Eye-catching posters announcing one of O`ahu's premier angling contests have been popping up all over the waterfront this month.

The Hawaii and Waikiki yacht clubs' Hoolea Fishing Tournament will be celebrating its 11th anniversary on June 6 and 7. And with major sponsorship from Sea-Land Service Hawaii and Kimura Rods of Hawaii, this year's competition promises to better than ever.

"The Hoolea is a tournament for the fishermen," tournament chair Al Bento said. "With the help of our generous sponsors, we are able to return 100 percent of the anglers' entry fees back to them in prize money every year."

Even without a calculator it is easy to figure out Bento's equation. If the Hoolea's entry limit of 50 boats is reached - each with entry fees of $500 - the total purse will be a whopping $25,000, and that doesn't include the scores of product prizes.

"The team with the largest fish would take home $10,000," Bento said. "Second place would win $4,500, third $3,750, and so on, including cash prizes for largest flag fish (ahi, mahimahi, ono, and marlin) and fish of the day.

"There is also a major prize for our tag-and-release division to encourage fish conservation. And for anyone bringing in a grander (a fish over 1,000 pounds) caught on a Kimura rod, Joe Kimura will award a special $1,000 prize.

"One of our biggest prizes for amateur teams is a free entry - worth $3,980 - in the prestigious Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kailua-Kona," Bento added. "The Hawaiian International Billfish Association, in providing this prize, gives a local team the wonderful opportunity to compete against world-class anglers in the granddaddy of all international tournaments. This year it will run August 2 to 10."

Two years ago, O`ahu's Moana Kai Fishing Club not only won the free entry, but went on to win the HIBT as well.

If you haven't received an application or you would like more information about the Hoolea Tournament, call 944-9666 or 949-4622.

PACIFIC YACHT CLUB INVITATIONAL: "Hey, why did I see so many sailboats racing off the Reef Runway last Sunday?" asked a friend who had just flown into Honolulu International. "Don't they usually race closer to Diamond Head?"

It was a good observation and his questions were easily answered: It was the annual Pacific Yacht Club Invitational Regatta, sponsored by one of the military yacht clubs on O`ahu.

According to spokesman Ron Hood, the course was set about two nautical miles south of the runway and two windward-leeward races were run. Sailing conditions were nearly ideal, with two- to four-foot seas and 18-knot tradewinds. A few gusts from passing rain squalls may have caused a couple of blown-out sails.

The first race had the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) -1 Class run a 12-mile course, the PHRF-2 and PHRF-C classes sailed an eight-mile course and the Rhodes 19s sailed a four-mile race. The second race was slightly shorter for all classes except the Rhodes 19s.

The final results overall in PHRF-1 were: Skip Winterbottom's Desperado in first, Tony Miller's 20/20 second, and Rick Shema's Charisma third. First though third in PHRF-2: Hager the Horrible skippered by Mike Welsh, Rebicanto skippered by Warren Ferguson, and Aloha Brothers skippered by Dan Grounds.

Of the two boats in PHRF-C Class, Park Shorthose's Shibui edged out Tiare , driven by Curtis Collins. And the Rhodes 19 Class finished with Steve Capps Foxy first, Dawn Walsner's Kaiette second, and Barry Breiner's Anuenue third.

Water Ways