
Seminar
Maneuvering strokes - Deception Pass
Does not cover forward or reverse strokes. This clinic covers edging, bracing, turning techniques for maneuvering the boat with the least effort and minimum loss of momentum. It includes a technique for crossing eddy lines for "attainment", ie getting to the next upstream eddy. We'll practice that at Strawberry Island.
- Sat, Jun 21, 2025
- Tacoma Branch Sea Kayaking Program
- Sea Kayaking
- Adults
- Sea Kayak IV
- Moderate
- Mileage: 5.0 nm
- Maximum Wind: 15 kts
- Maximum Waves: 1.5 ft
- Maximum Currents: 3.5 kts
- Pace: 3.2
- FULL (8 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
There’s much more to maneuvering your boat than just forward, reverse, and braking on one side to turn. Learning the maneuvering strokes allows you to control your boat better in wind or waves, or simply to make the boat go where you want it with the least amount of effort. Improving your strokes makes kayaking more fun! It provides you the fundamentals for training later in wind, waves, current, rock gardens, and surf.
We’ll cover edging, turning, bracing, rudders, sideways movement, and reverse paddling. A bonus technique will be taught here: how to start with a sweep stroke on-the-go, and go into a stern draw rudder- highly effective in eddy hopping, also called attainment, where you get around one eddy-creating obstacle and "attain" the next eddy on the other side.
Forward strokes are covered in a separate clinic.
We'll eat an early lunch, because at about noon, we'll have the opportunity to venture over to Ben Uhr Island and practice using the eddy hopping technique at eddy lines there. Then back to Cornet Bay for more instruction.
Some SK experience is helpful, and must be definitely be comfortable with capsize recovery as capsize is likely at any eddy line.
Meet at Cornet Bay, part of Deception Pass State Park, and be ready to launch at 9:00am. Try to park near the picnic shelter since that is where we will launch from.
Discover Pass required.
Deception Pass
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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.
Required Equipment
Same gear as for a sea kayaking trip. Dry suit and helmet required.