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
- Sun, Jun 8, 2025
- Tacoma Branch Sea Kayaking Program
- Sea Kayaking
- Adults
- Sea Kayak III
- Easy
- Mileage: 8.0 nm
- Maximum Wind: 10 kts
- Maximum Waves: 2 ft
- Maximum Currents: 3 kts
- Pace: slow to moderate
- FULL, 4 on waitlist (16 capacity)
- 1 (4 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Owen Beach, Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. Boats on the beach and ready to paddle at 9 AM.
On-water, day 2, of the Sea Kayak Navigation Course. We will practice dead reckoning, paddling ranges, evaluating hazards while paddling (are we on collision course with boats?), and determining our exact location while on the water. Bring what you would for a day paddle. We will likely be off the water around 4 PM.
We will not be practicing wet exits. This event does not meet the requirements for a student paddle for this year's students; however, this year's students may sign up if they have had 1 student paddle where they did practice rescues.
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.
Required Equipment
Standard kayaking equipment for a day paddle. Drysuit required. You don't need fire starter, emergency shelter, knife (unless you have a tow system) or flash lights.
A base plate compass on a lanyard. Deck mount compass recommended. You may be using both if you have them.
Maptech chart 100 or similar. A 8.5x11 sheet of clear acetate is helpful. Attach a key float to a corner to prevent sinking.
A long billed cap that you can wear to limit your vision if pulled down low.
Food and drink. Snacks you can get to while on the water.
A grease pencil, such as a Listo 1620, with a float (like an eyeglass float taped to it) is handy. I find black is most useful, however if you have a fiberglass boat with a black deck, you may want to get a white grease pencil. Don't write on plastic boats with these, as the pencil marks don't come off.
A vhf radio is you have one.