Monthly newsletter
Since BASK was formed in 1985, it has published a monthly newsletter, Bay Currents, whose volunteer editors strive to keep the membership informed of club events and aware of items of interest to the kayaking community. Whether you take the old black & white paper copy or the new online color version, you'll find expanded trip reports, an events calendar and a classified ad section. Recent articles include tips on surf kayaking, book reviews, how to build a Baidarka, how to store your kayak, marine radio basics, etc. etc.
BASK Handbook and Membership Directory
Our annual directory contains an up-to-date listing of our membership with contact information including address, home phone, work phone, cell phone and e-mail address. While this information is entirely optional, most BASKers opt-in. In addition to the alphabetized listing, there is also a First Name Directory so that you can easily look up the contact information for that person named Andy that you paddled with last week. There is also a Zip Code Directory so that you can locate paddlers in your area to coordinate a car pool to the BASK meeting or explore a local paddling spot. Several important articles from this web site are also reprinted for handy reference including Kayaking Safety, Paddle Signals and Wildlife Viewing.
BASK members organize trips for all skill levels. We average about one trip per week, ranging from easy protected-water paddling, overnight kayak camping trips, challenging point-to-point open coast and surf kayaking. BASK members have also organized expeditions to Alaska, Baja, British Columbia, Chile, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and more. Although most trips are initiated by one or more persons, all trips are cooperative efforts with responsibilities shared by all participants. Refer to the sections on Kayaking Safety for an excellent review of sea kayaking and safety issues. In the Members Only section, there is an article on initiating trips. BASK does not supply boats or equipment, although some members may be willing to share equipment.
E-mail list server
BASK has an e-mail list server that automatically forwards e-mail to all subscribers. Once you are on the list, you will receive messages sent by other BASK members. Frequent topics include last-minute trip announcements, questions about boats and equipment, safety issues, paddling destinations, foreign travel, food, in fact virtually anything of interest to our membership (and occasionally a few subjects that are NOT of interest).
It's on the web site but you'll have to join BASK to get in! Once inside, you'll find articles on VHF radios, information on the annual BASK Skills Clinic, a list of paddles around the Bay and our favorite launch and lunch sites, an article on initiating trips, and the BASK Event Calendar where members can post upcoming trips, paddles, picnics, parties, etc. On those rainy weekends, you can look at the long list of titles in the Mary Verdon Memorial Library, peruse the BASK Bylaws, review the list of BASK officers and Committee Chairs, and wonder how so many talented people find time to contribute so much to our club. The Members Only page is also the entry to the password-protected Online Membership Directory where you can renew your membership, change your password and personal information, and track down that guy named Joe with the red and white Coaster that you paddled with last weekend.
Fun and Adventure
Whether your idea of fun is an easy Bay paddle and gourmet pig-out on Angel Island (or Kauai), playing in 6-foot reflecting waves off the Marin Headlands, birding from your boat in bays and estuaries, exploring a new section of California coast or a weekend camping trip to a secluded lake, you'll find willing partners among the BASK membership. Our membership comes from all walks of life and covers all age groups and affiliations, united behind a common love of kayaking.
An important goal of BASK is to offer opportunities for members to improve their sea kayaking skills. Periodic workshops include: open water rescues, tides and currents, kayak sailing, the surf zone, kayak repair, expedition planning, instructor training, etc. Our most ambitious program is the BASK Skills Clinic, an annual 5 week "kayak boot camp" with classroom sessions, a pool session and 3 weekend camping trips. We run this clinic for BASK members who have been paddling for a while with the club, but feel that they would like a more formal presentation and refinement of their skills. In addition to the comprehensive list of skills taught (including boat fitting, car topping, first aid, group dynamics, hypothermia, knot tying, navigation, paddles strokes, pod work, self and assisted rescues, surf zone and weather), we seek to help participants feel confident in actively supporting the club as officers, trip initiators, instructors and all-around more active members of the club.If you are a member and your password has expired, click here
To join BASK or renew your membership, click here.
To contact BASK if you have any general questions or suggestions, please send e-mail to info@bask.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
