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Commencement Bay

Trip

Sea Kayak - Commencement Bay

Seventy48 race launch paddle. Join us for a leisurely evening paddle in Commencement Bay to watch the Seventy48 race start. Cheer on the racers and see if you can spot fellow Mountaineer competitors.

Contacts

Heidi Schutz
Heidi Schutz
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak II/III
  • Casual
  • Mileage: 7.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 12 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 2 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 2 kts
  • Pace: 2.5
  • FULL, 1 on waitlist (7 capacity)
  • Sun, Mar 22, 2026 at 6:40 PM
  • Wed, May 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google
  • Restroom: The closest restroom to the launch is near Northern Fish Company
  • Wheels (preferably some you can collapse and stow) will be very useful for getting kayaks to a from the parking area
  • Be sure to carry the required light as detailed in the Kayak Standards and required by US law for paddling at night

  • Race Website

Paddle Plan

  • This is a leisurely paddle and our objective will be to check out the racers and watch the race start without getting in the way.
    -We will launch from Jack Hyde and head east towards the Thea Foss waterway where the racers will be preparing for the race start. After checking out the racers, we will make our way back west towards Jack Hyde and watch the racers pass from Thea’s Park etc. as we make our way back.
  • I anticipate that we will be back by 8-8:30pm…just in time to watch the nearly full moon rise.

Conditions:
Tides: 
-High Tide: 6:15pm
-Low Tide: 11:22pm
Sun: 
-Sunset: 8:55pm
Moon:
-Moonrise 7:59pm (91.7% waxing)


 

  • Meeting Place: Jack Hyde Park Beach
    • Please be sure to park outside of the parking lot gate. Gates close 30 minutes after dusk. 
    • Parking area link
    • Carpooling is encouraged in case of a larger crowd watching the race
  • Meeting Time: 4:30pm
  • Launch Time: 5:30pm
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 eight 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
  9. required light as detailed in the Kayak Standards and required by US law for paddling at night
Trip Reports