The BBOP women braved the cold and a snow flurry as they paddled out on Lake Whatcom today! What a great day for paddling, way better than paddling in the rain, or dreary grey skies. Can’t wait for the next snow event!

The Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers will be holding their first fundraiser- a garage sale!

Dates: November 19 and 20th, 4700 Mt. Baker Highway, Deming, WA. Look for the BBOP signs.

If you have some stuff to donate, please place a suggested price and deliver to Denise and Gordon’s place on Mt Baker Highway. Or if you can not make it out there, but still want to support BBOP, contact Jill (jkomoto@gmail.com) or Kim (ursasmajor@yahoo.com).

We also need day of event help! Sign up here, morning and afternoon help sessions.  http://www1.mysignup.com/bbop_garage_sale

Winning wahines from Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers (BBOP), competed in a 14 mile outrgger race at the Lummi Indian Reservation. Tough race up wind, side chop with wind against the ama. Great job steering by all steerspeople.

Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers made their first trip to the Columbia River Gorge to throw down against dozens of other teams.

Despite off-and-on rains and relatively light winds, a great time was had by all, and the memories will be — no doubt — WORLD CLASS!

Enjoy the photos, and be sure to leave your comments and questions below!

(For the best viewing, click on the 1st thumbnail, then use your arrow keys to scroll through).

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A few months ago roughly 30 people met to discuss starting a 6-person outrigger canoe club in the Bellingham area. This wasn’t just the usual Wednesday night crowd. A variety of paddling and rowing backgrounds were represented. One thing was clear; our paddling community is ready to add a new dimension to the local paddling scene. We even chose a name – Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers (aka BBOP).

We also discussed the reasons why building a thriving OC6 club in Bellingham will greatly benefit the local community and its paddlers.

A successful OC6 club offers:

• An opportunity for beginners and youth to experience paddling a safe and stable boat in the presence of experienced paddlers. This will be a great way to promote paddling in the community. We are especially excited about getting young people on the water via a youth program.

• An inexpensive way to get into paddling. People will have access to the OC6 for free during promotional events and annual dues are nominal compared to buying a personal boat.

• A chance to showcase the strength of our local paddlers. We are blessed with a passionate paddling community and an abundance of places to paddle. There is a large community of OC6 paddlers in the Pacific Northwest. Wouldn’t it be fun to climb into a boat with a few friends and race head to head against clubs from Oregon, Washington, B.C and beyond?

• An even greater opportunity for camaraderie. Learning, training and racing as a team will add a new dimension to our paddling culture.

• A chance for kayakers, surfskiers, stand up paddlers, rowers, marathon canoers (all of us really) to learn a new skill and cross train.

Since the first meeting, a few volunteers have been plugging away at solving logistical challenges. BBOP is now an official club, complete with a bank account, mission statement, bylaws and interim officers. We have begun the process of registering as a 5013C nonprofit. The first boats will be stored at the Community Boating Center in Fairhaven and we hope to expand to Bloedel Donovan asap.

Now for the really exciting news: We’ve found an excellent deal on a new boat. It could be here as soon as the end of March (before peak paddling season) thanks to a generous offer from POS-X, a local manufacturer of point-of-sale equipment, to loan us the money for the down payment.

There are a few other details that we’ll need to work out (e.g. a trailer) but the hard part is behind us.

Now we just need you.

BBOP needs members and donations.

Annual dues are as follows:

Founding Member Status $200 (includes first year annual dues)
Individual $100
Family $200
Junior (under 18) $50

Plus $30/individual or $60/family for insurance via USA Canoe and Kayak, unless you already have this insurance.

Discrete accommodations are available for financial need.

Please consider joining or donating even if you don’t see yourself paddling OC6 this season. As mentioned above, establishing a successful OC6 club will truly benefit our community.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information email us at BBOP.BHAM@gmail.com

We’ll have people available at upcoming races to help with registration. Including this weekends first annual Bellingham Bay Rough Water Race.

Or, email us at BBOP.BHAM@gmail.com for information about processing registration or donations via mail.

A club meeting will be held soon.

With your help – OC6 is finally coming to Bellingham!

See you on the water.

Sincerely,

The BBOP officers: Gabe, Alan, Jill, Susan, and Jackie