St Paddles Day is an annual racing event at the beautiful Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal. We’ve co-hosted the race since it’s start in 2012.

The event this year is Saturday March 14 and starts at 11:30am.  The race includes a 3 mile and 6 mile course for paddlers and rowers on the ‘boot’ of the Canal.

Located a bit west of Seattle racers get a discount for lodging. It’s also an easy day trip from via either the Bremerton ferry or ‘driving around’ over the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma.

Prizes by the Skokomish Tribe, BlackFish Paddles, Gorge Performance and Alderbrook Resort.

Click Here for 2026 RESULTS

THE 2027 ST PADDLES DAY IS MARCH 13TH

Also expect live music, great food and brews!  Sometimes the Skokomish canoe family arrives to welcome racers.

For those used to regular area races, the vibe at St Paddles Day is more chill.  Especially since your family can enjoy your race start from a glass enclosed hot tub and pool.

Racers receive a t-shirt and prizes such as a night’s stay and cool options such as hand carved local Skokomish native canoe paddles.

2025 Race Results

Thanks to all who participated and supported the 2025 Race including Alderbrook Resort, director Eric Sund and race mark suppliers, Fishery’s Supply, The Sloop Yacht Club and WhatsSUP.

Race Results for 2025

Race Courses: (Red is the RT 3 mile course / Yellow is 6 miles):

 

Short Course: 3 miles. Alderbrook Resort west to Hood Canal Marina and return (3 miles). Usually protected from SW winds.

Long Course: 6 miles. Alderbrook Resort west to Hood Canal Marina, east to the Tayuha River mouth, southeast to a mark east of Alderbrook Resort, then finish at the resort.  If SW winds, expect a downwinder to Tahuya.

Both finish by the Lady Alderbrook boat at the T-Dock.

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Registration

 

Notes: ‘Kayak’ is surf ski. Divisions will be determined on site. For those used to Webscorer, we’ll transfer data to the app before the race.

Rates:

 

RACE QUESTIONS? Contact Rob Casey (co-race director): via Txt: 206-465-6167 or rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

Race Director: Eric Sund, Alderbrook Harbormaster

Timers / Check-in (On Site): Christy Cox / Heather Pugh / Kylie Keller

DIRECTIONS

Upon Arrival:

– Check in at the Big Tent on the lawn by the water before the Safety Meeting

-If you have a room, check in at the front desk, then at the Big Tent on the lawn by the water for race check-in. 

-LAUNCH your gear from the Cottage Lawn in front of the cabins by the water.  Enter from the driveway left of the Front Desk.  Note it’ll be congested.  

 

LODGING / RESORT QUESTIONS:

Discounted Rooms: $125 a room per night. ** You Must CALL for the discounted room rates!  (Feb 20th Update: Sat night rooms are booked).

Call’ Alderbrook Resort / (360) 898-2200 to book. Ask for the discount. 

 

Schedule:

• 9:00-10:30AM: Registration and check in
• 10:30AM: Safety Meeting for all participants, mandatory.
• 11:00AM: Long Course start, muster 10:45
• 11:05AM: Short Course start, muster 11:00AM
• 2:00PM: Course Sweep
• 2:30PM: Awards and Grand prize drawing

Who Should Sign up? 

– This race is considered a cold, open water race

– Open to experienced outrigger, prone, stand up paddle board, sea kayak, surf ski and rowers.

– We will require all racers to wear a PFD (except prone) and be dressed for immersion, all standup paddleboard participants must have a board leash attached and have the physical ability and experience to complete the race they sign up for.

– The race director may change a participants entry from long course to short course if experience and type of equipment is deemed unsafe for the long course.

– Must have basic swim skills.

 

When you Arrive:

– When you arrive check into your room at the front desk.  **Ask where to park and unload your boat or board by the water (next driveway on right).

** Check-in with our race registration table by the waterfront lawn or downstairs to get your number and tape.

 

 

 

 

Race History:

While updating my book ‘Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans‘ in 2011, we stopped at the Hood Canal Marina and were enthusiastly greeted by owners, siblings, Mark and Cindy Sund.  There were stoked to see our paddle boards on our car, then a rate sight on Hood Canal.

This sparked a fun relationship for training their paddlers on sup and an idea to build a stronger paddling community on Hood Canal which resulted in a race from their marina.  Soon Cindy became the harbormaster for Alderbrook Resort.

After nearly a decade of us co-hosting this race, everything stopped during Covid.

Restarting in 2023 – Cindy retired and her nephew Eric Sund took over the helm of harbormaster and race director. The Sund family has a long history on the Canal.