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Sea Kayaking Equivalency Evaluation

Field trip: Sea Kayaking Equivalency

Sea Kayaking Equivalency Evaluation - Illahee State Park to Blake Island

Sea Kayaking Equivalency Evaluation - Kitsap.

Contacts

Barney Bernhard
Barney Bernhard
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak III
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 12.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 2 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 2 kts
  • Pace: 2.8 kts
  • 4 (11 capacity)
  • Fri, Sep 30, 2022 at 1:02 PM
  • Wed, Oct 5, 2022 at 7:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

The goals of this trip are to safely cross trafficked channels; explore and circumnavigate around Blake Island. We will stop for lunch and breaks as needed.

Equivalency participants will be required when asked to demonstrate that they possess the skills and knowledge expected of a person who successfully completed our Basic Sea Kayaking Course.

The goal of this equivalency test is to make sure that the paddler has the skills and equipment/clothing necessary to be a safe participant on an SK II Mountaineers trip as well as to be aware of what is expected of them on a Mountaineer trip.   They are expected to have the skills and equipment that we expect from our Basic Sea Kayak Course student graduates.  This test can be administered by any Kitsap Mountaineer sea kayak leader that is in good standing, the candidate must go on a 7nm or greater Mountaineer paddle, and then must be approved by the Kitsap Mountaineers Sea Kayak Equivalency Coordinator.  

The equivalency candidate(s) must arrive on time for the equivalency test with the following items:  

Sea kayak with flotation at both ends and with deck lines around the perimeter of the kayak, kayak paddle, spray skirt, Coast Guard-approved PFD, paddle float and pump, and wearing either a wet suit or dry suit. 

Wearing a wetsuit or dry suit, the candidate must demonstration of the following skills:  The candidate must be able to perform the paddle strokes and rescues with minimal instruction.

  • Basic paddle strokes:  forward stroke and forward sweep, reverse stroke and reverse sweep, low brace
  • Perform a wet exit followed by a self re-entry (such as a “paddle float re-entry” or a “re-enter and roll” or “Cowboy” style are acceptable).  
  • Perform both roles of an assisted re-entry (as rescuer and again as rescuee)

Bring water, lunch and a snack as desired. Food will not be available to purchase at our lunch stop. Warm beverages and soup may be desired if the weather is cool.

There are three launch site locations for this paddle.

Illahee State Park, meet 8am, at the boat ramp.

Manchester State Park, meet 8am, near the waterfront picnic shelter.

Fort Ward Park on Bainbridge Island, meet 8:30am, geared up and ready to begin paddling by 9:20am, at the boat ramp.

Paddlers from Illahee and Manchester State Parks, will paddle to Fort Ward Park arriving at approximately 9:15am. A pre-launch trip meeting will be held and if time allows we will discuss the participants pre-trip home work exercise. By 9:30am all participants will launch from Fort Ward for Blake Island State Park.

 

Route/Place

Blake Island


  • MapTech Oak Bay to Commencement Bay No. 102
    NOAA Puget Sound: Seattle to Bremerton No. 18449
    Sea Trails Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and Liberty Bay WA202
    USGS Duwamish Head
    USGS Bremerton East
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Sea Kayak with floatation in both ends; paddle; pump; pfd; spray skirt; immersion wear, including gloves; paddle float; and other kayaking essentials as listed on the sea kayaking page at kitsapmountaineers.org.

Trip Reports