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Essential Sea Kayak Skills

Clinic

Essential Sea Kayak Skills - Deception Pass

CURRENT CLINIC - This part of a series of clinics focused on different topics to teach skills that every paddler should have - forward stroke, directional control, bracing/balancing/moving sideways, rescues & towing, paddling in currents, etc.

Contacts

Barbara Motteler
Barbara Motteler
Primary Leader
Qualified Youth Leader
  • Sun, Jan 11, 2026
  • Seattle Sea Kayaking
  • Sea Kayaking
  • Adults, All Who Qualify
  • Sea Kayak II/III
  • Moderate
  • Maximum Wind: 12 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 1 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 4.5 kts

Note:  Helmet and gloves are required for this clinic.  

Basic competence in essential kayak skills in currents will boost your confidence to paddle competently on a variety of trips.  These are introductory clinics, but all levels are welcome.  Participants must have successfully completed the Basic Sea Kayak class or equivalency.

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.  

If you have experience paddling in currents and would like to be an assistant, sign up or send me an email.
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 Utube 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.  I'll review edging and bracing but won't give primary instruction in 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.
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.  We'll practice rescues in calm water to get comfortable getting in and out of the water.  
Then we will paddle to the 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.  
 There is always a place to get out of moving water and some shore to get out on for a short break.  We'll plan to return to the cars by 3pm.

Meet at Bowman Bay by 8:30am.  Ready to launch at 9:15am.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BRP9Nquf2vUpHhkP9

Note that trailers are not allowed at Bowman Bay.

A Discover Pass is required for parking.

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

Sea kayak essentials

Standard Kayak Equipment Plus:

  • Helmet
  • gloves
  • Spare Clothing
  • Tow rope (if you have one)

Leaders and assistants please also bring VHF radio.

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