Currents were too hazardous for swim
Advertiser Staff
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The Waikiki Roughwater Swim was canceled for the first time in its 36-year history on Sunday.
Race officials and water safety personnel decided that the surf and currents off Waikiki were too hazardous on the morning of the race.
"It was a very good call," said Joe Lileikis, a swimming coach who was registered as a participant on Sunday. "There would have been a lot of rescues even before the first buoy."
In 2003, more than 260 swimmers had to be rescued from the Waikiki Roughwater Swim because of extreme currents.
The 2.38-mile course starts at San Souci Beach and finishes at Duke Kahanamoku Beach.
Lileikis, a former Waikiki Roughwater champion, said he attempted to swim out to the first buoy moments after the race was canceled.
"We drifted maybe 15 to 25 yards off course, so it would have been a very difficult day for some of the swimmers who don't have the endurance," he said.
The race will not be rescheduled and there will be no refunds of entry fees. "However, we will offer a discount for the 2006 swim," said Ted Sheppard, president of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim Committee.
VOLLEYBALL
UH SLIPS TO SEVENTH
The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team dropped from fourth to seventh in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 poll released yesterday.
Hawai'i is 2-3 after the weekend's Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic.
