Who We Are

A Profile of Our Club

MASK was formed in 1991 as a recreational paddling club for the purpose of promoting sea kayaking in a safe, legal and enjoyable manner and to encourage the development of the skills necessary to survive on the water. As Mature Adult Sea Kayakers, we believe in and accept personal responsibility for our safety and behavior on the water. We encourage members to learn about the many factors that go into our sport: wind, weather, waves, tides, currents, navigation, map and chart reading, and rules of the road, and to develop good judgment with respect to these many factors, as well as one’s physical ability.

MASK offers paddling trips and events from January through December, from Maine down to the Chesapeake. Our calendar includes many one and two day trips (with overnight camping or motel stays), barbecues, jamborees and slide shows. Our calendar is made possible by the efforts of our many trip leaders, members who are neither guides nor experts, but simply individuals interested in exploring an area and who have offered to include fellow paddlers. Whether you paddle solo or in a group you should always familiarize yourself with the area in which you will be paddling, be aware of any potential dangers and never leave your safety in someone else’s hands. Depending upon conditions, you alone must decide whether or not to launch your kayak.

MASK’s newsletter, The Drift, contains many photographs, entertaining, informative and unedited trip reports by members and numerous articles on safety, navigation and cold water survival. We encourage paddlers to share their experiences so that others may learn.

MASK does not rent boats, nor does it provide formal instruction to paddlers. There are many reputable organizations and individuals that offer competent instruction in our area. We encourage paddlers to develop their skills by taking classes and by interacting with fellow paddlers.

MASK membership costs $20 per year. All new members will receive our 52 page booklet, Kayak Launch Sites: A Guide to Access Along the East Coast, which contains over 270 public launch sites from Maine to the Chesapeake. This guide was designed to be used in conjunction with our paddling calendar, since it contains directions to trip launch sites and general trip descriptions.

Come join

..... and explore the East Coast by kayak with a great group of paddlers!

Orient Harbor - Shelter Island, NY	Hudson River - Catskill, NY

Mystic Harbor - Mystic, CT	Hudson River, NY

Night Paddle Coldspring Harbor, NY		After The Turky Paddle, Oyster Bay, NY

Gerry David Hand Rolling in Orient Harbor, NY

Steve Burkhardt Balance Bracing In Broad Bay - Eastern Shore, MD

Chris And Wendy On Fishers Island Sound Off The Connecticut Coast

Anita Berson On The Connecticut River - Essex, CT

Manhattan, NY Circumnavigation	East River - Lower Manhattan

Paddle Home

Comments & Questions E-Mail Webmaster mail