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Navigation and Trip Planning Field Day

Field trip: Sea Kayak Navigation

Navigation and Trip Planning Field Day - Commencement Bay

On the water field day for the Kayak Trip Planning and Navigation Course

Contacts

Michael Everett
Michael Everett
Primary Leader
  • SK III
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 7.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 2 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 3 kts
  • Pace: slow to moderate
  • 12 (12 capacity)
  • 2 (4 capacity)
  • Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
  • Fri, May 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

This is the on-the-water day for the 2-day Sea Kayak navigation class.  It will meet the requirements for the Intermediate kayaker Badge navigation clinic.  You must complete both the lecture and this on-water day to pass. We will be paddling into Quartermaster Harbor and back.

We will practice what you learned in the lecture the day before, including fixing your position through triangulation, taking a bearing, using ranges to maintain a course, differentiating  a heading from a bearing from a course, determining your average paddling speed, using dead reckoning, using a chart while on the water, identifying aids to navigation and using them on a chart.

Launching from Owen Beach.  Please be ready to launch at 9 am. 

Route/Place

Commencement Bay


  • Sea Trails Vashon Island, Tacoma Narrows to Elliot Bay WA203
    MapTech Oak Bay to Commencement Bay No. 102
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Compass; prefer a deck mounted compass AND a hand held baseplate compass (not one with a mirror, see lecture requirements). Contact trip leader before buying.

Long brimmed hat to block your ability to see your compass during Dead Reckoning exercise.

Maptech chart 100 of Puget Sound, or equivalent. If a paper chart, you will need a chart case and the ability to fold the chart to see the edges to measure distance.

A grease pencil (Listo 1620) with a float attached and a sheet of acetate (or 1 gallon zip lock bag) to write on.

Standard equipment for a typical day paddle; drysuit, paddle, boat with decklines and flotation in bow and stern, sprayskirt, pfd, lunch, snacks, water, minor first aid kit.

You do not need fire starter.

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