Surf and Camping Weekend - Clayoquot Sound

Trip Report

This was our first organized trip to sea kayak in the Tofino area and, for most of us, our first for spending any time sea kayaking here.  

Thursday

I caught the 7:45am ferry to Duke Point and met Alan who came up the day before.  We had time for a late afternoon surf session in the club's new Kaos surf kayaks.

Others arrive early evening.  We plan our next day.

Friday

Weather is good and the sea calm so we take a trip out of Tofino to Vargas Island.

Saturday

Swell is building and the surf significantly larger than previous days.  We choose to choose to surf in Cox Bay, which is where we are camped.  I launch in my Mega Bullett and find the waves large.  A set stacks up in such a way that I plunge over it, hit the bottom with my bow, and break a previous repair.

Morning surfing is difficult with large, close-out waves.  

We take a lunch break and will grills skirt steak for tacos.

In the afternoon we find great rides near the south end of the beach.  

Light rain starts in the evening.

Sunday

surf-forecast indicates that the wave energy will increase by an order of magnitude.  The waves at Cox Bay are breaking much further out.  We see some good surfers out, carving turns in the pocket.  This is beyond what any of us wish to do.

We launch from Alder Park in Ucluelet into a calm bay.  From here we paddle south to the George Fraser Islands.  Once out of the bay, swell is 5 ft.  We find some rock gardening, but the large swell limits options.  Half the group chooses to paddle around to the outside of George Fraser where we find 10ft swell.  Wind is moderate and waves, though large, are easy to paddle in.  

We return to our cars early afternoon.  Rain continues.  We rent the Sauna in the late afternoon.

Some get dinner from nearby Surfside Grille. 

Rain continues overnight, heavy at times.  I sleep snugly, secure in the quality of my tent's rain fly.  

Monday

In the morning I discover that the rain has puddled on the hard-pack gravel used by surf grove, and my tent floor is completely wet.  Puddles are forming in many of the north sites.  It is time to leave.  Rain continues, heavy at times.

What We LEarned

Surfing in Cox Bay is similar to Hobuck:  excellent at times and closed out confused waves at other times.  There are other beaches to surf at, each receiving different sized waves.  We are told that sea kayakers like Wickaninnish beach.  More to explore in on future trips.

There are more trip options than Hobuck.  There are protected launches in Tofino and Ucluelet as well as most of the beaches.  Coastline is rocky with many off lying rocks and islands.  Much to explore.  Point to point trips can be done with short car shuttles. 

We'll return to Surf Grove, but choose different sites.  We enjoyed the short walk to Cox Bay, fresh water rinse near the beach, warm outdoor showers, sauna, and clean bathrooms.  

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