SUP the Coast Check in

It is 8:15 on a Wednesday night and I can hear the wind through the phone as Will Rich from Sup the Coast lets me know, “Everything is good Bill!”

Will and Mike Simpson have been on the sea for five days and covered 80 land miles. There have also been a couple of days with wind gusts over 25 mph. On those days, there isn’t time to take it easy because, as Will explains, “if you stop for thirty seconds, you get blown back one hundred yards.”

But this is what they signed up for; they knew it wouldn’t be easy. The pair left Key West on March 1on a mission to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project and SUP Clean-up. As their mission gained momentum, people heard their call and answered.

Jamestown Distributors of Bristol, RI, outfitted them with plenty of gear, including a SPOT Communicator, which allows followers back home to know where they are and how they are doing.

Hyperflex helped out in the wetsuit department, which thrilled Will and Mike. “H2O shirts are awesome! Ten hours, no rash. They dry quick… They are sick.”

With the current leading them north, it’s the small things that have them excited on this windy evening. Vermont Peanut Butter is sending them some “Avalanche,” peanut butter, which features “powerful white chocolate.” Will’s review on their unique flavors? Delicious and awesome.

They’re also looking forward to connecting with friends along the trip. Mike Nunnery from Nunnery Orthotic and Prosthetic Technologies is hoping to join them for some paddling when they hit Ft. Lauderdale.

But so far, they are enjoying good weather, good people and great camping along the way. Everyone they’ve met has been “wicked helpful,” letting them stay on the shore in their tents or even offering a free bed for the night.

Will’s final words for this conversation? “When we paddle, we paddle hard. We want to go fast, but not too fast.”