Sea Kayak - Skagit & Hope Islands

Launched a little after 10:00am from the kayak beach at Cornet Bay in a slight drizzle and followed the planned route around Hoypus Point on the flood at Yokeko and down to Ala Spit on the ebb at Skagit Bay Channel, SW of Hope Island.

After a short stop there we crossed to the west end of Hope Island, backstopping by angling off to the north slightly to avoid being swept past the light at the westernmost point.

The group posed for a photo there, with a faint rainbow in the background. From there we paddled along the Bull Kelp bed off the south side of Hope.  

A sun break there lit up the Arbutus trees along the bluff. Their orange hues in the bright low angled winter light, along with the bright color of freshly beached logs, produced a dazzling display of color.

The tide was still quite high when we reached the east end of Hope and the usual landing spots were covered with logs. It seemed that if we had arrived an hour sooner we could have paddled between the small southeastern-most point there and the rest of the island.

After rounding the east end we continued to the campground on the north side and had lunch.  Without testing the rope swing we paddled on to the west end of Skagit Island to add a little more mileage then went counterclockwise around to the beach on the northeast end.  

The rest of us stayed in our boats and watched while the three equivalency candidates successful demonstrated their self and assisted rescue techniques in the slight westward current running along the shore.

At the end of the rescue exams we headed straight to Hoypus Point as winds from the south picked up a few knots.  Halfway across the crossing the winds were beginning to kick up some waves but these, with the wind, died down as we entered the wind shadow of the point. We followed the shoreline into Conet Bay to fine conditions.  There was quite a lot of wood and other floating debris in the water but it was easy to get through it all.