[Colleen Cole]

Hi Jayne

I’d like to join your paddle.

Thx,

Colleen

[Vincent Law]

Sounds good. I will launch nearby and see you on the water in front of Jericho Sailing Club at 9 AM

[Jayne Hardy]

Hi Steve and Vincent (?Phyllis)

If it is calm, I would like to paddle across to Siwash Rock and along the beaches in Stanley Park to English Bay then back along the waterfront to the sailing center.  I think it is about 9 knots.  Should be on the water ~3 hours.  Total trip time ~4 hours with a stop for lunch.  I would like to meet at ~8:30 and be on the water between 9:00 and 9:30 am.

 

 

[Steve Barnes]

Hi Jayne

I’m interested in doing a paddle Sunday. What were your plans for a start time and distance or total time on water?

Thanks and cheers,

Steve

[Vincent Law]

I’m interested.

what’s the plan Jayne?

 

cheers,

vincent

 

 

[Nick Heath]

Thanks All but I now have plenty of volunteers!

[Ted Lam]

Hi Nick,

I have time on Tuesday and can come, if you don’t mind.

[Reed Clarke]

Oh what the heck, I’m going to physio on Wednesday anyways. May as well get value for my money.

Are you able to pick me up, or should I just plan on driving over?

Cheers, Reed

[Nick Heath]

UPDATE : POSITIONS FILLED (must have been the high wages!)

Looking for 1 or 2 helpers to unload and stack lumber being delivered on a trailer to BC Parks works yard on Mt Seymour Pkwy roughly mid-morning on Tues.

Nothing difficult – just need work gloves, sturdy footwear, rain gear.  This task might take about 1 -2 hour.

Subject to change – I don’t yet have confirmation of delivery time.

Lumber is for 4 tent platforms at Apodaca Prov Pk. A BC Parks grant provided the $ to SKABC for these. (BC Parks are planning to put in a toilet.)

I’ll post here when the job has been filled.

We’ll need much more help later when the actual transport to site and building starts so don;t be disappointed if you aren’t  needed yet!

Nick Heath treasurer2 at skabc dot org

[Jayne Hardy]

Forecast for Sunday is for light winds and a high of 9 degrees C in the afternoon.  Anyone interested in going for a paddle?

[Ted Lam]

Hello Everyone,

Join me if you have time. Jericho sailing center to Acadia beach, may go beyond if everybody agrees.

OTW 1:00PM, free parking at the sailing center

Back by 4:00PM. Dry suit or Wet suit needed.

Email: tedlam1011@gmail.com

Cell: 778-939-6423

———————————————–

POINT ATKINSON 2022-02-09

TIDE
1:23 AM    3.7 M
5:15 AM     3.4 M
10:35 AM   4.1 M
6:40 PM    1.5 M

WIND
WINDY.COM                    E 4-6 kt
WEATHER NETWORK  E 7-11 km
ENVIRONMENT CAN    light wind

WAVE_WIND ASSOCIATED LAST 24 HOURS
ENE 10-12 kt / 0.2 m at 2.5 second

[Kevin Hall]

Hi All, the Comox Paddlers Club have invited SKABC to join their Zoom presentations on Thursday, February 3rd at 7pm.

They’ll have a short presentation from Grey Wolf Expeditions at the start followed by a feature presentation by Viki Cirkvencic of Comox Valley Kayak & Canoe titled “Messing about in boats”. Here’s a bit more information and the Zoom link is at the bottom if you’re able to attend:

Are you buying your first boat? Upgrading? Downsizing? All questions answered from newest boat styles, products and technology, differences between kayak brands to ‘what is the chine?’ and ‘which is better – a plastic or glass boat’?

Bio: Comox Valley Kayaks and Canoes has been in operation in Courtenay since1991. We have been under the same local ownership for over 24 years, and we pride ourselves on being the Comox Valley’s local specialty paddling shop. Over the years we have evolved to become one of the premier kayaking shops on theWest Coast. Our staff of paddlers, instructors, and guides can offer first-hand advice on kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddle boarding.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83458129540?pwd=VnZEbGtBVzB6UTE4cjNseGllTTZlUT09

Meeting ID: 834 5812 9540

Passcode: 978148

[Nick Heath]

Randy’s comments are great, Sarka. My experience is old, mostly gained from sailing, power boating or cycling here, rather than paddling.  My thoughts are that this area is lovely, but one must be always be well aware of strong currents and it is worth consulting a current atlas for their strength/direction. Lots of paddlers have come unstuck here.

I’ve stayed at several of the campsites and they are good, but often busy.  Some have overflow areas if you are not pre-booked. There are lots recreational boaters in all types of craft. In addition there are 2 ‘marine highways’ for the heavy transports. Shore facilities and ferries are mostly excellent. In some areas development (cottages, subdivisions, resorts, marinas) has run amok and there is generally more regulation about where a paddler can stop and what one can do, but the State Parks are well-managed, on the whole. Crossing the land border is simpler and likely faster than using a marine border crossing, but I haven’t used either type since the pandemic started.

[Sarka Lhotak]

Thank you, Randy, for a detailed reply, very helpful. I had already ordered the Rob Casey’s book.

Šárka

[Former Member]

There are several decent guidebooks to the area, and the two standouts are:

Rob Casey’s Kayaking Puget Sound & the San Juan Islands: 60 Trips in Northwest Inland Waters, Including the Gulf Islands, 3rd Edition Paperback – May 15, 2012

Randel Washburne’s Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans and Gulf Islands: 45 Trips on the Northwest’s Inland Waters (1999)

If you are adventuresome and bring your passport, you can paddle over from the Southern Gulf Islands, and thus avoid a “real” border crossing.  You are supposed to check in upon arrival with the US Coast Guard and it’s quite easy and quick, and often a radio call is all that is required.  (Check current regulations.)

A better, safer option is driving to Anacortes and either paddling from there, or hopping on a ferry, with your car or just your boat.  You can also ferry over and paddle back, or the reverse.  The 3 1/2 mile crossing of Rosario Strait (a good hour) must be done in clear and calm weather, as there is lots of large vessel cross traffic.  Once over into the San Juans, it’s all quite intimate and safe, with no big crossings and lots of lee shores to hug if winds are high.

The US ferries are a bargain compared with BC’s, and they serve beer!  And, all westbound travel is cost free.

For information on walking a kayak onto their ferry system: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/rider-information/what-you-can-bring-aboard and https://60tripskayakpugetsound.blogspot.com/2012/01/walking-your-kayak-canoe-or-sup-on.html?m=1 .

The favourite destinations are generally on the northern side of the San Juans, because that’s where the orca, dolphin, and several whale species are usually hanging out: in Boundary Pass. So Sucia and Jones islands are popular, but still quiet.  Both are really only accessible by small private boat, although water taxis can get you to either.

If you want to avoid the ferries and not go too far “out on a limb,” Cypress Island, closer to the mainland (just north of Anacortes), is also quiet and pretty.

This is not to say you shouldn’t visit the bigger islands, Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, and Lopez, and even ones as far out as Stuart.  There are campgrounds almost everywhere, private and public.  Stores and even laundries can be found.

Randy

[Author]

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