place
(14th July – 10 mile downwind race)

Maui 2 Molokai ‘M2M’: 1st place
(19th July – 26 mile downwind race)

Molokai 2 Oahu ‘M2O’: 3rd place
(21st July – 40 mile downwind race)

Koa Kai (Triple Crown “Ocean Warrior”): 2nd place
Overall position, awarded after these three race results combined

(Find an overview of each event at the end of this feature)

HIGHLIGHTS

Scroll down to continue reading Cynthia’s own highlights from the Maui 2 Molokai and Molokai 2 Oahu back-to-back crossing events

LIKE A WHIRLWIND JUST TO MAKE THE START LINE!

Words: @cynthiacynbadbrown

Wow, this past month has been a whirlwind of training, testing and dealing with the massive logistics of racing three different islands and their distinct landscapes and cultures.

Organising shuttles, flights, hotels, gear, transport, escort boats, radios and EPIRBS for me is one thing, but I was just one of 200 athletes who were all trying to manage the same logistics. Adding to the challenge, none of the races finished anywhere near the start of the next one.

THE KOA KAI ( OR TRIPLE CROWN) WAS NEW THIS YEAR

Originally these were three standalone events taking place on three different weekends. Hundreds of competitors come from around the world to compete, so this year the organisers decided to group the three events into two weekends and award the top finishers in all the events combined; thus creating The Triple Crown.

They used the finishers’ time to calculate the winners with a weighted scale: Paddle Imua + M2M X 2 + M2O X 3 – allowing the longer races to count for more points.

M2M AND M20 – BACK-TO-BACK CROSSINGS!

M2M started on the very northwest corner of Maui. My husband Steve and I got there on a friend’s 35 foot fishing boat, a beautiful journey along the rugged northwest coast of Maui. The finish in the centre of the south coast of Moloka’i was in the tiny town of Kaunakakai.

Having raced in the M2M last year, I knew what to expect. The calming aspect of this crossing is that you can see land the whole way, as the eastern tip of Molokai is only about eight miles of deep channel away from Maui.

About 18 miles of the race follows along the coast, with Molokai on the right. The troubles can occur if there is a lot of northerly direction in the wind, as the island then creates a shadow. There are also countless foil eating reefs all along the coast as well as at the finish, so one must be vigilant.

EPIC EXPERIENCES

I had a beautiful position amongst the front of the fleet for the first 30 miles of the M2O. The start had a good breeze, and my 5.7m Flux with my MikesLab 540 foil were perfect. I was hoping the wind would get stronger as the day wore on, like it does on Maui, but that was not the case. As the miles ticked on the breeze got lighter and lighter. The direction of the winds and islands strongly favour goofy footed riders, but I had trained for this and was confidently fast in my switch stance.

The only thing that I had not prepared for was the 40 miles of pumping that was required as the wind started to cease. I pumped so much with my non-dominant knee that I set foot on Oahu with a sprained MCL.

The 10 ft seas in ‘The Channel Of Bones’ were magnificent. So much fun to pump up, over and rocket down. Flying on the mountainous swells, in the utter vastness of the ocean, with no land in sight, is something I have never experienced, and something I will not soon forget. My 5.7m Flux was light and easy to handle, and I had no wipe outs or scary moments.

After 32 miles, 2 hours of racing, and just off the coast of Oahu, I hit a massive voodoo zone with not even a whisper of wind. I came off foil. The texture of the water resembled wind, but it was in fact nasty current and cross chop. The massive Chanel swells hitting the island, coupled with the ‘King Tide” (full moon) and incoming high tide, created the most chaotic washing machine of seas. I had a hard time just trying to balance on my board to even attempt to stand up and pump on to foil.

I toppled and floundered for the most painful 25 minutes of my entire racing career. My escort boat was watching nearby. I thought about crying, swearing and giving up, but I had trained and fought so hard for this race that I couldn’t quit. Eventually I got a puff and a prayer and was able to foil up. Many of the 100 plus SUP foilers with their respective escort boats were now all around me, having caught up while I suffered with my 25 minute beat down.

The wind was so light that I had to sail a slight upwind angle to get even the slightest downwind gain, all while dodging speeding boats, prop wash, wakes and SUP foilers. Thankfully I made it the last eight miles to the finish without further incident.

As I’ve been told before “that’s racing, and anything can happen”.

Congratulations to all the athletes, in both wing foil and SUP foil, who have the grit, courage and fortitude to compete and complete this race. M2O is surely an epic right of passage. I want to give a huge thank you to Ozone and everybody else that made this adventure possible.

What a life, what a sport. I am beyond grateful!

Social media: @cynthiacynbadbrown

RACE DETAILS

MAUI 2 MOLOKAI

The Maui 2 Molokai race began in 2003, as a way to bring ocean enthusiasts to Molokai, in celebration of youth opportunities. All kinds of crafts have traditionally been invited to participate. It involves a challenging 27 mile (43 km) stretch of water between the islands of Maui and Molokai, specifically through the Pailolo Channel. The race course is known for its strong currents, large swells and unpredictable weather conditions.

MOLOKAI 2 OAHU

Also known as the M2O, a renowned open-ocean paddling event that involves crossing the Kaiwi Channel, one of the most challenging and dangerous channels in the world. The race traditionally covered a distance of 32 miles from Molokai to Oahu, but for the “Foil Edition” this race is 40 miles (64 km). Starting at Ilio Point on Molokai and finishing at Kaimana Beach, in the heart of Waikiki, on Oahu.
The event is open to prone and SUP paddlers. With the explosion in popularity of SUP foiling, M2O created the new “foil Edition” which is held on a different weekend and is open to SUP and wing only.

PADDLE IMUA

The Paddle Imua race is an annual paddleboarding and watercraft event held on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Organised by Imua Family Services, the race is a benefit event designed to support children with special needs and disabilities. It takes participants on a downwind course from Maliko Gulch to Kanaha Beach Park covering approximately 10 miles (16 km) along Maui’s scenic north shore.
The event is open to various types of watercraft.