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What is the Liberty World Outrigger Competition? What is the tradition of outrigger canoeing? What makes an outrigger canoe an outrigger canoe? Outrigger canoeing is an up and coming sport for many but it is a sport steeped in thousands of years of tradition. We have answers to these questions and more that will hopefully satisfy your curiosity.

The Liberty Race | History of the Sport | Design of the Canoe

The Liberty Race

The Liberty World Outrigger Competition is one of the largest sporting events in New York Harbor and one of the most prestigious outrigger canoe races in the world. Men’s, women’s, and co-ed crews race along a challenging and visually-stunning course in New York Harbor (East River and Hudson River), past landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan Skyline as a backdrop. This iron outrigger race course is 15 miles long for the men’s and women’s division while the mixed division is 11 miles.

An annual event in New York Harbor since 1996, the Liberty World Outrigger Competition has hosted participants from all over the world including Tahiti, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Sweden, France and Canada along with clubs from all over the United States and Hawaii.

History of the Sport

The outrigger canoe is descended from the Polynesian seafaring tradition. The canoe was originally made of wood and seated a varying number of people. A stabilizer (the object that gives the outrigger canoe its namesake) is lashed to the side of the canoe allowing it to be stable even in ocean going conditions. These boats were traditionally used as a primary means of inhabiting the islands of the Pacific along with transportation of supplies between islands.

This traditional form of transportation has since evolved into a racing and endurance sport. No longer limited to the Pacific Rim, outrigger canoe clubs are being established all over the world near various bodies of waters and continue to emphasize bravery, teamwork and respect for Polynesian traditions. New York Outrigger is proud to introduce this sport to the island of Manhattan and to host the Liberty World Outrigger Competition for some friendly competition between outrigger clubs from around the world.

Design of the Canoe

The narrow, tapered, boats are 40 feet long and accommodate six paddlers. Historically made of wood, today’s modern racing canoes are made of glass-reinforced plastic and weighing a light 400 pounds. A long, thin stabilizer (the outrigger) lashed to the port side gives the boat its distinctive look and stability. Rated as ocean-going vessels, the ability for the outrigger canoe to maneuver through rough ocean waves is dependent on the ability and strength of the six paddlers powering it.

The boats seat six, each with a distinctive role but all working in unison to move the boat smoothly, quickly and efficiently. The person sitting in the front, or seat one, is called the stroke. They set the pace for the rest of the crew to follow. Seats 2 and 4, sitting just in front of the wood struts that connect the outrigger to the canoe, have the responsibility of being aware of the surrounding conditions and keeping the outrigger canoe stable. Every other person paddles on alternating sides, ie) if seats 1,3 and 5 are paddling on the left, 2,4 and 6 are paddling on the right to keep the boat balanced. Seat 3 counts and calls changes to let everyone know to switch sides. Seat 5 provides additional power needed to move the boat and Seat 6 acts as the steersperson and captain of the crew. Just like the ancient Polynesians, a good crew requires strength, stamina, teamwork and skill to survive the rough ocean waters.