Practice made Team Bradley perfect yesterday.

In imperfect conditions, Team Bradley paddled to perfection to win the Na Wahine O Ke Kai outrigger canoe race.

It completed the 41-mile course from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, in 5 hours, 56 minutes, 16 seconds.

Hui Lanakila was second in 6:00:11, followed by Outrigger in 6:03:17, and then Newport Aquatic Center of California in 6:05:38.

The race across the Kaiwi Channel is considered the world championship of long-distance canoe racing for women.

"We made a commitment as a team to work hard and train hard for this one," Team Bradley paddler Margie Kawaiaea said. "I think that was the difference."

Team Bradley is a group of paddlers from four different Hawaiian islands, Australia and Canada. Members of the winning crew were Kawaiaea, Noelani Auger, Theresa Felgate, Kelly Fey, Darcie Gray, Cherisse Keli'i, Lauren Spalding, Lori Velisek, Dane Ward and Shelley Wilding-Oates.

In past years, the crew did not have a coach and did not practice together.

This year, the team practiced together on selected weekends under the guidance of veteran coach John Puakea. During the weekdays, the paddlers followed individual workout schedules designed by Puakea.

"That was crucial," said Spalding, the Olympic kayaker from Maui. "You need one leader out there, and that's what John brought to us."

Keli'i added: "We're all strong one-man paddlers, but it still takes a while to click once we get together. Practicing together cleaned up all the little things that might have given us problems in the past."

Kawaiaea, Auger and Felgate were on the Wailua Kayak & Canoe crew that won the Na Wahine O Ke Kai in 1999 with a no-practice strategy.

"That last time, we were lucky," Auger said. "This one means a lot more. This one is definitely rewarding because we trained hard and put a lot of time and energy into the team."

Keli'i said the practices made them a true team this year.

"People can say what they want, but we're like a family," said Keli'i, who won Na Wahine O Ke Kai titles with Kai 'Opua in 2001 and 2002. "We're all sisters, no matter what island we're from. We were brought together by Team Bradley."

The team is named after canoe-builder Sonny Bradley. He constructed a new fiberglass canoe for the team this year, and it went undefeated (4-0) in long-distance races.

Light winds and a relatively flat ocean made for a slow crossing. Team Bradley's time was 34 minutes slower than the course record.

"Everybody considers us to be a surfing crew and there wasn't any surf out there," Kawaiaea said. "So what ever training we were doing must have paid off."

Auger said the team was also inspired by the memory of Mark Brewer, who was lost at sea in 2002. Brewer and his wife, Mary, were founders of the team in the late 1990s.

"Mark was with us the last time we won (in 1999), so he was on our minds," said Auger, who steered the winning canoe.

Team Bradley led the race practically from start to finish, although Hui Lanakila was always within striking distance.

Katie Slocumb, who steered for Hui Lanakila, said Team Bradley jumped to an early lead and maintained it throughout.

"They moved up slowly and got a quarter-mile ahead of us, and it kind of stayed that way," she said. "It was like we were there, but we couldn't quite make up ground."

Still, it was the best showing for a Hui Lanakila crew in a Na Wahine O Ke Kai race.

Members of the crew were Michelle Arnold, Mikala Bradley, Jessie Eames, Sera Eames, Gail Grabowsky, Arlene Holzman, Jamie Kinard, Jane McKee, Deborah Rosenblum and Slocumb.

Arnold, who has been with Hui Lanakila for eight years, said: "It was a brutal race, and Team Bradley was kicking butt, but we're so proud of how we did. We're stoked with second, and now we know it's within reach."

Outrigger continued its streak of excellence by placing third. It has finished in the top five of every Na Wahine O Ke Kai. It has won the race five times, including the first one in 1979.

"It wasn't a favorable channel, but we didn't make any mistakes and paddled with a lot of heart," Outrigger's Kisi Haine said. "We could see the leaders the whole way, but they were a good half-mile ahead of us, so we were happy to get third."

A record-tying 72 crews participated, although two-time defending champion Mooloolaba of Australia did not enter.

"Of course we're bummed that they're not here because you always want to race the best," Team Bradley's Spalding said. "But I don't think that takes away from us. This was our day."

In other divisions:

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.