SUPs at FBOR’25
Supported by STELLAR Surfskis
Technical, Sprint, and Open Ocean Point-toPoint Racing
Photos on this page copyright SUP Junkie.
Technical, Sprint and Open Ocean
Point-to-Point Racing
FBOR’25 are partnering with Canoe Wales and WSF
to bring you a line-up of exciting open ocean racing at Newport Beach.
This event is an ISA Sup selection Qualifier 2025 for the Welsh SUP Team. Terms and conditions apply, participants who wish to be considered are required to raise an interest by contacting Emily King at Canoe Wales for further information: emily.king@canoewales.com
(Membership of the designated NGB is required) All medals sponsored by Get On The Water, Cardiff
N.B. ISA Competitors must enter all three ISA qualification races to be eligible for selection.
ENTRIES NOW OPEN
SUPs at FBOR’25 – the Courses
Fishguard Bay Ocean Race 2024 (FBOR’24) is a major downwind race along Pembrokeshire’s wild, award winning north coast – starting at Goodwick beach and crossing many miles of exposed open sea to finish on the wide sandy beach at Newport.
FBOR’24 is our 9th year and the SUP races will be held across two days:
Saturday 21st June
- SUP Elite Offshore Distance Race
Sunday 22nd June
- SUP Open Offshore Distance Race
- SUP Beach Sprints
- SUP Technical Race
In the distance races you’ll paddle deep clear water, past towering cliffs, a couple of fun tide-races, a skid turn around a wave-tossed rock and a final sprint up the beach at Newport Surf Lifesaving Club. And, of course, we’re keeping fingers crossed for stellar downwind conditions!
Saturday SUP Elite race. Start 14:30
17km of exposed seaway – designed for elite level paddlers.
Ticket price: £37
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See map below.
Sunday SUP Open race. Start 15:00
13km of ocean – designed for Advanced and Intermediate paddlers.
Ticket price: £37
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See map below.
Sunday SUP Beach Races
Beach Sprints – All Competitors Welcome 15:30
Ticket price: £10
Technical Race – Intermediate and Advanced 16:00
Ticket price: £20
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Entry Criteria
Distance Races
As a race committee we have to be sure that every competitor who enters either of these races is capable, in all respects, to successfully complete the course. That specifically means you must have a well practiced, 100% “bullet-proof” remount that, if necessary, you can successfully repeat a dozen times without assistance.
Both DISTANCE RACES require a high level of paddling technique and endurance. The courses are approximately 17km for ELITE, 13km for OPEN, point-to-point race of open ocean paddling including paddling against current and swell in the upper remit of wind (Beaufort scale 5).
So, to enter a DISTANCE race online you will be required to agree to a SUP specific Acceptance of Risk (see below) and, at registration, we will require proof of your successfully completing a minimum of one 15+km ocean downwind race within the last 12 months.
Any paddler NOT having an established record of safe finishes in equivalent races must prove their fitness and competence to the SUP race officer before or at registration, preferably by being vouched for by organisers of other races, or you will be excluded from The Race.
At the very least, the Acceptance of Risk Statement (see below), which you will be asked to sign in person as hard copy at registration, will be your statement of assurance to the Race Officer that you are fit and capable of safely finishing The Race.
When we receive your entry you’ll get more detailed race information and, closer to the race date, a detailed course description and virtual race briefing.
When taking part in any or all of these races you agree to abide by the ISA Racing Rules Click to view and download.
Technical Race
This requires a high level of paddling technique. The courses is 3km of laps around an ocean course. The race commences with a beach start line, then entering the ocean carrying your board you will follow laps around a course, navigating around buoy turns on the ocean. On each lap you will land and run around a short beach run until the final lap where you will run up through a finishing line.
Sprint Racing
This is a 100m in & out course. The race commences with a beach start line. You will enter the ocean carrying your board and race out 100 meters before turning around a buoy and returning back to the beach where the race finishes by running up through a finishing line.
Safety
Final safety decision on whether the wind and sea-state are suitable for racing will go ahead will be at the discretion of the FBOR Safety Officer on the day of the race
All Distance Race competitors will be issued with a GPS tracker so their position is known throughout the race – to be collected at registration. In addition, PFD’s, Orange Smoke Flares, leg or paddle leashes, VHF (or phone in waterproof pouch) attached to PFD are all mandatory.
Insurance
To compete, all individual paddlers must be insured through one of the the Home Countries Canoeing NGBs: Canoe Wales/Paddle UK / Paddle Scotland, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland. If you’re already a full member of one of these, then you’re already covered.
If you’re NOT a member you will need to take out day membership at race registration at £5/day, paid in addition to your online entry fee.
CLICK HERE To buy Canoe Wales Day Membership
Your safety, the safety of your craft, its entire equipment, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/paddler racing the ski/board/canoe. Where a ski/board/canoe has been borrowed/rented/hired, etc. it is the paddler’s responsibility that the vessel meets the required standard and insurance requirements.
Please note that, in the event of an emergency, the rescue crews have been briefed to prioritise the survival and safety of the casualty above recovery of boat or equipment.
Acceptance of Risk Statement
“I have read the above description of the Fishguard Bay Ocean Race (The Race) and confirm that:
1) I have solid and provable experience in the expected conditions (up to continuous Beaufort force 5) and duration (17km and 1.5 hours) of The Race.
2) I can consistently self-rescue/remount my craft in these conditions – multiple times if need be.
3) I take full responsibility for the accuracy of my declared experience and competence as provided to the race officer.
4) I am fit and capable of successfully and safely finishing The Race without assistance.
5) Distance Races: I confirm that I will wear the mandatory GPS tracker securely and take responsibility for returning it in good condition to the race crew after I finish.
6) I confirm that my equipment is in full working order and includes each of the items listed below:
- Bouyancy Aid / PFD
- Calf Leash
- Whistle
- VHF or Mobile Phone (in waterproof pouch with lanyard to PFD)
- Orange Smoke Flare”
Buy your Paddle Wales Day Membership here
ISA Racing Rules
Saturday Schedule
Registration: 11:00 to 13:30 at Ocean Lab Car Park SA64 0DE
Final Briefing & Craft Check 14:15 Goodwick Beach
Elite SUP 17km race – Start 14:30
Sunday Schedule
Registration: 11:00 to 13:30 at Ocean Lab Car Park SA64 0DE
Final Briefing & Craft Check 14:45 Goodwick Beach
– Open SUP 13km race – Start 15:00
– Sprint Start 15:30
– Technical Start 16:00
Arranging Lifts & Board Shuttle
On both days you can leave your boards on the grass by Ocean Lab carpark at Goodwick (SA640DE). I’ll be on site from 09:30 to watch them. There is Pay & Display parking by the finish at Newport Sands car park (SA420NR) at £5 for the day – coins only. Please pay your £5 when you get there – it’s much cheaper than a fine! FBOR’23 is in summer holiday season, so grab your parking spot EARLY . . .
We have a BUS laid on back to Goodwick – the Bus is LEAVING the car park at 11:00. There are LIMITED PLACES so please book your seat with Benjamin, soon.
From the boat drop-off on the grass by Ocean Lab carpark at Goodwick (SA640DE) to Newport Sands is 11 miles / 25 mins each way on busy country roads – please allow at least an HOUR for the round trip. You need to be back for Registration or you will not race.
More Info To Follow
When we receive your entry we’ll email you much more information about the course and the way the day will run.
If you need to ask question first please email or phone us from our CONTACT PAGE.
Looking forward to seeing you in JUNE!