During the race, in compliance with the regulations of the Catalan Canoeing Federation (FCP) and the Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation (RFEP), all paddlers must wear a PFD (personal flotation device) and carry one leash (safety cord) per paddler. The leash must be attached to the craft and correctly secured below the paddler’s knee throughout the entire race. The leash may only be released when approaching the finish-line beach. The PFD and leash must comply with internationally accepted canoe ocean racing standards. The six-person canoe (V6) is the only craft exempt from the requirement to use a leash.
In compliance with FCP and RFEP regulations, all paddlers must carry an emergency whistle.
Craft that are not equipped with an automatic bailer (self-draining system), such as traditional sea kayaks and traditional canoes (V1, V6), must carry either a manual pump or a manual bailer suitable for removing water from the craft in the event of flooding. Surfskis along with OC1 and OC2 canoes are equipped with automatic bailers and do not require a pump or manual bailer.
In compliance with FCP and RFEP regulations, the PFD must be of a high-visibility colour. In general, the use of high-visibility clothing and accessories (cap, stickers, etc.) is strongly recommended.
The ability to swim is an essential requirement for participation in the race and is defined as the ability to swim confidently for a minimum of 50 metres in open water, potentially in rough conditions.
A GPS tracker will be provided to all participants taking part in the downwind races, with one device allocated per craft. The devices will be distributed before the race and must be attached to the paddler’s PFD. Participants in the Ultra must carry the tracker during both downwind races. The devices must be returned at the end of the event. A live tracking link to follow competitors in real time will be shared before the race.
SSupport boats will follow and monitor competitors to ensure safety.
In the event of a capsize, competitors are expected to remount their craft and continue the race. Those who are unable to do so, or who find themselves in an emergency situation, must signal to the support boat by raising their paddle in the air and/or using their whistle to attract attention. If a paddler has capsized, it is important not to become separated from their craft, and the leash must remain attached at all times. Releasing the leash while attempting to remount carries the risk of becoming separated from their craft. Competitors who are unable to remount their craft must withdraw from the race. Any competitor who withdraws will be transported to a safe point on shore.
It is important to prioritise sportsmanship and mutual support: if a competitor notices or suspects that another competitor is experiencing a medical emergency, they are obliged to assist them until appropriate help arrives.
Start
The start of the race will be signalled by the sound of a horn, and the judges will periodically announce the remaining time until the start via a megaphone.
Depending on the conditions, the start for surfski crafts will be one of the following types:
a) Le Mans / Sella, in which paddlers line up at a distance behind their craft and run towards them on the beach;
b) Australian start, in which paddlers position themselves next to their craft in shallow water; or
c) Deep-water start, in which paddlers line up in deep water, already seated in their craft.
All other types of craft (OC1, V1, OC2, V6, and traditional sea kayaks) will have a deep-water start.
The finish line will be located on the beach and marked by an inflatable arch. Competitors’ official times will be recorded as they cross the finish line. In the case of double craft and V6 canoes, only one of the paddlers, specifically the one with the race number, will be required to cross the finish line.
A section of the beach will be cordoned off to ensure clear access to the finish line; however, competitors approaching the beach must remain aware of swimmers and beachgoers.
Competitors must drag their craft up onto the sand and must not leave it floating in the water, as this could obstruct other participants. Volunteers will be waiting on the beach to remove craft that have been brought ashore in order to keep access to the finish line clear. Competitors who have already finished are encouraged to remain attentive in case their teammates need assistance bringing in their craft, especially as volunteers may become overwhelmed if several competitors arrive in large groups, causing a build-up of craft.
The race course is a downwind route, from point A to point B. The course is primarily designed to take advantage of the thermal wind along the Barcelona coastline, which comes from the south-west (garbí conditions). In the event of an east-north-east wind (levante conditions), it will be necessary to reverse the direction of the race. Should this occur, any adjustments to the course will be communicated to competitors.
Details of the race courses will be published on the Barcelona Paddle Race website (barcelonapaddlerace.com) and will also be communicated directly to competitors.
Once registration opens, a link to the entry form will be available via the race website: barcelonapaddlerace.com.
The entry fee is charged per person and is €45 for adults and €35 for minors (under 18 years of age). The fee includes participation in both events: the Barcelona Paddle Race “Standard” and the Paddle Race Ultra. All registered participants will automatically be entered into the Barcelona Paddle Race “Standard”, and those wishing to also compete in the Paddle Race Ultra must indicate this on the registration form. For those entered in the Ultra, there will be a cut-off time based on their official time in the first race. This is defined as completing the first race within 45 minutes of the first competitor crossing the finish line. The 45-minute cut-off applies equally to all participants, regardless of craft type. The Paddle Race Ultra results will be calculated by combining the official times from both stages (the first and second races). The official timed results for both events will be shared via a link on the same day as the competition.
The 2026 edition of the Barcelona Paddle Race will take place in parallel with the 2nd Catalan Cup organised by the Catalan Canoeing Federation (FCP). Participants federated in Catalonia must register directly through the FCP, and if they are entered in the long-distance race (15 km) of the 2nd Catalan Cup, they will automatically also be entered into the Barcelona Paddle Race, meaning they will receive two separate sets of results, one for each event. Paddlers federated in Catalonia who also wish to participate in the Paddle Race Ultra must indicate their intention via the Paddle Race registration form (which will include a specific tick box for this purpose). The registration fee is a single fee, with no additional charge for either the Barcelona Paddle Race or the Paddle Race Ultra, and must be paid through the FCP registration system.
The short-distance race (11.5 km) and the promo race (2.5 km) are included only as part of the 2nd Catalan Cup.
Paddlers from Catalonia should also familiarise themselves with the FCP regulations, available here:
The 2026 editions of the Barcelona Paddle Race and the Paddle Race Ultra accept the following craft categories:
• SS1: single surfski
• SS2: double surfski
• OC1: single outrigger canoe with rudder
• OC2: double outrigger canoe with rudder
• V1: rudderless single outrigger canoe
The Paddle Race Ultra also accepts the following category:
• V6: rudderless six-person outrigger canoe
Traditional sea kayaks (touring kayaks) and SUP boards will not be included in the official classifications of the Barcelona Paddle Race or the Paddle Race Ultra. However, practitioners of these disciplines are encouraged to take part in the short downwind offered as a non-competitive activity within the race event.
Competitive categories are determined by the combination of craft type, sex, and age divisions.
For the 2026 edition of the Barcelona Paddle Race, the age divisions for individual categories will be as follows:
• Senior: 18 years and over
• Junior U18: under 18 years of age (must be at least 16)
• Veteran: 35 years and over
For veteran categories, separate age groups will be created in five-year bands, provided there are at least five registered competitors in each category. The age bands are: 35–39, 40–49, 50–54, 55–59, and 60+. If there are fewer than five entries in a category, adjacent categories will be merged until a minimum of five participants is reached. A higher age category that does not have enough entries and is situated between two already established categories (with five or more entries) will be absorbed into the adjacent younger category. If there are fewer than five competitors across all veteran categories, those competitors will be absorbed into the Senior category.
A competitor’s age is determined according to the age they will reach by the end of the calendar year. The minimum age for participation is 16 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult (parent, guardian, or coach/club representative).
In the Paddle Race Ultra, there will also be no age divisions. There will only be a Senior category for individual events (men’s and women’s) and an Open category for double and team events.
List of possible race categories in the Paddle Race Ultra:
List of possible race categories in the Paddle Race Ultra:
Barcelona Caiac is a paddling school and sports club based in the Port of Badalona.
Founded in 2012, Barcelona Caiac has been pioneering ocean sports in Catalonia, being the first to establish a learning centre for surfski and outrigger canoe paddling, along with being the long-time base of a well-established group of traditional sea kayakers.
Situated in the sheltered waters of the Port of Badalona, we serve the ocean paddling community in the wider Barcelona & Maresme area.
Moll Lima, Port Esportiu de Badalona
Carrer d'Eduard Maristany, s/n,
08912 Badalona, Barcelona
info@barcelonacaiac.com
