Commencement Bay

Trip

Sea Kayak - Commencement Bay

Come join us and practice your new kayaking skills paddling around the water crafts along Foss Waterway, we’ll check out the grain silos and the Navy ships continuing past Hyde Park, to Dickman Mill Park.

  • Sea Kayak II/III
  • For Beginners (Getting Started Series)
  • Mileage: 9.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 10 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 1 ft
  • Pace: 3kt Moderate

 We’ll meet at Foss waterway just under the 509 Highway Bridge at a place called Waterway Park, there’s a parking lot directly  under the bridge and there’s a dock & restrooms  

 Meeting time 8:00am launch at 9:00am.

Tacoma Branch, Basic Kayak Students.  Please bring your filled out Paddle Completion Sheet. As an option other branch kayak students are welcome to fill-out a completetion sheet, as well.  Please be ready for pre-paddle discussion on beach.  Note I will email everyone on the paddle a few days before hand.  A Completion sheet, will be attached to the email. 

 Students will need to bring or rent their equipment elsewhere for this paddle.

 Be sure to bring a lunch and snacks 

 Basic kayak students will have an opportunity to practice their rescues at either Dickman  or  Jade Hyde parks after lunch.

Must have wet or dry suit.

  Also if anyone is interested we can stop and have a bite and chat after the paddle at one of the local restaurants  TBD

 

I expect this sea kayak trip to have this difficulty and plan to paddle in up to these conditions (view the sea kayak difficulties definitions on our Activity Types, Difficulties & Prerequisites page):

  • Difficulty: Sk-111
  • Wind: <10
  • Waves: 1
  • Currents: 
  • Distance:  9 nm
  • Pace: 3 kt
Route/Place

Commencement Bay



  • Sea Trails Vashon Island, Tacoma Narrows to Elliot Bay WA203

    MapTech Oak Bay to Commencement Bay No. 102
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

These seven essentials plus The Ten Essentials are required on all sea kayaking trips.  All but the whistle and clothing should be provided with any kayak rental.

  1. Floatation in both ends of the kayak
  2. U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
  3. Paddle
  4. Spray skirt
  5. Bilge pump with floatation
  6. Self-rescue paddle float
  7. Waterproof whistle
  8. Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
Trip Reports