Sea Kayak - Vashon, Blake & Bainbridge Islands

Owen Beach (copy and paste these coordinates into Google Maps): 47.314400253850195, -122.52866171998251

There are bathrooms at this location and parking is free. Due to the event, it is recommended that paddlers arrive early. 

  Expect an minimum of 4-6 hour commitment. Below is the draft schedule, expect confirmation and additional information before race day 

• 8:00AM - Mandatory Kayaker meeting at Owen Beach (be ready to paddle)
•  9:15AM - Ferry departs for Vashon with sign-in and set up volunteers
•  8:30AM - Kayakers and paddlers start paddling to Vashon
•  9:00AM - Boater meeting at Point Defiance boat launch/dock
•  9:45AM - All boats start moving into positions
• 10:00AM - Kayakers and paddlers get into position for the start
• 10:15AM - Setup for awards and post race food for swimmers & paddlers

The Pacific NW Master’s Swimming organization is hosting a 3K race spanning Dalco Passage "Swim Defiance".  Up to 100 swimmers will start near the  S. Vashon Is. Ferry Dock  and swim to a finish chute at Pt. Defiance Owen Beach on Sunday morning August 11th.  Kayakers  will frame the route supporting swimmer security and to guide swimmers along the route.   A few motorized crafts will be positioned outside of our volunteer kayakers to provide direct swimmer assistance, if required with lifeguards and rescue swimmers in the power boats if there is a swimmer in distress.  As a kayaker you may be asked to stay with a swimmer until help arrives but it is not the kayaker's job to rescue.

Note: if you have a VHF radio and know how to use it, please bring it.

 Requires a 4 hr. time commitment including equipment put-in and take out. 

  “Swim Defiance” is only 1 of 3 USMS sanctioned open water races in Puget Sound, so it will draw media, family and spectators.

All kayakers receive whistles and flags along with a plastic card with race director and safety director numbers and basic instructions when they sign in the day of the event.  There will be a mandatory safety meeting the morning of and before the event all kayakers will receive written instructions about 1 week prior to the event.

Lastly all volunteers will receive a meal and receive a 
small gift from the organizational team.