Events - Month View

Meeting of the board

As usual, we head south along the shore of Bellingham Bay to Clark‘s Point and back. Moderate pace (3-4 knots or whatever the group decides) Launch times vary with the seasons, please look for a short notice email for details. Launch from south-end beach at Boulevard Park. Stopping at the Community Boat Center launch 10 minutes after BP launch to pick up anyone leaving from there. Please be ready to launch on time.

A one day course in the basic skills of incident managment: rescues, towing, emergency supplies, boat repair

What: Paddle in the Deception Pass tidal currents. This builds dynamic water skills in a beautiful place. DP offers an opportunity to work with back eddies, practice crossing eddy lines, ferrying across fast moving water and playing with some boils and whirlpools. Rescue practice will be part of the fun by default.
There will be instructions given on the basic maneuvers as mentioned above and other topics, depending on the group.

Who this is for: Paddlers on this trip should have some experience in moderately fast-moving water and a basic understanding of the skills involved, like edging and bracing. Expect to capsize so you must have solid wet exit skills and know how to support a rescuer effectively in an assisted rescue. Solid self-rescue technique or a reliable roll is a plus.
Please contact me if you are unsure if this trip is right for you. We usually offer other, possibly less intimidating “Intro into currents” classes.

Schedule: I am changing the schedule to allow for more time for “shore talk” and skills practice before heading out into the pass.
Meet at Bowman Bay at 9:00 am.
Everyone should be geared up and ready to get on the water by 9:20.
Spend the next 30-40 minutes discussing the plan for the day and do some skills practice in the bay.
Leaving the Bay around 10:00 to arrive at Canoe Pass just after slack, around 9:20.
Maximum ebb flow around 13:30.

Maximum conditions: The current that day is predicted to be fairly mellow. Unfavorable wind conditions for example may cause us to change or cancel plans.

Required Equipment. Dry suit or an appropriate wet suit with a dry top, helmet, a whistle and at least one additional signaling device like flares, mirror, waterproof flashlight etc., at least one means of communication like a cell phone or VHF radio.

Recommended:
Bring a full set of dry clothes and extra paddle gloves and head covering. Anybody familiar with the use of a tow belt should bring one. Lunch and a warm

The last pool session of the season, come out to practice rolling , rescues or just to chat in the hot tub.

As usual, we head south along the shore of Bellingham Bay to Clark‘s Point and back. Moderate pace (3-4 knots or whatever the group decides) Launch times vary with the seasons, please look for a short notice email for details. Launch from south-end beach at Boulevard Park. Stopping at the Community Boat Center launch 10 minutes after BP launch to pick up anyone leaving from there. Please be ready to launch on time.

This month‘s subject will be on field repair methods and materials for kayaks and dry suits. Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM. Presentation will begin around 7:00 PM.

As usual, we head south along the shore of Bellingham Bay to Clark‘s Point and back. Moderate pace (3-4 knots or whatever the group decides) Launch times vary with the seasons, please look for a short notice email for details. Launch from south-end beach at Boulevard Park. Stopping at the Community Boat Center launch 10 minutes after BP launch to pick up anyone leaving from there. Please be ready to launch on time.

Time: Meet at 9:00 Briefing at 9:30 Launch by 10:00 Return at 1:00 maybe Time on the water about 2.5 - 3 hours Route: 7.5 miles to circumnavigate the lake Pace : moderate (3.5 mph) Weather: Unknown at this point. If it‘s too wet or windy the trip will be rescheduled. Dress: Dress for immersion - Neoprene wetsuit or drysuit is required. At this time of year the lake water is colder than the salt water. I recommend wearing neoprene gloves and/or pogies. Skill Level: 2 (More than a 1 because of pace and length) Pace will be moderate and length is significant, without opportunities to get out of boats for breaks. Sheltered waters but wind can still be a factor. The Wednesday paddles are at a similar pace to this but are also more than a mile shorter. If you are interested in a gentler version of this paddle let Tammy know and she may plan another Lake Samish event later in the year at a gentler pace. RSVP required: Please text or email Tammy Schroeter by Wednesday March 19 Notes: *INSPECTION STICKERS REQUIRED! Do not come if you do not have a 2025 permit. You can call AIS Boat Inspection Hotline (360) 778-7975 to schedule an inspection if you don‘t have a sticker yet, but be sure to get it done before Friday so you are ready to go. *Be fueled up before we launch. There are no shore breaks on this trip. Bring granola bars/water for quick refueling on the water. *There are bathrooms at the parking lot. *Discover Pass parking permit required. * All participants in WAKE paddles MUST have signed a WAKE Liability Waiver before embarking on the paddle. Safety Gear: Each Person Should Definitely Have: - Pump - Drysuit or wetsuit - Appropriate hand and head covering for the temperatures - PFD - Whistle - Any emergency medications you need. Each Person Should Consider Having: - A spare paddle -A sprayskirt - A spare set of warm clothes in a dry bag (such as fleece jacket and pants) - A waist-mounted tow rope (if you know how to use it)

As usual, we head south along the shore of Bellingham Bay to Clark‘s Point and back. Moderate pace (3-4 knots or whatever the group decides) Launch times vary with the seasons, please look for a short notice email for details. Launch from south-end beach at Boulevard Park. Stopping at the Community Boat Center launch 10 minutes after BP launch to pick up anyone leaving from there. Please be ready to launch on time.

A one-day circumnavigation of Lummi Island. This trip requires cooperation with currents and weather. The plan is a counterclockwise route leaving from Gooseberry Pt. With two planned rest stops at Lummi Rocks and the DNR site on the SE side of Lummi. Approximately 19 Nm. Estimated time ~ 6-7 hours. Time: Arrive 7:30 am, Depart: 8:00 am Difficulty: SK III-IV Pace: ~3.5knts. Required: Dry suit or an appropriate wet suit with a dry top, PDF, whistle and at least one additional signaling device like flares, mirror, waterproof flashlight etc., at least one means of communication like a cell phone or VHF radio. Also highly recommend: - An emergency kit containing, Dry cloths, and basic supplies if needed to spend the night out. Not planning for this but better to have it… Lunch, snacks and water. RSVP Brady O’Hare email: brady.ohare@gmail.com call or txt: 360 510-9974

***The water is cold. Drysuits required with plenty of warm layers to wear underneath*** I‘d like to offer these semi-frequently throughout the summer, so if you‘re not interested in swimming in cold water for a few hours there will be more opportunities as the weather warms up. Trip description: We‘re all just between swims, and if you‘re like me you don‘t practice your rescues nearly often enough - it‘s tough to motivate yourself to get in the water at the end of a trip. Let‘s take the morning to practice rescues together! Assisted rescues, paddle-floats, self-rescues, whatever else you‘d like to work on. Not a class, but I‘m happy to offer pointers and potentially go over some more advanced rescue techniques if people like. Arrive at 9am for a 9:30 start. Distance: Not very far. We will mostly stay within Wildcat Cove. I‘d like to spend around 3 hours practicing rescues, with some breaks, but since we‘ll stay close to the launch site you‘re welcome to leave early or arrive late. Pace: Not very fast. Difficulty: You should have at practiced rescues / wet exits at some point and be comfortable with the idea of getting wet. Required: Dry suit, PFD, and lots of layers to wear under your drysuit. The water is in the mid 40s right now. Also highly recommend: - Extra dry clothes for after. Neoprene gloves, neoprene hood or a warm synthetic or fleece hat. Snacks and water. Thermos with hot drinks.