Latest News
Blackburn Challenge: Mixed Blessings
While the Olympic athletes of the world held their collective breath to see if they'd be allowed to compete in Tokyo this year, Northeast paddlers similarly awaited news of the Blackburn Challenge. Of course, there was one critical difference: In our case, half the field was praying for deliverance from the three-hour sufferfest. [...]
View from the South: 2021 Around the Cape by Sean Brennan
Not to let Rhode Island one-up the great Garden State in the first official weekend of summer, New Jersey hosted the 2021 Destanick Fountain’s “Around the Cape” on Sunday, June 25th. Formerly known as the Cape to Cape Race - before COVID put a stop to the two-state logistical challenge - [...]
Sakonnet Surfski Race: Head Start
The newly rechristened Sakonnet Surfski Race is the prescribed venue for New England paddlers to ease into the open water season. It's much like the fable in which a frog won't notice he's being boiled alive if you slowly raise the temperature. The Sakonnet is a skinny bay that might be called a [...]
Battle of the Bay: Fine Line
You might think that a race held in a gated community situated on a semi-private island within the genteel city of Newport would attract only the finest breed of paddlers - athletes with refined tastes, ivy league degrees, and the highest standards of personal hygiene. But maybe by chance you'd overhear [...]
2021 Battle of the Bay Video by Bob Wright
https://youtu.be/cUD43p5wF7A
Narrow River Race: Redux
After months of intensive lobbying of race director Tim Dwyer, I managed to have last year's Narrow River Race expunged from the records. Delayed from April to October by COVID and subsequently capped at only 10 paddlers, one can hardly tolerate such an illegitimate farce disgracing the official annals. I felt [...]
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
Stellar Elite Low Volume (SEL) Full Review
Stable as V10 Sport Ultra, Fast as V12, not Quite but not Far off. I know the above statement for some will be hard to believe especially since I am the Northeast Stellar Rep. However, my reviews have been substantiated across the world. My advice to any paddler is get [...]
Huki S1X Special Surfski Review, Big FUN!
If you have paddled the second generation Huki's that came out in April 2012, no doubt, they have left an impression on you. Just a few days ago, another Huki paddler told me the Huki's paddled so well in downwind conditions that they have "Soul". That phrase resonated with me. [...]
2020 Surf Ski Comparison Chart
I updated the 2016 Surfski Comparison Chart with many new skis. Please click on the CHART ALL SKIS header tab above or on the Home page to view the 2020 Chart and the 2016 Chart. Be sure and read the text accompanied with the Chart for clarification. Enjoy! More boats [...]
Stellar S18S 2G Review is Coming!
Dave Thomas of Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis paddling the new S18S 2G on the Sakonnet. Dave dropped off the Stellar S18S 2G surfski for me to review. I have a lot of paddling to do with surfski reviews stacking up! I love it! Fall/winter is actually a better [...]
Fenn Spark Elite Review by Bill Lecomte
A Review of the Fenn Spark, As Compared to the Stellar SES Sept 2014 by Bill LeComte I have had the Fenn Spark/Carbon-Hybrid for about 3 weeks now. I'll start right off by saying I am very impressed with the boat. Note: I have no connection to any surfski manufacturer/seller. [...]