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Ocean Racing is an exhilarating sport encompassing long-distance Surfski, Sea Kayak, and Sea Touring races. It mixes endurance and navigational skills as well as other ocean-going expertise like surfing ocean swells. Races range from circumnavigations of off-shore islands to point-to-point downwind races, with typical distances from 10 to 30km.
Surfskis are used worldwide for surf lifesaving, wave surfing, and for training and competition on flat-water or ocean (downwind) racing. They are most popular in warmer coastal regions where the sport originated such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Hawaii; however, the versatility of surfski as a kayaking discipline has made it a very popular choice for paddlers worldwide especially in the Nordic regions, Western Europe, the Pacific Northwest and the East Coast of the USA.
Across the UK, many enjoy paddling surfskis as an outdoor water sport for what it offers in terms of fitness, competition and adventure. Surfskiers will paddle and train regularly, at high intensity, often undertaking races, and as often as possible to ride waves.
They use a diverse range of craft, ranging from plastic sea and touring kayaks with enclosed cockpits, capable of carrying gear for a week, through to the long skinny racing surfskis designed for ultimate speed on the water. But the one thing every ocean paddler shares is the thrill of getting out on the sea and riding the waves.
With an abundance of beautiful coastline, and waters ranging from sheltered bays to thrilling exposed downwind conditions, and a community of welcoming paddlers, Northern Ireland is the perfect place for ocean racing and paddling (.. bar it being a little chilly, but that’s nothing some good kit choices won’t fix).