Editor:
I am writing in response to your article about the Howe Sound Iron outrigger race (Coast Reporter, Aug. 24). While your coverage of the long race was excellent, highlighting the teams that had come from as far away as Hawaii to participate, your coverage of the short race was lacking, in particular, the fact that a local team participated.
The Spirit of Aloha Racing (SOAR) team, based in Gibsons, put forward an excellent amateur mixed crew who came first in their category (open mixed) on the short 14km course around Keats Island. My son and I watched them cross the finish line second only to an experienced Hawaiian crew.
While it is understandable that the focus of the article was on the more important 26km course, this kind of omission of local participation is disheartening for a local team. SOAR is a small team starting out, and coverage of their progress would be welcome.
Matt Thomson, Gibsons
