Sea Kayak - Skagit & Hope Islands

We’ll meet at 9:00 am at the Cornet Bay boat launch area, at the kayak launching beach near the restrooms. Please plan to arrive by the meeting time, or earlier if you need more time to get your kit in order. Launch will be at 10:00 am sharp. We will take a break on Hope Island and another on Skagit Island. We will do rescues back near the launch before getting off the water. I expect we will return to Cornet Bay by 4:00pm.

Remember to bring your Discover Pass for parking, or be prepared to purchase one.  The last time I was here the kiosk at the boat ramp was not functioning. I will update as we get closer if it is operational. You can purchase at the parking area just after crossing the bridge BEFORE arriving at Cornet Bay.

 The purpose of this trip is to serve as one of the student paddles required to complete the requirements for the Mountaineers Basic Sea Kayaking badge.

As with all Mountaineers SK trips, participants need to provide their own boats, gear, food, and water. Dry suits suitable for sea kayaking are required for this paddle due to cold water , as well as the possibility of capsize. Expect to encounter rough water at times, particularly in the presence of power boat wakes, when rounding Hoypus Point, and at the passage between Ala Spit and Hope Island.

Prior to the trip, please download, complete, and print the Paddling Conditions form. Bring it to the activity to review and the pre-paddle meeting.  Here is the link to the form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wnz841_wlKXWKF91wKymBT4GHRxvRw48GGLPWY-gJUg/edit

Participants should also bring their chart, it is the one you got the first night of the course.

NOAA Tide Predictions (hint: find the tides at Cornet Bay):https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html

NOAA Current Predictions (hint: find currents for Yokeko Point, Deception Pass (PUG1629) Depth: 7 feet and Skagit Bay channel, SW of Hope Island (PUG1628) Depth: 10 feet): https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaacurrents/Regions

NOAA Marine Point Forecast for immediate area: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.56998&lat=48.38971#.YIJRRC1HafA

NOAA hourly marine forecast graph for immediate area: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=48.3897&lon=-122.57&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

NOAA Marine associated zone forecast for the greater area: Zone Area Forecast for Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands

Windy forecast for the immediate area: https://www.windy.com/48.393/-122.572?48.374,-122.577,13,m:eZOacKR

Extra points for marking up your chart with a route, tide, and current data.  Extra extra points for noting the distance, estimated travel time, heading for each leg, noting what the tide is expected to do throughout the day, and noting what the currents will be up to at Yokeko Point and the channel between the west end of Hope Island and Ben Ure Spit (aka Ala Spit).