SKABC – The Sea Kayak Association of BC – Vancouver-based Kayak Club

Trip Leaders: Maureen Benzon and Lin Schulz
Participating Paddlers: Tracy Cook, Sherron Soo, Anita Leonhard, Lorraine Sharpsteen
This was my first trip with SKABC and also my first experience with overnight trips on the BC Coast. What an incredible introduction! The scenery, weather, wildlife, and camaraderie made for an unforgettable six days on the water.
I am from Ontario and joined SKABC as I am spending the summer in BC and Alberta. I am so grateful to have found such a welcoming and knowledgeable group. A special thank you to my fellow paddlers for generously sharing their experience and helping me learn the unique skills involved in ocean kayaking.
This was a five-night trip with planned overnight stays on Rum Island and Portland Island.
Launch Site: Boat launch at the end of Barnacle Road (free parking, space permitting)
Wildlife Sightings: Seals, porpoises, jellyfish, a marten, eagles, a sea otter, and numerous seabirds.
Day 1 – Rum Island
After unloading and packing our kayaks with six days' worth of gear, and water! We launched and paddled to Rum Island. The paddle took approximately three hours—just the right distance for the first day. We were fortunate to have the campground entirely to ourselves for the first two nights. The views from both sides of the island were spectacular.
Day 2 – Sidney Spit Exploration
We enjoyed a day trip around several nearby islands and over to Sidney Spit. This was my first experience paddling in significant tidal currents and learning about eddies and flow patterns. While we have waves and currents on the Great Lakes, I quickly realized that ocean kayaking requires a whole new level of planning. I now understand why paddlers carefully study tides and currents right up until launch time.
Day 3 – Weather Day on Rum Island
Strong winds and currents kept us on Rum Island and prevented our planned move to Portland Island. Although it was a bit disappointing not to travel that day, it turned into a wonderful opportunity to slow down and enjoy the island. We explored, relaxed, swam, and spent time getting to know one another better. The day ended with another stunning Gulf Islands sunset.
Day 4 – Portland Island
Conditions improved and we were able to make the crossing to Portland Island. It was a beautiful paddle and another valuable learning experience. Along the way, we encountered BC Ferries and their wakes, reinforcing the importance of route planning and situational awareness on the water.
Portland Island was a fantastic destination, with beaches, walking trails, open forests, and endless ocean views. It is easy to see how someone could spend days exploring there.
One of our favourite discoveries was what we affectionately called "slab bathing." After an afternoon swim, we would stretch out on the large sun-warmed rock slabs near the shoreline. Every ten minutes we would move to a newly heated rock. It felt like nature's version of a hot stone massage and quickly became a group tradition.
Day 5 – Island Exploring
We spent the day exploring a nearby island while continuing to navigate around the busy ferry traffic. It was another beautiful day on the water, followed by more swimming and, of course, more slab bathing back at camp.
Day 6 – Return to Barnacle Road
Our final morning was spent packing up camp and enjoying the scenery one last time before paddling back to the launch site. After unloading our kayaks we said our goodbyes, I can’t believe the trip was over so fast.
Reflections
I had an amazing time with this group and learned a tremendous amount throughout the trip. I particularly enjoyed the sense of community both on and off the water, from sharing the kitchen table to discussing the next day's plans.
The daily and evening discussions about tides, currents, navigation, route planning, and safety were especially valuable. Before this trip, I had no idea how much preparation and decision-making goes into sea kayaking. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the knowledge and experience of SKABC trip leaders.
Thanks to the ladies for helping me eat some of the extra food I brought! Next time I will not pack as much food 😉
Thank you to Maureen, Lin, and the entire group for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to spending more time on the water this summer and hope to join many more SKABC trips in the future.