Ocean Academy Announces the Inaugural Hennessey’s Green Buoy Battle

DANA POINT, California — Ocean Academy is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Hennessey’s Green Buoy Battle presented by Infinity SUP, a new open-ocean paddling race set for Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Baby Beach, Dana Point Harbor, California. Registration officially opens this Friday, September 26, 2025, on Paddleguru. To celebrate opening day, all paddlers who register on Friday will be automatically entered into a raffle for some great prizes including items from Quickblade paddles and a private coaching session from Candice Appleby, with the winner announced on Saturday morning. There will be a participant cap of 200 athletes, so paddlers are encouraged to register early to secure their spot.

About the Race

The Hennessey’s Green Buoy Battle presented by Infinity SUP is designed to welcome stand-up paddleboarders, prone paddlers, OC1 canoe paddlers, and surfski paddlers from across the region and beyond. The race begins in Dana Point Harbor and takes competitors around the iconic Green Buoy — a true milestone for new ocean paddlers and a landmark for locals. Athletes can choose between two formats:

• Single Run (3.5 miles): A challenging but accessible course, ideal for newer ocean paddlers making the leap from flatwater, shorter distance paddlers, or for legends who don’t feel the need to prove themselves on the double run course.
• Double Run (7 miles): A test for experienced competitors who want to push their endurance and race-day management. Two laps mean two separate race starts, not consecutive laps. Competitors will complete the full course twice, with both finish times combined for their overall result.

In addition to overall race placements, there will be special awards for the single fastest run of the day in both the men’s and women’s divisions across each discipline. To qualify for these awards, paddlers must register for and complete the Double Run. Beyond the competition, the event will feature sponsor/vendor booths, raffles, an awards ceremony, and an after party at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point. For a $45 entry fee, competitors will also receive an event t-shirt, meal, and epic goodie bags stuffed with schwag from our sponsors, making the Green Buoy Battle as rewarding off the water as it is on.

Sponsors and Nostalgia

Ocean Academy is thrilled to welcome Hennessey’s Tavern as Title Sponsor of the inaugural Green Buoy Battle. For decades, Hennessey’s organized international paddleboard racing events throughout California and around the world, drawing many of the greatest prone and stand-up paddlers to their starting lines. Importantly, Hennessey’s races were also the first to formally include stand-up paddleboarding as a discipline, giving the sport a platform that helped fuel its global rise. Legends such as Jamie Mitchell, Joe Bark, and many others competed in Hennessey’s races, making them an essential part of paddle sport history.

Alongside Hennessey’s, Infinity SUP joins as Presenting Sponsor. An iconic surf and SUP brand with deep roots in Dana Point, Infinity’s commitment to the paddling community has been central to the sport’s growth. Their founders are immortalized with a bronze statue in Dana Point’s Waterman’s Square, underscoring their legacy and impact on the global water sports community. Today, Infinity continues to innovate with cutting-edge board designs that perform at the highest levels of competition while staying true to their surf heritage. Their presence at the Green Buoy Battle highlights the importance of tradition, innovation, and community spirit in making Dana Point the paddling capital of the world.

At the Gold level, Rainbow Sandals — the original Battle of the Paddle presenters — brings its legacy back to Dana Point. Joining them is Quickblade Paddles, whose innovative Stingray paddle will be on full display come race day. Additional support comes from Now Foods, Bark, SurfTech, SUPtoYou, Orange County Yoga Studio, Cansea Hair Care, and more partners to be announced soon, each contributing to the event’s grassroots energy and community spirit.

Together, these sponsors reinforce the event’s mission: to celebrate the sport’s history while creating a grassroots-style race that welcomes new paddlers and challenges seasoned athletes alike.

About Ocean Academy

The Green Buoy Battle is organized by Ocean Academy, founded by world champion paddler and coach Candice Appleby. With over 30 years of competitive ocean experience and a passion for coaching the next generation, Appleby created the Green Buoy Battle not only to inspire and grow the paddling community, but also as a direct reflection of her work with athletes. The race was born from the joy she’s witnessed in countless people she has guided into the ocean for the first time — watching their excitement as they reach the Green Buoy, a milestone that builds both confidence and community. The event is a celebration of those moments and a chance to share that experience on a larger stage.

Photo courtesy: Candice Appleby

Event Details

Race Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Location: Baby Beach, Dana Point Harbor, California
Registration Opens: Friday, September 26, 2025, via PaddleGuru.com
Entry Fee: $45 — includes race entry, event t-shirt, meal, and a goodie bag filled with sponsor schwag
Participant Cap: 200 athletes — register early to secure your spot
Special Giveaway: All paddlers registering on September 26 will be entered into a raffle for an epic prize, with the winner announced Saturday morning
Awards Ceremony & After Party: Starting at 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey’s Tavern, Dana
Point

For more race news, click here.