THE Head of the Dart Stand Up Challenge returns to set off from Dartmouth on Sunday, April 17.

The unique rowing event sees paddleboarders of all standards and skill levels head out for a meandering 8.5 mile paddle on the River Dart.

While some set out to race the course, many of the participants are happy to simply breeze along, taking in the scenery and enjoying this unusual challenge.

The Head of the Dart takes place each year between Dartmouth and Totnes, with the route alternating each year so both towns take it in turns to act as the start and finish destination.

For the paddlers taking part, the challenge is tidal assisted and in extremely windy conditions in 2015 the fastest time came from Andrew Joyce who completed the course in one hour four minutes five seconds.

In 2015, it was decided that due to the growing number of SUP boarders to run the event over two days with the rowers on the Saturday and SUP on the Sunday. This allows clearer water and less congestion at the start and finish areas.

Back in 2008, one of the UK’s prominent SUP competitors and Devon local John Hibbard inquired about adding a SUP division to the rowing event. The rowing clubs kindly allowed a small group of local SUP paddlers to complete the eight-mile course.

As the sport has taken off and grown in the UK, so have the numbers of SUP racers and 2013 saw a fully subscribed event, with entry limited to 100 stand up paddlers. Numbers were capped at 150 in 2015 and there was a full entry.

For 2016, organisers have been able to increase the entrants to 300 which, if fully subscribed, will be the largest ever SUP event in the UK.

The event will see two fleets head off up the River Dart, the Leisure fleet, for those who want to cruise the route and the Racing fleet, for those who want to gun it to the finish line at Totnes.

Entry is now open and depending on which category you opt for, entry price ranges from £23.50 for leisure paddlers up to £53.50 for the XL or jumbo category for teams of up to six on multi-person boards.

The head of the Dart SUP challenge is sponsored by Red Paddle Co and Starboard.

Full details and entry instructions can be found at the official Head of the Dart Sup Challenge website.