Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Rowing/Paddling/Kayaking from West Seattle to Vashon
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 8, 2014 at 3:58 pm #612599
sumlovParticipantHi Summer Lovers!
Has anyone rowed,paddled or kayaked from West Seattle to Vashon. Where was your starting point and landing point? What were the conditions like? How long did the course take you?
September 8, 2014 at 10:10 pm #813143
skeeterParticipantI’ve never done it. However, I did paddle my inflatable kayak from Port Orchard (Southworth) to Blake Island. That might be a good practice run to consider. It’s quite a bit shorter.
September 8, 2014 at 10:13 pm #813144
mark47nParticipantYes, many times.
Ive launched crom many locations, but most often from Alki Point. Probably due to ease of loading and unloading kayaks.
Conditions vary with the weather but the shipping lane in the middle of the East Passage bear caution as ships come through there at speeds between 16 and 20 knots. Given that the minimum distance is something in the neighborhood of 3.75nm at the shortest, includes a 1.5nm wide shipping lane, other commercial marine traffic and is very exposed it should be viewed as a serious crossing and one should have the requisite skills. If your are asking these questions you should ask yourself if you’re truly ready.
Where you land is dependent on where your going, I guess, though Wingehaven, S a bit from the N ferry dock is a nice park and landing site maintained by the WWTA.
On a nice flat day it takes at least 1.5 hours each way. That is barring shipping traffic ( no, you do NOT have the right of wsy, in any way shape or form over other traffic, conteary to popular belief) an appropriate vessel and a well developed efficient and effective forward stroke.
September 9, 2014 at 12:13 am #813145
wakefloodParticipantThat’s really good stuff, mark47. Thanks for posting. I’ve done lots of coastline following but not very much “dash across the shipping lanes” stuff around here.
You confirmed that I’d probably need to be in top form to tackle that run (which I’ve considered numerous times but have held off on).
On a related note, are the tides generally a significant issue on that run? I’d normally aim for daytime slacks to make a dash but since it’s mostly perpendicular to the flow in either direction from me (by the ferry dock), I assume it’s essentially a matter of avoiding peak flow and allowing for drift?
September 9, 2014 at 12:15 am #813146
CMParticipantWhat mark47n said. I actually launch from Lowman Beach. Check out the WWTA Cascadia Marine Trail for more info about Winghaven.
There’s also a paddle only campground on the NW corner of Blake Island that is usually deserted and always cool. Great views of downtown in the distance.
Have fun!
It’s roughly 4.2 miles to either from Lowman. Watch the ferry crossing if you go to Winghaven.
September 9, 2014 at 12:24 am #813147
mark47nParticipantMany of the crossings in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea require crossings shipping lanes and established ferry lanes.
The currents around this area are marginal, topping out at less than a knot so I wouldn’t worry too much about currents. However the currents around the south and west sides of Blake island can be interesting with converging flows from Rich Passage, Colvos Passage and eddies from the East Passage. I’ve watched folks basicallynpaddle on a treadmill in that area.
For the shipping traffic I’ll usually contact Vessel TraffiC, USCG, on channel 16 and ask about traffic, or call on the phone. Sometimes they can be a bit suspicious but when I explain they supply the information I’ve requested.
Crossings are usually where people usually get in trouble so I always recommended when I was instructing that they critically examine their abilities before attempting crossings longer than 1 nm.
September 9, 2014 at 1:06 am #813148
CMParticipantGood info mark47n.
If you want any easy crossing to try out, Go from Des Moines marina across to Point Robinson Park on Maury island for a picnic then back. I think it’s only about 2.1 miles one way and any traffic is easy to see because it narrows. Tide speeds up a bit, but a handheld GPS with waypoints entered will automatically correct for you.
September 9, 2014 at 3:55 am #813149
KevinParticipantIf you have ANY doubts about your abilities, you might want to read the story written by WS resident, Dr. Scott Redfern of his experiences back in 2009.
.
https://westseattleblog.com/2009/04/rescued-west-seattle-kayaker-shares-his-story-and-gratitude/
September 9, 2014 at 5:54 am #813150
pelicansParticipantDear Sumlov and others using small craft on Puget Sound, please check out the Coast Guard’s info before you go out on the water. The CG Recreational Boaters Manual can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/d13/psvts . Go to the section at the bottom “Important Manuals for the Mariner” and click on the RBM. It contains answers to many of the question you may have about how to operate a small vessel of any type on the sound. If you equip yourself with a marine band VHF-FM radio (optional-this can be a simple hand-held model) and monitor the Vessel Traffic Service’s (VTS aka “Seattle Traffic”) channel 14, you’ll have access to the commercial vessel traffic situation for your area. If you are in Possession Sound or north of Bush Point on Whidbey Island, the channel changes to 5A. Seattle Traffic controls commercial vessel traffic on the water from Olympia up to Cherry Point and the San Juans and all the way out to Cape Flattery. If you contact Seattle Traffic on the radio or by phone (206-217-6152) prior to entering or crossing the Traffic Separation Scheme, or TSS, they will let you know what you will encounter traffic-wise. This service is entirely free. The areas in and near Elliott Bay and just north and south of it can be extremely busy at times and checking traffic before setting out is as important as making sure you have a life preserver and no leaks in your vessel. Best of luck and safe boating!
September 10, 2014 at 12:03 am #813151
mark47nParticipantAdmittedly, the Dr. Redfern story is certainly a what not to do.
Abput fhe traffic lanes; what I always told students is that if you can see the ship its too close and you should wait. Many new paddlers are surprised at just how fast a freighter will be bearing directly ahead of them. I can’t stress enough to be cautious when near vessels under power. One other reminder, freighters cannot see you. Their blind spot can be a mile long and you will not even be a blip on their radar as you are too low on the water. Putting radar reflectors in your hullnor on poles is still ineffective. I don’t recall which kayaking magazine tested that out with the assistance of the USCG but the end result is practical invisibility to vessels that cannot stop.
September 10, 2014 at 12:27 am #813152
pelicansParticipantThere was an incident several days ago where a good samaritan was trying to assist kayakers in Elliott Bay just as a cruise ship was departing port. The end result was people in the water in front of a behemoth that could have run them over without knowing it. Luckily, the ship’s pilot saw them and was able to maneuver the ship around them, even in those restricted waters. The bottom line is that for your own safety, you must check the traffic before and while venturing out into the traffic lanes and other waters where commercial traffic operates. Another good free site to consult is http://www.marinetraffic.com .
September 10, 2014 at 12:35 am #813153
mark47nParticipantI would posit that kayakers that have radios generally have gotten to to the point in their education and skills that they wouldn’t have found themselves in that position. That there is now a kayak rental at the Bell St Marina will only increase the potential for these sorts of incidents. Of course I’m speculating as I didn’t hear about this before now. I will say that the concept of experience equates expertise is inaccurate.
September 10, 2014 at 1:55 am #813154
pelicansParticipantMark, while I didn’t know about the new buisness at Bell St., I fervently hope they educate their customers and stress safety above all before sending them out. It’s great that this discussion is taking place-I only wish it had happened earlier in the season.
September 10, 2014 at 4:42 am #813155
miwsParticipantThat sounds like it might be Alki Kayak Tours recently opened Waterfront location:
http://kayakalki.com/bellharbor/
Kaci Aitchison did a feature one morning last week, on the Q13 Morning News, going out with Greg (I believe owner Whitaker—website shows two “Gregs” on Staff)
From what I recall of the feature, Greg took safety seriously.
Mike
September 10, 2014 at 1:28 pm #813156
mark47nParticipantMy mention of what is Alki Kayak Tours at Bell St Marina as wasn’t meant to be about Greg’s business so much as it was about knowledgeable and unskilled folks renting boats in what is a busy waterfront. There isn’t anything Greg can really do about folks putting themselves in harms way except refuse to put them in boats. Also, I don’t know that they were customers of Greg’s, just that he’has a branch located there.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.