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, August 26 (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). Be sure to sign in with your full name; the guardians of Zoom will block those not identified as BASK members. As usual, don't forward or share the Zoom link. Note: This meeting will be recorded.
About
Our meeting will feature Denise Jaffke on "Northern California Maritime Heritage from Doghole Ports to Railroad Ferries."
We’ll have the usual..Paddle Planner of the Month, Upcoming Events and Paddles, Safety and Education update, Muscle of the Month. But also something different.
This month’s speaker will answer those nagging questions about what we see above and don’t see below our coastal waters. California’s bays, rivers, and coastline contain the remains of shipwrecks, ports, landings, transportation systems, and waterfront industries. The presentation will introduce SCHUNRS, a volunteer organization dedicated to researching and documenting California’s maritime heritage, with examples from recent projects along the North Coast and a closer look at the railroad ferries Solano and Contra Costa in Carquinez Strait. The presentation will also explore how sea kayakers can help identify and document maritime resources using SCHUNRS’s Epicollect reporting application.
Denise Jaffke is a Principal Investigator with Far Western Anthropological Research Group, a member of the California State Parks Dive Team, and President of SCHUNRS, a volunteer nonprofit dedicated to documenting and interpreting California’s maritime history. She specializes in coastal and underwater archaeology, with experience along the northern and central California coast, San Francisco Bay, and several high-elevation lakes, including Lake Tahoe. An AAUS scientific diver, Denise works closely with state, federal, tribal, nonprofit, and community partners to study and protect maritime and archaeological resources.
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.
