There was a fun paddle day organized by SUPVIC a little while ago and they ran three races. Out of curiosity I thought I would go in the 12 km race - I wanted to see if I could paddle that far. I thought it was just a fun paddle. Many of the other 12k paddlers had abs and muscles. That should have been a warning.

I was on my relatively new 14' x 26" Jav.

I finally finished after about 1.5 hours. The other racers kicked my butt... Most people had gone home by the time I had finished. Luckily the Rotary tent was still selling sausages, so the day ended well.

I started the race paddling about 9 km/h and ended up averaging 8 km/hr. (I had two swims along the way too). The guy who won beat me by about 18 minutes (I still had two 1.2k laps to go). It wasn't my finest hour...

So that gives you an idea how fast some people can paddle.

Yeah, don't ask. You don't want to know the answer to your question. You had a great time and your fitness will have improved. So that is it's own reward. Top racers are crazy fast. But they don't paddle for enjoyment. They paddle to beat other people, and unless they are beating people they aren't enjoying themselves. Beating people is largely about how much pain you are willing to endure in order to do so, and how much boring training routines you can bear, and how much you are willing to change every aspect of your lifestyle to be able to go 0.01% faster than someone else. So, think carefully before going down that route.

It can be nice watching one's personal progress though, with a GPS, as fitness and technique improve. Although absolute speed is mostly about conditions so it isn't always easy to compare one outing with another.

If you really want to know how fast you are, enter a race. Just be prepared to feel like throwing your board in a dumpster and giving it all up at the end. Everyone concentrates in races on the one guy who wins. But the reality is that most people at races fail to impress, and one guy comes last, which is rarely a good feeling. So make sure your ego is feeling healthy that day, and keep your expectations realistic.

Or just enjoy paddling for it's own reward. As you have been doing.

The most enjoyable paddles are paddling with a current or tide or a little wind at your backI like to go for paddles where Im working at a pace that is not easy, but one I can sustain for about a k or two, then I paddle slow until Im ready and go again just trying to get that feeling of a rhythmic and relaxed paddle with Good technique.but I agree comparing yourself to others is a fruitless exercise, racing does not need to be about winning or beating others it can be about beating yourselfor just being involved with like minded folk, paddling is like painting for me, I can loose myself in the activity, that's what you should aim for(martial artists call it no mind). Sport scientists call it the zone, if you can stop the clutter in your noggin, you have a good chance of getting their, the other quick way is to do something really ****** scary, then Yr mind does it for you

Area10
If you really want to know how fast you are, enter a race. Just be prepared to feel like throwing your board in a dumpster and giving it all up at the end. Everyone concentrates in races on the one guy who wins. But the reality is that most people at races fail to impress, and one guy comes last, which is rarely a good feeling. So make sure your ego is feeling healthy that day, and keep your expectations realistic.

Or just enjoy paddling for it's own reward. As you have been doing.

Sounds like you are in the wrong races a have the wrong mindset for racing. Winning races is only for the selected few. Most of us are in it for the fun and I think most Up races should be arraged for the masses and not for the elite. Look at distance running thousands of people at 10 K races they have no chance of winning. Be in a race : to try omething new, paddle somewhere else, overcome your fear, Maybe to beat your own best time, beat your buddy/ training partner , share the camaraderie, etc etc. If yo only aim at winning a price theres a good chance of dissapointment.

“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.”
? Nisargadatta Maharaj

Hey mate
Think a few people are going a bit off topic here. Your time sounds a average to what most people that paddle 1or 2 times a week and are of reasonable fitness
The top guys will smash that time
You will find yourself that do the same route and you will be faster one day and slower another I can/have done that distance and slightly better time on my 10'10" Nalu
Unlike what some else said on this subject, I believe timing your self is a measure of your improvement. Don't beat yourself up about it but if you're not seeing gains straight away By the way. Remember to smile and have fun
And a a true measure of how fast you are as mentioned before is try racing. That's an eye opener. Same as can't sup enough said. Entered the port Phillip cut on Australia Day. Jeez. The top guy's are good and quick. I was happy with my result. Entered th 8 k race. Came 8th overall out of 16. But I was on a "sport board "(10'10" Naish Nalu). Everyone else had a 12'+ race type board
Having another crack at racing again on Sunday to see how quick I'm not . Also for fun