Sea Kayak - Chuckanut Bay

Launched around 10 am from Larrabee State Park Boat Launch.  Wind was light. Water was calm, barely a ripple. We had two students needing this paddle to graduate.  According to Windy app wind at 11 am was forecast to be 3 knots gusting to 7 knots from the west/nw rising to 12 knots/17 knots gust at 2 pm also from the west/nw.  NOAA forecasted 5 knots, gusting to 10 knots, from the west at 1 pm.  I still opted to a quick shore talk and delayed going over the student quiz to lunch or upon return to the launch site.  But a student was 40 minutes late so we still launched later than I had intended.

Paddled to Governor’s point, then to the east side of Chuckanut Island.  Wind had become a steady breeze, enough to affect boat control, but still no waves.  Paddled past Chuckanut rocks then headed closer to shore and followed the shore as it curved around to Clark’s Point.  Stopped at the cove on Clark’s Point for lunch around 11:50 am.  This cove is where the concretions (aka fossilized palm trees) can be seen.

Launched from Clark’s Point cove at 12:40 am.  By now we could see that wind has picked up in the bay.  We paddled past Chuckanut rocks and stayed east of Chuckanut Island toward the southern shore of Chuckanut Bay.  Outside the shelter of Chuckanut Island on the east side waves were know about 1 ft with white crests, estimating closer to 15 knots.

After rounding Governor’s Point waves had now become swells, mostly 1 to 2 ft, occasionally 3 ft.  We tried to paddle farther from shore but kept being blown closer to shore.  Winds were stronger and steadier than forecast and with the considerable fetch from the north/nw resulted in the conditions we faced. About 1/2 nm from Larrabee Boat launch the swell and waves had abated.  

The paddlers were amazing, especially the students.  No one capsized in the rough water.  There were intentional wet exits prior to landing in order for the students to practice their self and assisted rescues.  Grads also did some water play.  Out of the water and packing up by 3:30 pm.  Refreshments and dinner at Conway Pub and Eatery.

All in all turned out to be a great day.  Beautiful scenery to be sure.  And the students and basic course graduates came away with a sense of confidence from dealing with the rough water.  As a trip leader I dreaded the possibility of anyone tipping over.  Even though I requested the group to stay close we still got spread out, most likely because most were now in survival mode.  Fortunately my assistants were great.  No paddler was far away from one and I was paddling sweep in order to keep everyone in sight.