My Head of The Dart Challenge Experience: A Day of Wind, Waves, and Personal Achievement

This year, I had the fantastic opportunity to take part in the Head of The Dart (HOTD) challenge, and let me tell you, it was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon! I joined the event in the leisure fleet, tackling the course on my reliable touring board—a Starboard 12.6 feet, 28". If you’ve never competed in this event before, let me give you a little insight into what it’s like.

Getting Ready for the Day

I arrived in Totnes bright and early, feeling that familiar excitement you get before a big event. The weather was looking delightful too but the winds were already picking up. First stop: registration. I was handed a goody bag that instantly made me smile—inside was a TRIBE protein bar, a sachet of Revival drinks powder, a Crafty Otter Campers car air freshener (which is now proudly hanging in my car), and a bunch of fun stickers. Little perks like these make the day even more enjoyable!

With my registration done, I grabbed a hearty breakfast bap from the West Coast catering van and took a few moments to stretch, pump up my board, and make sure everything was in order. Then, I went over to say hello to a paddler I follow on Instagram — PinkyPaddles. It was so lovely to meet her in person and chat a bit before we headed to the water.

The Briefing and Course Changes

At 10:15am, we all gathered for the safety briefing, where we received crucial information about the river conditions and course details. Normally, the Head of The Dart covers a 14km course from Totnes to Dartmouth, but this year, due to the high winds, it would be shortened. Instead of heading to Dartmouth, we would be paddling a round trip of roughly 10km, from Totnes and back to Totnes. The wind was expected to gust up to 30mph—definitely going to be a challenge, but that’s what made it exciting!

Once the briefing was done, it was time to get on the water. I joined the other 141 paddlers in the Leisure Fleet and waited anxiously for the signal. But before we could start, we had to wait for the ferry to pass us on the river. Finally, at 11:03am, the whistle blew, and we were off!

The Start: Choppy Waters and High Winds

The start was intense. With everyone sprinting to grab the lead, the water was choppy, and it felt like we were all fighting the current and the wind at the same time. But after a while, the field spread out, and I found a bit of rhythm, paddling at speeds of up to 5km/h.

Just before the first meander, though, a gust of wind hit, and I was forced to drop to my knees to regain balance. It was a real struggle as the wind kept pushing, but I kept going. After making it around the first meander, I got back up on my feet and continued around the river’s twists and turns.

Battling the Elements

The wind was relentless in places, and I had to drop to my knees again as I approached the turning buoy. I was glad I did, as another gust came out of nowhere, nearly knocking me off course. The gusts made it tough to maintain speed, but I pushed through. After the buoy, I knew I was on the home stretch and paddled on with renewed determination. On the way back, I chatted with some fellow paddlers, which helped keep my spirits high. It’s one of the best parts of attending these kind of events to meet new people, who are as passionate about paddleboarding as you!

At one point, I saw a collision between a few paddlers in the Race Fleet, which caused one of them to end up in the water. It was a reminder of just how tricky the conditions were. A few paddlers even grounded themselves when their fins got too close to the riverbed—talk about a rough day on the water!

Finishing Strong

As I approached the finish line, I pushed myself a bit harder and managed to get my speed up to 6km/h. Crossing that line felt amazing! I was so proud of myself for completing the course in under 2 hours. My official time ended up being 1:56:20.7, with an average speed of 4.8km/h. I didn’t push myself to the max, but I know I’ve got more in me for next time.

To top it all off, I was rewarded with a finishers medal and a cheeky G&T from Salcombe Gin. Nothing beats a celebratory drink after a hard race!

The Raffle and Final Thoughts

After the race, I hung around for the raffle and prize announcements. And guess what? I won a raffle prize! I was absolutely stoked to walk away with a Starboard T-shirt as a bonus. By the time the event wrapped up, I was on cloud nine, elated from the entire experience.

When the official timings were published the next day, I found out I’d come 37th out of 74 women in the leisure fleet. I was thrilled with that result, especially considering the challenging conditions!

Looking Forward

I loved the event so much I’m already setting my sights on next year. Although I have my own personal journey first of IUI, which may keep me from participating in the Head of The Dart 26 but I can’t wait for a future HOTD event. The energy, the atmosphere, and the sense of achievement I got from taking part was absolutely priceless.

So here’s to my next challenge in 2 weeks time – Race 2 the Castle. A course of 40km!