Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) is a non-profit 501(c)(7) 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 $15). 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 or testing positive for any respiratory or other easily communicable illness.
Next BASK General Meeting: Wednesday, April 29 (Virtual)
Time
7-9 pm
Location
Virtual by Zoom (invitation will be posted on the BASK calendar at least a half hour before the meeting start time). Please sign in with your first and last name so you will be recognized by the host. As usual, don't forward or share the Zoom link.
About
Our feature presentation by Paul McHugh, entitled "Sea Kayak Tips for Very Long Trips," will start at 7 pm. After a brief intermission, the general meeting with regular club business will begin at 8 pm.
Paul will focus on two themes: his sea voyage from Oregon to San Francisco Bay, and the practical skills of navigation, gear selection, packing, and shoreline camping that were involved. This talk will be fully illustrated by slides from his 400-mile, 2005 voyage. This has got to be interesting!
Paul has paddled the West Coast since 1975, starting with running a vinyl Tahiti inflatable kayak down Lagunitas Creek during a winter flood, and eventually working his way up to hardshells on the upper Tuolumne, Kings, Colorado, and El Portal runs. He helped start the Bolinas and Santa Cruz kayak surf contests in the 1980s. He was on the U.S. National kayak surf team when it won a world championship in Ireland in 1988. He raced with a sea kayak on the Bay throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. In addition to many short trips, he's paddled three long expeditions: running the Eel River from the Cape Horn Dam, out the river mouth and around at sea to Arcata; a two-week expedition through Las Islas Peligroso in southern Chile; and a 40-day, 400-mile voyage from the Winchuck River in Oregon to San Francisco Bay.
Be sure to look for all the details and latest updates on Currents and the BASK Calendar. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom! (Log in to BASK website before clicking these links.)
Questions? Contact BASK President Larry Moss at lmossca@comcast.net.
