Paddling for Above Water

 SUPTwelve individual entry

 PRONE

 SurfSki 

Tandem

 2PersonRELAY  4PersonRELAY

SUPSIX individual entry

General Information

Date for 2025: Saturday 12TH APRIL 2025

Time: 7am to 7pm (SUPSix from 1pm to 7pm)

Requirements:

• Board- ANY board, any size, hard or inflatable
• Paddle
• Waist Leash preferred, ankle leash accepted (a leash MUST be worn)
• Buoyancy (PFD) essential- traditional or inflatable (a PFD MUST be worn)
• appropriate clothing suitable to the conditions on the day
• enough food and liquid for your entire event

SUPTwelve takes place on coastal water, over a course of approximately 3.5 km, all paddlers start at 7am and every lap of the course will be professionally timed & recorded.  If at the end of 12 hours there are a number of paddlers on the same amount of completed laps then it becomes a race to see who finishes that last lap first to become the SUP 12 Champion.

Registration

YOU MUST ATTEND ONE OF THE REGISTRATION SESSIONS

Friday 11th April-  from 5.30pm at Paignton Beach, event HQ.  

Saturday 12th April- 5.45 to 6.30 am before Race start, Paignton Beach, event HQ.

You are not allowed to start without registering, there will be a final opportunity to register at 7.15 to 7.30 am at event location (after the event start) but this incurs a £10 donation to the charity Above Water for being late 😂

Paddling on knees

We appreciate that many levels of ability will be taking part in SUPTwelve and we actively encourage this for the benefit of greater participation in the sport we love.  Paddling for 12 hours means that at some point you will be paddle against a breeze or wind.  Consequently, we are not banning paddling on your knees BUT if you paddle on your knees and make forward progress, you will NOT be permitted a podium finish.

Boards and paddles

You are only allowed to bring one board to the event but you are allowed to swop boards or paddles with other competitors for a lap (only one lap) if you want?  Due to the nature of the event, it can be a great way to try different boards and paddles over the 3.5km loop.  There will be some boards and paddles available from brands to do just this 👍

Board Butlers

They are there to assist your entry and exit of the water. They will hold your board if you are going straight back out or stow your board if you are taking a rest.  They will endeavour to make your transition as smooth as possible!  I hope you understand that they are only human, in trying to help you, they may make mistakes.  They cannot be held responsible for this and no liability is accepted by the individual or the event. 

Race Numbers

These will be given to you at registration and MUST be worn at all times.  Numbers MUST be pinned to your front, either chest or groin/leg area.  Your number will also be written on your hand (permanent pen).

Caps

For 2025, every competitor will receive a Red Paddle Cap 

You are not expected to wear the cap for the event.

Food & Hydration

NO eating is allowed on the board, only in the paddlers rest area so paddlers will have to take 'time out' of the race to 'pit stop' and refuel.  Drinking Water is allowed on the board but it can only be a liquid to hydrate NOT fuel. You can stop and rest at any time and for as long as you want in the paddlers rest area so tactics will play a big part of your race.

MUSIC

This event is all about YOU, YOUR BOARD & PADDLE against the 12 hours, for this reason NO music/headphones are allowed whilst out on the water for each lap.

Paddler rest area

Every competitor will be given a space in this area to set up your base, bring a chair, cool box, everything you need to help your 12 hours of paddling (area is approx 1x1m per competitor and secure but not covered)

Event Safety briefing

This will be by video prior to event sent out to all competitors and basic explanation repeated at registration plus prior to event start at 6.50am on event day. 

Medals

Everyone who enters will get one of our awesome wooden medals.

AWARDS

SUPTwelve

• Individual Furthest distance/most laps 1st Male/ 1st Female

39 & under 1st Male/ 1st Female
40 to 49 1st Male/ 1st Female
50 & over 1st Male/ 1st Female

SUPSix

39 & under 1st Male/ 1st Female
40 to 49 1st Male/ 1st Female
50 & over 1st Male/ 1st Female

All other categories

• Tandem  (1st place team only, no age categories)
• 2 person relay (1st place team only, no age categories)
• 4 person relay (1st place team only, no age categories)
• Prone (1st Male/ 1st Female only, no age categories)
• SurfSki (1st Male/ 1st Female only, no age categories)

Parking & Board drop off

Available along the sea front.  Overnight van camping is permitted here (charges apply). Public toilets are within walking distance. A drop off area for boards is less than 20m from the event START/FINISH.

Medical assistance

Professional medical team will be in attendance for the entire event.  Due to the endurance element to this event, the medical team may require you to stop and be checked for good health to proceed.  If requested to STOP, you must cooperate with the medical team.  A decision to continue or STOP will be made by the medical team, their decision is absolute and final.  Every competitors good health is paramount, the event team are there to help you achieve your potential.

After Party & Awards

Winners will receive their prizes at the end of the event at Paignton beach. 

Accommodation, Hotels & BB’s

There is a tremendous amount available, all budgets, styles and a bit of Faulty Towers too!  More info, with deals will be released over the next few months.

Hampton by Hilton, Torquay

The direct link to book is

https://bit.ly/40MtMya

Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton

offer 10% off accommodation, food & soft drinks

REDSUP10 (CODE) Book direct vis hotel 01803 526397

Mercure Hotel, Paignton

 Insurance & Consent

Competitors have to be 18 or over to enter.  All competitors will sign a consent/waiver to take part in the event and are expected to be fit & healthy to take part in a 12 hr endurance event.  Your personal insurance is your responsibility and PaddleUk offer day insurance for £5 or if you are a PaddleUk member it's included.  Get membership 👇

Entry FEEs

Individual SUPTwelve- £105

Individual SUPSix- £60

Tandem £120

Prone- £75

NEW for this YEAR SurfSki- £75

2 person relay- £120

4 person relay- £240 

What do you get for your entrance fee...

• 12 hour event with water safety & medical cover
• ALL profits go to the Charity Above Water
• Every competitor gets a medal
• Prizes for winners.
• Event Red Paddle Cap
• Secure paddler area and toilets just for paddlers.
• Professional Timing & Lap counting with large monitor display

Course change

Due to the conditions, it may be essential to change the course shape or distance through the 12 hrs.  This is at the event safety officers call and is to enable all paddlers to remain safe at all times.

Change of event venue

If the weather and conditions are unsafe for competitors then the following options could be implemented...

• Change of location
• Change of day to the Sunday
• Postponement to 2026

If any of the above takes place, refunds cannot be offered but deferment to 2026 will be.

EVENT CONDITIONS ON THE DAY

Taking part in a 12 hr event if unique.  In 12 hrs at the coast, the conditions will change....FACT!  Expect to roll with the conditions, they may be with you one lap and against you the next... this is coastal paddling.  The reason Brendon thought up this event is to help people understand these changes.  For example, a beautiful sunny and warm morning will only lead to strong off shore winds in the afternoon!  As event organisers, we pray for a dull and overcast day with no wind, which normally leads to a bright and cheery evening paddle👍

This year, 2025, we will start on the red sands of Paignton beach at 7am to an ebbing tide (period between high and low tide when the sea level will be falling) to make our mass 130 paddlers nice and gentle.  Be careful on the first lap as this will be the busiest.  The first buoy will be some of the best spectator viewing of the day! High tide is at 06:52 so for the first few hours we will be paddling right up to the competitor rest area.  Board Butlers will be on hand to help you as always.  Low tide at 12:52 (.89m) will offer lots of sand and space.  The race finishing at 7pm and will experience the same tidal conditions as experienced at the start. 

Only at the start of the race will the race direction be confirmed... clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on the weather. There is only a very small, less than 1/2 a knot of current in this location.

Cancellation

If the event is cancelled for any reason, all entries will be transferred to the follow year.  Unfortunately, due to costs we have already paid, we cannot refund. If you require to cancel your place, we allow you to transfer your place to someone else up to 7 days before the event.  No refunds can be offered, only transferred to another competitor, this costs us £5 to transfer in fees so this fee will be transferred to the new competitor. IF YOU WANT TO DEFER YOUR ENTRY TO 2026 DUE TO INJURY/ LACK OF TRAINING/ ANYTHING ELSE, YOU CAN DO THIS BUT AT A £10 CHARGE.  Within 7 days of event start, no transfers or DEFER TO 2026 can be made and no refunds.

 If you have any questions, send us a message, we are here to help 👍 brendon@thelongpaddle.co.uk