Tommy Conner may be in his first season as head coach of the Lanikai Canoe Club, but he's been around the sport of canoe paddling long enough to know that a computer printout will not help his paddlers paddle faster.

It was revealed at yesterday's lane assignments for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta that Lanikai will have 37 out of a maximum 39 crews.

Maui's Hawaiian Canoe Club — the seven-time defending state champion — will bring 33 crews.

The state championship regatta is scheduled for Saturday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"Having more crews than everybody else doesn't guarantee anything," Conner said. "That happened to us last year, so we're not paying attention to those numbers. It'll come down to the paddling."

Last year's lane assignments revealed similar numbers, as Lanikai had 38 crews to Hawaiian's 31. But in the only numbers that truly matter, Hawaiian scored 359 points to win the state title over Lanikai's 328 points.

"They didn't just pull it out, they stomped us," Conner said. "That shows that you don't just need a lot of crews, but a lot of good ones."

More than 2,000 paddlers representing 58 clubs from around the state are expected to participate in Saturday's championship regatta.

Only five clubs are vying for the overall team championship in the AAAA Division: Hawaiian, Lanikai, Kailua (31 crews), Hui Nalu (26) and Outrigger (25).

Based on regular-season results, Hawaiian and Lanikai are the clear favorites.

"It will come down to a battle (of) those two giants," Outrigger head coach Mike Mason said.

Hawaiian won every regatta on Maui this year, and is the 24-time defending Maui champion. Its current streak of seven state titles is the second-longest in history, behind only Outrigger's nine in a row from 1984-92.

Lanikai won every sanctioned regatta in the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association this year.

Hawaiian head coach Diane Ho said she considers Lanikai "the team to beat."

"It appears they've done a really good job qualifying their crews this year," she said. "And I would say we had a little bit of an off year for a number of different reasons."

Most notable, Hawaiian will bring nine out of a maximum 13 youth crews. Hawaiian's youth paddlers have out-scored other youth programs at the state regatta in nine of the past 10 years.

"The level of competition on Maui is so good this year, it really is a total credit to Maui that we didn't get as many seeds as we would have liked," Ho said.

The AAA Division will feature Big Island champion Kai 'Opua, and Kaua'i champion Hanalei (Kaua'i). Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a champion Kane'ohe will compete in the AA Division.

AAAA DIVISION (21 CREWS OR MORE)

Lanikai (37), Hawaiian (33), Kailua (31), Hui Nalu (26), Outrigger (25).

AAA DIVISION (13 TO 20 CREWS)

Kai 'Opua (20), Kihei (20), Puna (19), Hanalei (19), Waikiki Beach Boys (17), Koa Kai (14), 'Alapa Hoe (13).

AA DIVISION (7 TO 12 CREWS)

Kahana (12), Kane'ohe (12), Lokahi (12), Lae'ula O Kai (12), Manu O Ke Kai (12), Tui Tonga (12), Wa'akapaemua (12), Healani (12), Keauhou (12), Keahiakahoe (12), Hui Lanakila (9), Leeward Kai (9), Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (9).

A DIVISION (6 CREWS OR FEWER)

Kawaihae (6), Ka Mamalahoe (6), New Hope (5), Na Wa'a Hanakahi (5), Na Molokama (5), Kumulokahi Elks (5), Honolulu Pearl (4), Na Kai Ewalu (4), Wailea (4), Keaukaha (4), Kamehameha-Hilo (4), Kai E Hitu (4), Hui Wa'a O Waiakea (4), Niumalu (4), Moloka'i (4), Kai Poha (4), North Shore (4), Waikiki Surf Club (3), Waimanalo (3), Kaiola (3), 'Anuenue (3), Keoua (3), Waikoloa (3), Kukui O Moloka'i (3), Kalihi Kai (3), Kai Oni (2), Paddlers of Laka (2), Kilohana (2), Napili (2), Keola O Ke Kai (1), Hana (1), Kailana (1), I Mua (1).