Sea Kayak - Port Gamble to Foulweather Bluff Preserve

Meet time:  10AM

Launch time: 11AM

Meet at Olympic Outdoor Center's launch site inside the breakwater.  If you are renting a boat and/or drysuit  from Olympic Outdoor Center meet at the shop at 32379 Rainier Ave., Port Gamble, WA 98364 promptly when they open at 10AM.  (See links below) 

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):

Trip is listed as an SKIII due to length, potential exposure, fetch, currents, etc.  We'll stay close to shore but the winds in the canal typically come from the north and can be an issue.  Plan B would be to paddle into Port Gamble Bay and stay in the protected wind shadow as much as possible.  Monitor the NOAA marine weather as the trip gets close so you are aware and prepared.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Wind: <10 kts
• Waves: 1- 1.5ft
• Currents: <1.5 kts
• Distance:  Minimum 7-8 nm with possibility of being about 12nm round trip depending on whether we reach Foulweather Preserve or stop at Driftwood Key/Coons Bay
• Pace: Moderate. Average about 2.5nm/hour

We will launch from beach at Olympic Outdoor Center kayak rental site inside the breakwater.  Plan is to paddle north up the east side of Hood Canal along the peninsula with probable stopping/turnaround point being the Kim and Bob Beach's place in Driftwood Key.  We will stop for lunch at Driftwood Key.  Doubtful we'll get to Foulweather Bluff Preserve but group dynamics, weather, group desires, and safety will dictate our plan beyond Driftwood Keys.

This is a student paddle so we will plan on exit and rescue practice at some point and place during the day.

You can rent boats and dry suits from Olympic Outdoor Center in Port Gamble.  Arrange your gear through their website at https://www.olympicoutdoorcenter.com/collections/mountaineers

You can rent either a boat or a drysuit or both.  Make sure you pick the correct date for the paddle since there are multiple paddle dates shown.  Contact Drew at the shop at 360-297-4659 if you have questions.  The boat package is boat, paddle, float, pump and pfd. The drysuit package is drysuit and booties (no hoodie, no gloves).  Supply of drysuits and boats is not unlimited so book early if you are planning to rent and paddle.

Optional and voluntary post-paddle resupply of carbs, proteins, and liquids will be planned. Place TBD.