How the SUP Tandem Race was born

The story of our humble beginnings in the manufacture of Tandem SUPs

A decade ago, during a SUP RACE competition, I met Sébastien Le Meaux, who unfortunately has a severe visual impairment. His unique approach to paddleboarding caught my attention: he would embark on the adventure with a guide, each on their own SUP. Sébastien would closely follow his Tahitian friend, Apehau, to orient himself.

When I founded 3 Bay Paddle at the end of 2015, Sébastien came to me to order his dream tandem. This is how the very first tandem was born, measuring 18 feet long. It was the largest board we could make at the time! We christened this marvel in Larmor-Baden in September 2016, and I’m delighted to inform you that this tandem is still sailing valiantly! In fact, it was even seen at the 2023 French Championship on Lac de Causse. It’s incredible to see how popular this tandem is!

Discovering our production capabilities

Since launching our SUP Race manufacturing adventure in Brittany, we have continued to innovate. Our latest achievement is the design of a 20-foot tandem, which is the largest board we have ever made.

However, it’s important to note that our facilities were originally designed to produce 14-foot boards, with occasional forays into the 18-foot range. Manufacturing a 20-foot model is therefore a significant challenge. The difficulty is that these 20-foot boards are rather bulky and inconvenient to transport. To solve this problem, we developed a two-piece design, allowing for easier transport and storage. Our workshops, focused primarily on 14- and 18-foot boards, have had to reinvent themselves to meet the demand for these exceptional models.

Discover the 3 Bay tandems

Vincent and Barbara

Vincent and Barbara are experienced tandem SUPers, having traveled thousands of kilometers. They had been paddling for several years on the 20′ tandem I built for Sébastien Le Meaux, 27” 3/4” wide. Their experience led them to look for a narrower, faster tandem with a scooped deck and thin tail to limit drag, inspired by my new Arrow Head Inezic flatwater Race SUP model. Vincent played a central role in choosing the design, while Barbara was uncompromising when it came to the design. The result: a 3 Bay board that looks absolutely stunning, is lightning fast, and has a unique design.

Alex and Nico

Canaulais Alex and Nico took us by surprise by ordering a 23-inch-wide tandem, such a bold option that they later returned to the more reasonable 24-inch width. Their tandem features two independent cockpits, designed to reduce the risk of carrying water in whitewater, an innovative idea. However, this configuration could have posed some challenges when it came to synchronizing the two-person rowing. The suspense was at its peak, but history reveals that they brilliantly won the Dordogne Intégrale 360 ​​in 2023. A bold bet, but a winning one!

Laurent and Stéphanie “300”

The winter of 2022/23 presented a major challenge for our team. The request came from Lolo and Stephie, who had limited garage storage space, preventing them from accommodating boards longer than 14 feet. They challenged us to design a tandem in two removable parts. This caused many sleepless nights and months of reflection for Maxime, my employee, and myself. In addition, we wanted to design this tandem so that it could be assembled quickly, without special tools, in any parking lot or beach. We successfully met the challenge, and, as always, with close collaboration with Lolo and Stephie to design a personalized decoration. This tandem in two parts of 14′ and 6′ assembles in 5 minutes, without screws or tools! They have since covered many kilometers, including the famous 11 City Tour and the 10 hours of Vassivière.

The two 18-foot tandems

Erika and Stéphanie, Tintin and Patricia chose an 18-foot tandem model from our catalog. This is an excellent choice, which combines performance and stability, and it doesn’t cost more than €5,000. These tandems were shaped in two widths: 26 inches and 25.5 inches, with a volume of 370 liters, which is ideal for a crew weighing less than 150 kg. As always, the decoration is unique and tailor-made.

Join the “SUP Tandem” Facebook group!

To allow all tandem paddle enthusiasts to meet up, share their experiences and exchange advice, we have created a dedicated Facebook group. You can join us by searching “SUP Tandem” on Facebook and clicking on “Join Group” or by clicking here. We look forward to seeing you there to discuss our common passion!