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Paddling in Moving Water

Clinic

Paddling in Moving Water - Deception Pass

Intermediate-Advance Tidal Current

Contacts

Felicia Wibowo
Felicia Wibowo
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak IV
  • Challenging

Meet At Cornet Bay at 8:30 AM

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 outting will introduce  you to paddling in Deception pass and paddling in faster moving water.  
Who is this for?
Participants should be familiar with edging their boat and bracing. Have been in and comfortable in moving water prior to this outing.
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.  
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, ferrying and peel outs.
Then we will paddle from Cornet Bay  to  Canoe  pass.  Learn to enter the eddy, so you are at the top of the eddy line. Practice peel outs and ferrying on the ebb current before lunch.
We'll stop for lunch during slack current and get ready to paddle to check out the famous "room of doom" before the current flood get big. We will paddle back to Canoe Pass  learn to ferry in the flood current before heading to Strawberry Island when the flood current is getting too big at Canoe Pass. 
Usually by time of max current people are getting tired and it is time to call it a day.  Expect to paddle for 3 to 4 hours.  There is always a place to get out of moving water and some shore to get out on for a short break.  
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

Standard Kayak Equipment Plus:

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