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FLOW - Fun and Learning on the Water

Clinic

FLOW - Fun and Learning on the Water - Deception Pass

Messing around in The Pass - a day to practice boat handling incident management, and other skills with your peers in Deception Pass and vicinity.

Contacts

Tom Unger
Tom Unger
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak IV
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 6.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 25 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 10 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 7 kts
  • Pace: Medium

Meet at Coronet Bay boat launch for 9:30am shore talk.  (Be nearly ready to launch).

This is part of the Paddle and Camp weekend.  We have the Deception Pass group campsite reserved and you are welcome to register to camp there on Friday and/or Saturday nights.

Proof of COVID vaccination is required.  
This is an opportunity to practice boat handling, rescue, and incident skills in dynamic water.  It is not a clinic, there is no formal instruction.  I'll bring a few ideas of skills I want to practice or some ideas I want to test out.  Please bring some of your own.  
Participants should have had instruction on paddling in moving water and wind and waves.  You should be comfortable padding in DP on moderate currents and capable of rescuing your partners in moderate wind and waves (15kt).  You should have a short and long tow line and some experience using it.  This is an opportunity for people work on intermediate paddling skills to practice.
Currents are medium this day.  Ebb in the morning, slack at about noon, then flood in the afternoon.  
I expect that we will launch, paddle through the pass, spend some time playing in the current, then head out to Deception Island.  There we will explore the intricate, rocky shore line through the noon slack.
As flood builds, we will make our way back into the pass, stoping at many of the interesting spots.
Though the day, we'll see what kind of boat handling challenges we can create for our selves.
Off the water late afternoon, no later than 4:30pm.
You'll note that I've specified up to 25kt wind and 10ft waves.  If we are fortunate enough to have stormy conditions, we will adjust our paddle plan to safely make use of those conditions for practice.
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

We are paddling in rough conditions in the winter.  This is the time to bring all your emergency and spare gear.
Tow systems
Extra clothing
First aid kits
High energy foods
Boat repair kits
Helmet
Recommended Equipment
VHF radios
Storm CAG (especially in winter)
Warm tea or water
Trip Reports