Queen and King of the Bay

26km paddle along the coastline in Tasman Bay, past Motueka, Kina and Ruby Bay. Welcome the annual surfski race from Kaiteriteri Beach to Port Mapua. It is a 26km paddle along the coastline in Tasman Bay, past Motueka, Kina and Ruby Bay.

The prevailing wind in the summer is a northerly which is a tail wind over the paddlers left shoulder. Sea conditions are typically wind generated chop, more like lake conditions as opposed to open ocean. Depending on the lines paddlers take, they can be up to 2.5km from shore during the race.

Because anywhere along the race course you can safely land it makes this an ideal paddle for all abilities. The race in only run with onshore winds and incoming tide. If the wind on Saturday is offshore, it maybe postponed until Sunday. The South Island Surfski Champs are on in Nelson on Sunday the 16th February, so the event maybe switched for optimum conditions.