Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) is a non-profit 501(c7) sports club of several hundred sea kayakers who live throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our interests include flat-water paddling, kayak-surfing, expeditions, and playing amongst the rocks, in conditions that range from mild to wild. Our club exists to bring paddlers together for companionship, safety, education, exploration, learning, and great food and drink! We're committed to safety both on and off the water, and our club holds insurance through Paddlesports Risk Management. We offer an inexpensive annual Skills Clinic to members, as well as numerous free clinics on skills, rescue, and safety throughout the year. We welcome as members all individuals interested in kayaking. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive paddling club and to sharing our enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge to increase equity and access to our sport.
BASK trips range from local to international, and are all member-initiated with shared responsibilities for safety. BASK does not supply boats or equipment, although some members are willing to share their equipment. You have to be a member or a guest of a member to participate in on-the-water BASK events and a signed activity waiver is required. Follow the links to learn more about the benefits of membership and to join BASK.
We invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings, either online or in person. They are free and open to the public; in-person meetings include food (suggested donation $8-10). The format of each meeting may vary a bit month to month, but they tend to include members sharing stories, featured speakers, club news, and information about upcoming events. It’s a great way to meet club members and learn about paddling opportunities. For more information see the Events page!
Would you like to speak at a BASK meeting or have an idea for a speaker? Contact the Speaker Seekers. Interested in what type of speakers we’ve had in the past? See a representative list of previous general meeting topics.
BASK Health Guidelines
For the safety of participants at all BASK paddles and other in-person activities, please stay home and join us another time if:
- You're experiencing symptoms of any communicable respiratory illness
- You're testing positive for COVID-19, even if you're feeling well
- In the past week, you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 via shared air
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within a week of attending an in-person BASK activity, please let the event initiator know. This will allow the initiator to inform other participants, who can then choose to self-test or take other precautions such as obtaining pharmaceutical COVID-19 treatments if they develop symptoms.
Next BASK General Meeting: Tuesday, February 25 (Virtual)
Join us for a virtual general meeting on TUESDAY, February 25, 7-9pm. Our “usual” Wednesday slot is full with the amazing, informative, and totally free “How to Plan a Bay Paddle” class, so let’s meet on Tuesday instead!
Catch up on club news, maybe find your next paddle and hear from some amazing club members about their “Kayaking trips for Mere Mortals.”
Larry Moss presents: Kayaking in Santa Cruz Island/Channel Islands National Park: qn adventure with everything you love about the outdoors. This talk will focus on the variety of experiences and planning for a beautiful tour of this National Park that any level kayaker/hiker/camper would enjoy.
Steve Goldfinger presents: Between Hoover Dam and Lake Mohave: A Week on the Colorado River. In April 2021, in the midst of the craziness of the Covid epidemic, four friends headed for the Colorado River to get away from it all. After a week of paddling, two gorgeous canyons, and triple-digit temperatures, we emerged well-toasted and smiling ear-to-ear.
Bryant Cannon and Chelsea Dewitt present: Family-Friendly Kayaking Trips for Small Children. We’ll talk about local kayaking trips geared towards small children and options for incorporating kid-friendly kayaking into family travels farther afield. In addition to kid-friendly day paddles, we’ll also talk about annual kid-friendly overnight group kayaking trips that we organize and lead, including trips to Tomales Bay, Utica/Union Reservoirs, and a forthcoming trip to Angel Island. At the end, we’ll ask BASKers for their favorite family trips and recommendations for future kid-friendly overnight kayaking trips.
We look forward to seeing you then! The Zoom link will be posted on the BASK calendar on the day of the meeting.
