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FLOW- Fun & Learning on the Water

Clinic

FLOW- Fun & Learning on the Water - Indian Island County Park to Fort Flagler

Tidal Rapid Play plus - with luck- a downwind run

Contacts

Charlie Michel
Charlie Michel
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak IV
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 10.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 25 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 3 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 3.5 kts
  • Pace: Brisk

Meet at 9:30am at Indian Island County Park. From the Hood Canal Bridge, continue north and turn right on SR 19. Follow this to the four-way stop in Chimacum, then turn right on Chimacum Road. In Hadlock, turn right on Oak Bay Rd (SR 116). Turn Left on Flagler Rd (SR 116) signed for Fort Flagler. From the center of  the bridge over the Port Townsend Canal, drive 0.7 miles (there is a different / wrong park entrance before this) and turn right onto Indian Island County Park access road. Go to the parking lot at the end. No parking pass or permit is needed here. There is a pit toilet usually unlocked.

We will set up a shuttle after unloading gear at Indian Island County Park. The takeout will be at Fort Flagler (bathrooms), so a Discover Pass is required for those cars parked there.

Anyone wishing to come over from Seattle can take the 7:55am Edmonds-Kingston ferry and will arrive around 9:15am. 

To develop skills and expand our limits we will seek out challenging conditions.  
  
Participants should feel they are ready to paddle in SK IV conditions.  Should be willing to get wet, practice skills, try new things, push limits, and be safety support for others.  
 
Since actual conditions won't be known until a few days before the trip you don't know exactly what you are signing up for.  Leaders will do their best to describe intended conditions.  Participants should do their best self-assessment.  Finally, let’s all support each other in developing skills and stretching limits.
Paddling skills
  • Have the skills and fitness required for the trip (see max conditions we might encounter, above). We will have up to about two knots of current to paddle against for the first 2.8nm. Requires a reasonable forward stroke and good boat control to stay close to shore and paddle against current and wind (could be 20+ kts).
  • Have paddled previously in tidal rapids such as at Cattle Pass
  • Previous experience paddling in sustained 15-20 kt winds in following seas and at least 2 ft waves.
  • While a roll is not required, you must have strong rescue skills. You should be able to normally get back in your boat within a minute from when a rescuer contacts your boat
  • Be able to paddle as a close group even in challenging conditions
  • Good brace reflex
  • No history of sea sickness paddling in waves or swell, or well controlled with medication
    If you are close to meeting these expectations but maybe not quite, it might work depending on the remaining group makeup. If, closer to the time, we don't have much wind in the forecast then I'll take paddlers with less skill level than indicated above. My cell number is 360-710-0616 so feel free to give me a ring.
     We'll plan to have lunch at East Beach County Park. After the 5-1/2 mile wind run up the east side of Marrowstone, we'll play in the tidal rapids at Marrowstone Point (max ebb  3.4kts at 4:03pm). Sunset is 4:46pm, so we'll leave sometime between 3:15pm and 4:00pm. We will paddle the remaining 1.7nm to Fort Flagler. Since we will be loading and shuttling boats after dark, have your head lamp handy. 
Route/Place

Marrowstone Island: Indian Island Park to Fort Flagler


  • NOAA Port Townsend No. 18464
    NOAA Puget Sound: Northern Part No. 18441
    MapTech Puget Sound Chart No. 100
    Sea Trails Port Townsend, Dungeness Spit to Marrowstone Island WA103
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

We may be paddling in rough conditions in the winter.
Tow systems
Extra clothing
First aid kits
High energy foods
Boat repair kits
Helmet as needed
Recommended Equipment
VHF radios
Storm CAG
Warm tea or water
Immersion wear required.
Trip Reports