Congratulations to all competitors in the very first Bucca Kri! 

Volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews from St Agnes and St Ives were tasked around 10.30am on Saturday 19 September to assist competitors taking part in an organised surf ski event. Both St Ives lifeboats and St Agnes D class lifeboat were tasked by the Coastguard to the incident off Godrevy. The competitors were recovered from the water by the event safety boat, they were transferred to St Ives Shannon all weather lifeboat who took them back to St Ives.  For more information please contact the event organisers Ocean Surf Ski.

RNLI South West Comms Team 21/09/26

Update from Race Organisers Saturday 19th 16:30 (amended 21/09/26) - congratulations on a superb Bucca Kri. The first grade 4 event in the UK. This was an elite course in challenging conditions, at all times within the safety protocols for the event for both wind and sea conditions. For the record : 1 crew retired and returned to Carbis before the turn mark. 1 V6 had equipment failure and was recovered by the designated V6 safety boat. 1 surfski single had equipment failure and was recovered by the race control boat. 1 double surfski was recovered by an event safety boat due to severe sea sickness . 1 surfski double was recovered as they were off course by an event safety boat. At no time was anyone recovered out of the water by the RNLI. The tracker system worked well. The RNLI did deploy due to a call from a competitor. As the St Ives RNLI AWLB was in location we did cross deck the V6 and an SS2 crew to them to give better protection from the elements. We very much appreciate the assistance of the RNLI, which meant the competitors received the best care and were able to be returned to shore in quick time. 


Thank you for all your support, safe home and let’s get the photos and stories together! We are missing a few more trackers and bibs. Please tag @buccakri @oceansurfski @oceansports

Results to follow soon

 

The Bucca Kri is a grade four elite 55km straight downwind race along the north coast of Cornwall, for ski (single and double) and outrigger canoe (V6). One of the longest point to point races in Europe, 2026 is a test event with a limited number of invited paddlers competing from the UK and beyond.

The race is organised and managed by the Ocean Sports Centre in partnership with Ocean Surfski, under the authority of Paddle UK.

Download the event PDF
Full race information for all participants, 5 September 2026. Everything in it is also on this page.

Race days Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September 2026, wind depending
Distance 55km, approximately 35 miles
Grade Four, elite
Craft SS1, SS2 and V6
Course Carbis Bay, St Ives to Harlyn Beach, or reversed
Entry Restricted. Invited paddlers only

On this page

The route

With the Bucca blowing from the South West the race starts on Sunday 20 September 2026 from the Ocean Sports Centre at Carbis Bay beach, St Ives, heading North East, round the Bull and Quies at Trevose Head, to finish at Harlyn beach.

Should the wind dictate, the race will be reversed, racing from Harlyn to Carbis, commencing on Saturday 19 September.

The background

Glenn Eldrige and Jim Taylor-Ross ventured to Hawaii on a whim, more than 25 years ago. Borrowing a boat, sleeping on floors, and guessing the route, they raced in the Moloka’i. On the plane home they crafted the Bucca Kri and have been planning it ever since. 2026 is the time for the test event, to prove the concept and launch the legend.

The cry of the Bucca

In Cornish folklore the Bucca Kri was originally known as a sea spirit from West Penwith, but local fishermen more commonly associate it with a raging storm coming in from the Southwest, as they hear the Bucca cry, in the Cornish language, carried by prevailing south westerly winds foretelling of the impending storm.

Such provenance is in keeping with the ethos of the event. We need the prevailing south westerly for a downwind from St Ives to Trevose. The goal of every paddler is to make it home before they hear the cry of the Bucca chasing them on the wind.

Fundraising

Many thanks to our committed sponsors who have helped to launch this test event, contributing £200 per kilometre to cover the costs of the professional safety team.

Support the Bucca Kri safety fund

Competitors and entry fees

The 2026 Bucca Kri is a test event with restricted entry. All participants have submitted an Expression of Interest. Within that form you confirmed and declared that your competency and your kit are fit for purpose to take part in the event.

If any of your information has changed you must tell the race organisers before race day. That includes next of kin, contact details, boat and doubles partner.

You have been added to the competitors WhatsApp group. Further updates are sent through WhatsApp.

Entry fees

  • SS1: £40
  • SS2: £30 per paddler
  • V6: £30 per paddler

Start and finish points

  • Start, Carbis Bay, TR26 2NP. what3words ///bulge.composer.justifies
  • Finish, Harlyn Beach, PL28 8SB. what3words ///cycles.gloves.gathering

The course runs in whichever direction the wind dictates, so the start and finish may swap.

Race weekend timings

Depending on the wind direction over the weekend, the race will run either from Harlyn to Carbis on Saturday 19 September, or from Carbis to Harlyn on Sunday 20 September.

Activity Saturday 19 Sept Sunday 20 Sept
High water 11:00 12:30
Low water 17:30 06:10
Light Last light 19:20 First light 07:00
Registration 09:00 04:00
Safety team brief 09:30 04:30
Race brief 10:00 05:00
Marshall first start 10:30 05:30
First start 11:00 06:00
Marshall second start 11:00 06:00
Second start 11:30 06:30
Approximate last finisher 17:00 12:00
Course closes 17:30 13:00
Results and prize giving 18:00 14:00
Car park cleared 19:00 15:00

Safety equipment

Provided by the paddler, checked at registration

  • PFD
  • Whistle
  • Leg leash
  • Means of communication: handheld VHF and/or mobile phone in a reliable waterproof pouch
  • Means to navigate on a bearing, and the knowledge to use it: a fully charged Garmin or a compass

Provided by the race organisers at registration

  • Boat number sticker for the back deck, one per boat
  • High-viz race bib with the number on the front, one per boat. Do not cut these. Hand it in as soon as you come off the water
  • Race tracker, one per paddler. Hand it in as soon as you come off the water
  • Glow stick, one per paddler

The race

Marshalling

  • Come into the marshall area when requested
  • Keep space between competitors
  • Line up on the pre-start marshall line in numerical order, left to right looking out to sea
  • Pre-start safety kit check

The start

  • SLS water starts for surfski between the flags. Knee deep, stand to the left of your craft
  • The OC6s start in the water, steerer controlling the canoe stood next to the seat, to the right of the surfski start
  • Whistle: move into the water
  • Flag up on the safety boat: start within one minute
  • Flag down: go
  • False start: continuous air horn or whistle
  • The safety boat leads the first competitors onto the course

Course description

Full course approximately 35 miles, 55km. Direction depends on the prevailing wind.

Saturday course, north to south, Harlyn to Carbis, ebb tide. Reverse course.

  • Leave Harlyn
  • Round Trevose Head, leaving the Bull Rock to your left and the Quies to the right
  • Head for St Ives, bearing 220
  • Stay on the seaward side of Godrevy lighthouse. After rounding the Stones Reef and the north cardinal mark, head for Carbis Bay beach
  • Leave the north cardinal mark to your left
  • Head straight for Carbis Bay beach. Finish between the flags

Sunday course, south to north, Carbis to Harlyn, flood tide.

  • Leave Carbis Bay beach and paddle toward St Ives Head, the Island
  • Turn from St Ives Head toward Trevose Head, bearing 040
  • Head to the north cardinal mark, seaward side of Godrevy lighthouse
  • Leave the Stones Reef and the north cardinal mark off Godrevy lighthouse to your right
  • Continue to Trevose Head
  • Leave the Quies to your left and the Bull Rock to your right, and round Trevose Head
  • Head into Harlyn bay, the third and largest bay approximately 2km from Trevose Head, aiming for the left hand side of the beach, marked by large yellow flags

At the finish

  • Take off your craft leash once you turn towards the finish
  • Finish line is between the flags
  • Your ski will be put to one side, clear of the water
  • In doubles and V6, only the person wearing the race bib finishes
  • Race time stops
  • Take yourself and your paddle through the finishing funnel
  • Make sure you are ticked off as finished
  • Hand in your race bib and tracker
  • Collect the remaining trackers from your crew and hand them in
  • Move your craft away from the finish area

Self-declaration of competency and fitness

Paddlers have declared on the Expression of Interest that they are competent to:

  • Paddle in challenging conditions, including rough seas and winds up to 24 knots
  • Paddle at an average speed of 10km/hr for 6 hours on flat calm water without undue effort
  • Remount in rough conditions
  • Communicate and navigate in rough conditions
  • Assist other paddlers in distress, assist a remount, wait and call for assistance
  • Compete while medically fit, with no known reason to preclude them from an endurance race where support is not immediate
  • Abide by the race organisers’ decisions and follow safety crew instructions

By entering and starting you confirm that you have the required competency, ability and fitness for the conditions, and the required safety equipment as set out in the event instructions, which you have inspected along with your craft, know how to use, and self-certify as fit for purpose.

Race team and contacts

Role Lead Contact
Race Director Jim Taylor-Ross 07813 845890
Paddle UK Event Safety Officer Emma Heard 07969 048512
Land Team Leader Annabel Taylor-Ross 07768 630388
Tracker Officer Claire Curry  
Safety Team WaveHunters (RIBs), The Dolly P (Control Boat)  

Timing, results and communications

The race organisers issue live GPS trackers to each competitor at registration. A tracking link will follow. The tracker software compiles the results, by class and overall, backed up by a manual result system to cross check for accuracy.

Race information is updated in the competitors WhatsApp group. There is a race brief for all competitors before the start, covering the latest information on local conditions. VHF and mobile phones are used before and during the event as required.

  • Land communications: mobile and WhatsApp
  • Water communications: VHF between the control boat and the RIBs
  • Between water and land teams: mobile and WhatsApp

Mobile: Jim 07813 845890, Annabel 07768 630388. VHF channel to be confirmed.

Water safety and medical

The Water Safety Plan for the event is a detailed document covering the course, deployment, communications and control of rescue assets, the water safety team brief, emergency action plan, event abandonment protocol and contingency planning.

  • Coastguard and RNLI informed
  • Three 10m RIBs with VHF
  • Race control boat, the Dolly P, on the course, with the race director aboard
  • Event safety officer in race control, on land
  • Looking after craft is not the priority for safety boats
  • Safety crew and race organisers have the final decision on your continued participation

If you are in difficulty, press and hold the emergency button on the race tracker, wave your paddle or arm in the air, and blow your whistle if possible.

  • Spare surfski paddles are carried by safety boats. V6 crews carry their own spares
  • If you are near a person in the water who needs help, give assistance or attract attention until a safety crew take over. Report any delay to the finish marshall and we will adjust your time accordingly
  • Competitors who cannot maintain race pace and are dropping behind will be taken off the water by the race director, so the event safety provision is not compromised
  • If you are recovered on the course you will be brought to the finish. Hand in your race bib and tracker and make sure you are recorded off the course
  • For a mass evacuation of the course, the safety boats and race control boat sound continuous air horns. Wait for their instructions

First aid

  • The land team leader coordinates with the designated first aider lead for the event on land
  • A fully equipped medical team is on the race control boat
  • There are RNLI lifeguard stations at Carbis Bay and Harlyn Beach

Local hospitals

From Carbis Bay

  • St Michael’s Hospital, Hayle, 4 miles. Minor care and X-ray
  • West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, 10 miles. Urgent treatment centre
  • Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, 22 miles. Full 24 hour A&E

From Harlyn

  • Newquay Hospital, 16 miles. Minor accident unit
  • Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, 28 miles. Full 24 hour A&E

On the day

Parking

Competitors use the pay and display car parks at Carbis Bay and Harlyn Beach. Harlyn uses ANPR cameras. There are public toilets and a café next to both car parks. Do not block entrances or access at any time, and be courteous to the public as ambassadors of the sport.

Waste

Competitors take their waste away with them. All event waste is removed by the event team at the end of the event and recycled appropriately.

Media and communications

A small number of media and photographers are expected. Members of the public may take photos without approval. Annabel Taylor-Ross is the media lead and will be on site to brief and manage media and photographers. By entering, competitors have agreed to their images being used to promote the event and shared on social media.

Decision making

In the event of unsafe conditions, unsuitable water quality or any other event threatening factor, the race director and event safety team decide whether the event continues or is cancelled. Decisions are communicated promptly via the WhatsApp race group.

Governance and policies

The event is held under the authority and governance of the Paddle UK Ocean Racing UK Committee. The event is hosted and water safety teams provided by Ocean Sports and Ocean Surfski. It follows the specific Paddle UK guidance for ocean racing.

Safeguarding

Annabel Taylor-Ross acts as safeguarding and welfare officer for athletes, event team staff and members of the public associated with the event. The event operates according to Paddle UK safeguarding protocols and policies and comes under the Ocean Racing UK Committee.

Incident reporting

Report any incident, however big, small, or a near miss, to the events team as quickly as possible. Major incidents are reported by the race director to the Paddle UK Major Incident Management Team on 0115 697 1600. Other incidents are logged through the Paddle UK Incident Report System.

Insurance

The event, its organisers and volunteers are insured within the Paddle UK insurance policy. Competitors are insured through their individual on-water Paddle UK membership, or by purchasing a single event membership in the entry process.

Anti-doping

The Paddle UK anti-doping rules apply to all competitors in this event.

Water quality

Water quality is monitored before the event by the organisers via the Environment Agency website. If required, the event will be cancelled. Competitors are asked to tell the organisers about any post-race illness. Check South Weat Water Live Quality Map

Reference documents

Thank you

  • Our many generous sponsors
  • The land owners, for permission to use the beaches
  • The volunteers helping to organise the race
  • Our safety crews
  • The competitors, for taking part and creating the legend

Download the event PDF

This page carries the full race information for the 2026 Bucca Kri, taken from the participant document dated 5 September 2026. It is updated as details are confirmed.