Search activities
Eddies and Currents Sea Kayak Clinic

Clinic

Eddies and Currents Sea Kayak Clinic - Deception Pass

This is the introduction to currents. Suitable for beginners. Learn how to safely play and maneuver in fast moving current with eddies to improve your boat handling.

Contacts

Duncan Cox
Duncan Cox
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak IV
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 6.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 2 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 4 kts
  • FULL, 2 on waitlist (7 capacity)
  • FULL (4 capacity)
  • Sat, May 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
  • Thu, Jul 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google
At Deception pass  the moving water gives us a perfect school room to practice handling our boats in more challenging conditions.  Plus it is a beautiful place to paddle.  This outing will introduce  you to paddling in Deception pass and paddling in moving water.  
Who is this for?
Participants should have some familiarity with edging their boat and bracing.  You might have taken a class, received some informal instruction, or watched a YouTube video and felt you understood it.  You have also practiced on flat water but may not have been sure you were actually doing anything effective.  We will review edging and bracing but won't give primary instruction on it.  
Paddling in dynamic water, water that is actively trying to tip you over is where you learn to actually use edging and bracing.  You'll likely get it wrong a few times so comfort with capsize, wet exit, and buddy rescue are essential.  
You should be comfortable getting in and out of your boat in flat water.  Rescues should be fairly routine.  A little fear about doing them in Deception Pass is fine but you should be up for the adventure.  
Plan
We will start with a discussion about the environment we will be paddling in.  The main feature at Deception pass are eddy lines - lines that demark water moving at different speeds.  The main skill we will practice is paddling across these.
So we will start on shore and I'll describe what an eddy line is, where they hang out, how to recognize them, and what they want to do to your boat.  From that will naturally flow a discussion about how to paddle across them:  on edge with a gliding brace.  
We will get in the water and practice these skills close to shore.  Maybe do a few rescues to get comfortable getting in and out of the water.  
Then we will paddle to Canoe pass.  In the light currents we will paddle around the area to enjoy it's beauty.  We might practice a little eddy hopping as a way to make progress against a current.  
When we arrive at the pass, we'll start paddling across the eddy lines.  Before you know it you will be crossing fast moving eddy lines with confidence.  
We will stop for lunch around slack and resume practice after lunch.
We will call it a day around 3:00 PM.   There is always a place to get out of moving water and some shore to get out on for a short break.  

Learn how to safely play and maneuver in areas of fast current (at least 4 kts) and eddy lines. Participants should have some familiarity with edging their boat and bracing. Comfort with capsize, wet exit, and buddy rescue are essential.  

Helmets required.

Meet at Bowman Bay at 9:00 AM

Route/Place

Deception Pass


  • Sea Trails Deception Pass and Skagit Bay WA101
    NOAA Bellingham to Everett No. 18423
    NOAA Anacortes to Skagit Bay No. 18427
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Required Equipment

  1. Floatation in both ends of the kayak
  2. U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
  3. Paddle
  4. Spray skirt
  5. Bilge pump with floatation
  6. Self-rescue paddle float
  7. Waterproof whistle
  8. Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
  9. Helmet
  10. Gloves recommended
Trip Reports