A few weekends ago I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Fort Boyard Challenge, a downwind stand-up paddle race in the picturesque waters off the west coast of France. It was a great two-day event, featuring races on both Saturday and Sunday with a mixture of crafts including SUP, foils, va’a, windsurfers and more! In total, there were over 600 competitors. I was fortunate enough to win the SUP races on both days. The Paddle Logger app’s newest feature, PaddlePLAN™, helped make my experience unique. PaddlePLAN™ became an essential part of my race preparation, allowing me to navigate the unfamiliar waters and optimise my route - all while tracking my speed, pace, and heart rate in real time and allowing loved ones on the beach to know where I was positioned.

Source: TotalSUP

Day 1: From the Open Sea to Fouras Beach

Saturday’s 13km race started with a boat drop-off far out at sea, positioned perfectly with the wind to be able to catch bumps back to shore. The challenge? Navigate through choppy waters, past the iconic Fort Boyard and several small islands before making my way to the finish on the beach at Fouras. It was my first time paddling in this region, and with no previous knowledge of the coastline, I needed more than just instinct to guide me to the finish.

Before the race, I quickly plotted my route from the drop-off point to the beach. I carefully measured the distance so I knew what to expect, identified key landmarks like Fort Boyard, and ensured that my course avoided unnecessary detours, which could have cost me precious time. As I paddled, my Apple Watch provided real-time directions with haptic feedback and simple arrows, guiding me through the rough waters. I could glance down at my wrist and instantly see how far off course I might be drifting and adjust my paddling accordingly.

Plotting my route with PaddlePLAN™ was crucial, because my closest competitor was just a few seconds behind me and mis-judging the finish by even a small margin could mean paddling extra distance, something I couldn't afford in such a competitive race. Thanks to this feature, I was able to stay on the shortest path and push hard toward the finish, securing the win.

After the race, chatting to some friends I found that some others had tracked their race and paddled a total of 13.4 km, adding precious minutes and highlighting just how crucial navigation can be.

Day 2: A River to Sea Adventure

Sunday’s race was just exciting but had been shortened to 8 km due to the weather. The wind had completely changed direction and was blowing off-shore. This meant we couldn’t safely be dropped out at sea, and so the route was slightly different. This time, we started in an estuary, once again being dropped off by boat. The course had us paddle down the river, out into the sea, around a buoy, and back to the beach.

Source: SUP North Devon

Having real-time metrics such as speed and pace on my wrist helped me to work out which areas on the river were fastest, since we were paddling down wind but against the current, with many shallow spots and obstacles to avoid. I glanced at my speed often and stuck to the right hand side of the river where I felt least affected by the current.

Plotting the last buoy location in advance was key to my strategy for the second race. Although we were still going to be paddling downwind, with the race starting in the river and heading out to sea, I knew the conditions would be much flatter and there was a high chance many of us would be drafting rather than catching bumps. It could be a tight race with a sprint finish, so I couldn’t risk wasting any time or energy heading to the wrong marker if it was unclear in the moment. I was able to mark the buoy’s exact position in my PaddlePLAN™, ensuring I could be direct with my route, even from several kilometres away when I couldn’t see the small buoy. Executing a clean, efficient route with a quick turn and a sprint to the beach was key, with the buoy marking a critical turning point in the race, staying tight to my course ensured I maintained my lead.

Powered by Paddle Logger

With Paddle Logger’s latest major update, it now goes beyond GPS tracking and performance metrics. Throughout both races, Paddle Logger tracked my speed, pace, and heart rate, giving me a clear sense of when I could push harder and when to relax and conserve energy. In such a close a race where every second counted, having this data at my fingertips made all the difference.

For any paddler - whether on a SUP, kayak or canoe, whether you're competing or simply exploring new waters - this is an absolute game-changer. The ability to plot precise routes using PaddlePLAN™, get real-time navigation on both iPhone and Apple Watch, and track performance metrics can elevate your paddling experience and help you reach your goals. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking to take their paddling to the next level, it really helped me this weekend and I can’t wait to put it into practise at the next event too.

With its easy integration on the Apple Watch, seamless GPS tracking, and health & performance graphs to check out after each session, this app is a must-have for any water-based adventure.

Check it out on the App Store.

Source: Fort Boyard Challenge