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Sea Kayak - Cypress Island

Trip

Sea Kayak - Cypress Island

Start your Sea Kayak Camping weekend with a circumnavigation of Cypress Island. We'll go clockwise, starting and finishing at Washington Park, taking advantage of current assist for much of the trip. We'll have a lunch break on Strawberry Island, and may make quick stops at Pelican beach and/or Cypress Head.

Contacts

Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak IV
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 15.7 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 3 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 2.3 kts

Meet at the Washington Park Day 'Use Parking' area at 10:30 am to prepare for a 11 am shore talk and launch.  Parking is limited at this location so we will move cars further back in the lot before departure.

This is a relatively long route so you must have the stamina and fitness to paddle at 3 kn for 5 hours (with breaks).   We have two, 2 to 3 nm crossings with current, boat traffic and significant fetch, so you must be able to paddle as a group in mildly challenging conditions. 

Given the planned 'late' start, we'll have lunch on Strawberry Island (about 1 hour into the trip).  We'll make a short stop at Pelican Beach, and perhaps another stop on Cypress head.   We should have current-assist for most of this trip but we may work against mild adverse-current at times.  

Bring your lunch, and a VHF radio and tow-belt, if you have them.

Route/Place

San Juan Islands from Anacortes


  • Rosario Strait & Bellingham WA001
    Sea Trails Lopez, Blakely, Decatur & Shaw Islands WA002
    NOAA Bellingham to Everett No. 18423
    NOAA Strait of Juan de Fuca to Strait of Georgia No. 18421
  • 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
Trip Reports