October 6, 2011
Five years ago, Capt. Andy Bundgaard gave up a life in yachting and moved to Nassau, Bahamas, where he turned his passion for stand-up paddleboarding into a job.
“I realized that the sport was taking off like crazy,” he said. “Everyone, everywhere was doing it, so I started an island-style paddleboarding business. I simply grew tired of the restricted life on yachts and wanted to do what I love.”
With a 30-foot catamaran, Bundgaard takes up to five clients at a time paddleboarding around the island.
Josh Vajda, owner of Precision Paddleboards in Ft. Lauderdale, said paddleboarding is finally catching on in yachting circles.
“Yacht crew on the Californian coast have been paddle boarding for the last 3-4 years, while Floridian yacht crew have only caught onto the trend in the last year and a half,” he said. “We rent and sell an awful lot of boards to yacht crew who want to have some fun.”
Precision Paddleboards sells all kinds of boards to yacht crew, from basic boards to high-end customized boards.
“We customize some of our boards complete with a sketch of the yacht and a matching color theme,” Vajda said. “The latest topic of conversation among yacht owners in Newport is apparently comparing stainless steel paddleboard racks.”
At Precision Paddleboards, the most popular board purchased by yacht crew is between 11 and 12 feet in length at a cost of between $1,300-$1,400 each.
Capt. Chad Wright of M/Y Sheer Bliss, a 75-foot Hatteras, has noticed the paddleboarding craze in Ft. Lauderdale.
“I see yacht crew paddling up and down the Intracoastal Waterway almost on a daily basis,” he said.
Being based in the yachting capital of the world, Wright sees a lot of yachts come and go.
“Paddle boards are starting to become expected additions to yachts,” he said. “It’s not only a great sport for owners, but crew members love it, too. Even sportfish captains are catching onto the trend.”
As a paddleboard owner, Wright understands the appeal.
“Paddleboarding is not only fun, but also offers a great full-body workout,” he said. “The flat waters of Ft. Lauderdale and the Bahamas offer a perfect platform for beginners.”
Capt. Stefan Veraguas of M/Y Stop the Press, a 106-foot Lazzara, recently bought a second paddleboard for the yacht.
“Our owner loved his paddleboard so much that he wanted another one,” Veraguas said. “The owner and his friends use the boards on every trip we go on. As crew, I believe we should have every toy available to guests, which means that paddleboards are on top of the list.”
As far as paddleboarding benefits go, Veraguas joked that it not only makes a rider look cool, but also provides a fun workout that is all about strengthening core muscles.
Be sure to consider storage space when buying a paddleboard, he said.
“The smaller the board, the easier to handle and stow.”
Contact Capt. Andy Bundgaard at + 242-429-6650 or captviking@aol.com. Contact Precision Paddleboards at +1 954-616-8046 or precisionpaddleboards.com.
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