The annual Sea Trek Regatta and Paddle-a-thon is a chance for the Bay Area paddling community to share in a fun and challenging day of paddling on San Francisco Bay and raise money for Environmental Traveling Companions’ (ETC) accessible outdoor adventure programs. Come join us on Saturday October 15th for the West Coast’s largest, most popular, and definitely most fun sea kayaking event of the year. The Regatta is open to sea kayakers, stand-up paddlers, outriggers, and other paddling boats.

With a variety of race classes and courses, the Regatta and Paddle-a-thon is perfect for paddlers looking to race competitively as well as those who are just looking for a spirited paddling event to support a great cause!

Once again, we will be holding the Paddle-a-thon concurrently with theRegatta! The Paddle-a-thon is much like a walk-a-thon only on water. Paddlers of all abilities are encouraged to recruit family, friends and colleagues to sponsor their paddling miles and in turn support accessible adventures for people with disabilities and inner-city youth.

GREAT prizes awarded at all levels, including kayak gear and ETC swag.

EVERYBODY who raises $3000 or more wins a kayak trip in Baja! (Airfare not included).

Raise the following amounts and you win:

• $300- everything with the Registration Fee plus a single boat rental for the race, lip balm, and entry to one pre-event paddling clinic (Aug 24 or Sept 14; limited space, register early!).
• $500- everything with the Registration Fee plus a double boat rental, lip balm, ETC water bottle & Chico Bag, and entry to one pre-event paddling clinic. For this fundraising level, doubles partners can each raise $250 (for a total of $500) to qualify for free registration and a double boat rental.
• $1000- everything with the Registration Fee plus a boat rental for the race, and a kayaking gear bag.
• $3000 everything with the Registration Fee plus a boat rental for the race and a Free kayak trip in Baja!

All event proceeds go to support Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC), a Bay Area nonprofit organization providing accessible outdoor adventures for people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth since 1972.

Help keep paddling adventures accessible to people of all abilities by registering for the Paddle-a-thon or sponsoring a paddler! Registration is now open. Please click (on the left) to register or call for more information.

September 10th, the 3rd annual Marin SUP race at Mc Nears Beach Park in San Rafael. Last year this race started the SUP season in Marin County and the Bay Area. The event also launched the SUP racing career of local elite racers Jen Fuller and Benjamin Sarrazin.
The $10  Marin County Park entry fee includes the race entrance fee as well.  Awards and an informal BBQ to follow co-sponsored by Marin County Parks and Surfrider Foundation Marin.  Any minor prizes or swag donated will be coordinated with a mention of the donation sponsor at the brief award ceremony. This event is geared toward creating awareness of access to Marin County beaches and waterways and to the benefits of promoting their sustainability.

• Any board length or style
• Beginners welcome
• More info demosport.com
• Registration on site

The Almost 4th of July Decker Loop SUP Race, that You Don’t Want To Miss. Join us on Sherman Island near Rio Vista for a fun Decker Island loop race.  6 miles for the pros or a 2 mile short course for the families and novice. Nice crowd, friendly atmosphere and BBQ.

Classes: 6mi Decker Loop Race: Unlimited/ 14’0”/ 12’6”

2mi Fun Race: Surfboard Class *3 boards make a division

When: July 3, 2011

Where: Delta Windsurf and Water Sports Co.

3279 Sherman Island Rd.

Rio Vista, CA 4571

Time: 9:00 am Skipper’s Meeting

10:00 am Start

Hosted SUP Happy Hour at Covewater in Santa Cruz this Thursday with the world’s top female paddler, Candice Appleby!  Stop by Covewater Paddle Surf Thursday eve (6-7) for pupus, beverages, and a talk with three-time Battle of the Paddle champion and female SUP ambassador Candice Apppleby and last year’s Jay Race winner, Anthony Vela!  Registration for the Jay Race and Covewater Classic available as well.  More info in the link below.

http://covewatersup.com/preracehappyhour

This was my first introduction to SUP racing last year; and to date it is still one of the best race I have attended. Great course, beautiful scenery, challenging conditions, nice folks and an amazing barbecue at the end. Last year Scott barbecued some wonderful Oysters on the beach in Stinson. The Shore to Shore paddlerace, SUP& paddleboards is back June 18th. Any types of boards welcome, bring your leash.

Race starts 9am
Pre-register at livewatersurfshop.com
Registration begins on site at7:30am
Shuttle service begins 7:00am

Download entry form

The Bay Area of San Francisco is the largest natural harbor in the world. There’s so much water all over, from the delta, to the coast, to the small coves or the bays. Below is a list of our favorite spots for Stand Up Paddle Boarding in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the next few weeks we will be completing the Spots description with Maps, Itineraries, and tips.

#1) Sausalito – Richardson Bay:

The charming little town of Sausalito is the one of the best gateway to SUP in the Bay Area. It is ideal for beginners with mild conditions in the Richardson Bay. It can be challenging for advanced paddlers with paddles to Tiburon or Angel Island. And it can be extreme paddling out of the Golden Gate, around Alcatraz or Angel Island.

For first timer, the best is to take a clinic, a private lesson or to rent a board at the Schoonmaker beach from our partner Sea Trek. From there depending on the wind, tides and current it is possible to cruise to the House boats, across to Strawberry or to downtown Sausalito.

For most advanced paddlers, it takes about 1h30 to go to the end of the Bay in Mill Valley. Watch for the tide because it can get pretty shallow water. An other trip is paddling to Tiburon and back and that takes about 1h20 total. It is also possible to paddle to Yellow Bluff and back, counting 1h20, it can be a fun and challenging paddle when approaching the Golden Gate.

For Experts and very strong paddlers only, full body wetsuit and lifejacket required. There are many options spiced with waves, currents, swell and surf. From Fort Baker back to Sausalito, Fort Backer to Point Bonita, Rodeo Beach back to Sausalito, Sausalito around Angel Island, or Fort Baker around Angel Island back to Sausalito.

#2) The Golden Gate

#3) San Francisco

#4) The Delta

#5) The Petaluma river

#6) The South Bay

“What Ever Floats Your Board”
Whether you dropped your board loading it on your car, ran into your competitor at last weeks race or had a run in with Jaws while paddling at the Farallons don’t despair I’m able to do your repair.
Free estimates, skilled labor and reasonable rates.

(970) 379-4473 Leave a message for alex
awinh2o@gmail.com

Hunter moving the expedition

In the next few weeks the SUP THE BAY team will be testing and reviewing all the SUP gear one can imagine. Over the last few months we have been talking to the best boards, and paddles makers in the industry. We will be reviewing beginner boards, touring boards, race boards, surf boards.  Our reviews will evaluate various aspects from stability (flat water, chop, swell), speed, tracking…
Stay posted to find out more about:
• the new Tahoe SUP boards
• the innovative Imagine SUPs
• Boga’s surf boards
• M&M race boards
• Riviera’s race boards
• C4 boards
• Camelbak hydration system

and many more…

Bark 12.6"

Proposed course for April 16th

Saturday the 16th of April, Bluerush boardsports and supthebay.com are organizing the first Marin county downwind SUP race from Horseshoe Bay to Bluerush in Sausalito via Belvedere point (green buoy). The course is about 4.5 miles long, and it should take 45′ for the fastest paddlers. Open to 12.6″, 14″, unlimited and prone. That day the tide will be pushing us towards Belvedere and Tiburon. A fun and maybe challenging course depending on the conditions.

• Meet at 9am in front of the coast guard station for registration
• 9.45am safety briefing
• 10am mass start

Leash required and PFDs for novice. Call or email Bluerush or supthebay.com for more information.

The mythic Golden Gate Bridge, the link between the dynamic San Francisco and beautiful Marin county. How many of us have gone over the bridge looking at the sailboats, or the ships coming into the Bay? How many  of us have ever wondered what it would be like to be down there on the water?

I had gone under the bridge many times in the past in a Sea Kayak or SurfSki. But last spring I started experimenting Stand Up Paddling under the Golden Gate with the folks from Sea Trek in Sausalito. I’m now hooked, every time there’s some good swell coming in, I get out there to enjoy the Bay, the Bridge, the waves. Obviously it’s not “real” surfing but it’s tons of fun to catch some waves, surf the swell, fall in the water, play with the currents, go from one to cove to the other. One beauty of Stand Up Paddle boarding is really the combination of “surfing”, getting a workout and doing something adventurous just 10 minutes away from home. Continue Reading