Welcome to BASK

Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) is a group of several hundred sea kayakers who live throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our interests include flat-water paddling, kayak-surfing, expeditions, and playing amongst the rocks, in conditions that range from mild to wild. Our club exists to bring paddlers together for companionship, safety, exploration, learning, and great food and drink!

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BASK trips range from local to international, and are all member-initiated with shared responsibilities for safety. BASK does not supply boats or equipment, although some members are willing to share their equipment. You have to be a member or a guest of a member to participate in on-the-water BASK events and a signed activity waiver is required. Follow the links to learn more about the benefits of membership and to join BASK.

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We invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings! They are free, open to the public, and include food (suggested donation $8-10), a featured speaker, club news, and information about upcoming events. It’s a great way to meet club members and learn about paddling opportunities.

For more information see the Events page!

Would you like to speak at a BASK meeting or have an idea for a speaker? Contact the Speaker Seeker. Interested in what type of speakers we’ve had in the past? See the list of previous general meeting topics.

Next General Meeting: Wednesday, October 31

BASK Halloween Monster Bash!

Location: Ground-floor auditorium at The Women’s Building at 3543 18th St. #8, San Francisco.
6 pm: Chili Cook-off! We’ll want more than just chili, so add your dish to the signup sheet.
7 pm: Costume party, club news, and announcements
8 pm: Presentations

Featured Presentations:

Topic: Kayaking with Wolves
Presenter: Tom Colton
Presentation Summary: Wolves are everywhere on the remote northwest coast of Vancouver Island, but humans rarely see them. In over nine weeks of kayaking this area since 2012, Ellen and I have sighted wolves just six times. I’ll share photos, video, and audio clips of these encounters, along with tips for what to expect and how to deal with problem wolves.

Topic: San Juans Campouts
Presenter: Margot Otway and Jim Ham
Presentation Summary: Every other July, many BASKers participate in the Casey Walker San Juans Campout. If you’ve been wondering what happens there, Margot and Jim will share slides from recent years.

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Transportation & Parking: You can take BART to the 16th & Mission station; it’s a short three-block walk to the Women’s Building. If you must drive all the way, we have a special arrangement that allows us to park in the Mission High School lot on the west side of Delores Street between 17th and 18th Streets. The parking driveway is closer to 17th Street and takes you up a ramp to an elevated parking slab behind a chain link fence, as shown in this Google Street View. From there, it’s a two-block walk. Put something that says “BASK” on your your dashboard. The lot will be locked at 10 pm, so make sure you’re out well before then. Other parking in the Mission is limited. If you need to drive, carpooling and parking west of Mission St. are recommended. There are two parking garages in the area. For trip planning information, see the Women’s Building contact page.