Orcas Island Circumnavigation - 4-Day Labor Day Paddle

We are going to circumnavigation Orcas Island. We'll roll our kayaks onto the 7:20 a.m. ferry Friday from Anacortes and return from Orcas on the 12:05 p.m ferry Monday (Labor Day). We will launch and land at the northwest corner of Orcas Island ... transport for ourselves and our kayaks to and from the ferry dock has been arranged. Along the way, we will stop at Jones, Blind, Clark, Matia and Sucia islands, with substantial hiking available on Sucia Island.

Sign-up Requirements: This will be a 39 nautical-mile, Grade IV, four-day journey, (including a 16 n.m. day) in open, exposed, cold water, with possible wind and waves and moderate current rip. The paddle will have moderate current assist most of the way. To sign up for this paddle, you must be an intermediate or beyond paddler with good boat-handling, bracing, re-entry, and rescue skills, training and recent practice, and you must be able to paddle a sustained 2.5 knots pace. The required kayaking experience and skills need to be documented in your meetup-profile information and your answers to the sign-up questions. RSVP's without answers to the sign-up questions may be deleted.

Start-up Alternative: If a few paddlers want to go to Orcas Island Thursday evening, deluxe hotel accommodation for Thursday night, for ~$200 total shared, is available in Orcas within kayak-rolling distance of the ferry dock.

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RSVP: The RSVP will be waitlist only as an expression of interest. The trip will be populated from the waitlist, with a party size of approximately four. Demonstrated capability of doing the paddle and a history of easy-going, sunny disposition and cheerful teamwork on prior paddles are the preferred characteristics for the paddle-group. Coming on some of the event host's prior day-paddles is recommended, plus the day-paddles are a lot of fun!!!!

Camping, Meals and Misc. Logistics: We will camp at Cascadia Marine Trail and State Park island campsites. Each person will be responsible for his/her own camping gear and meals. Each person will chip in his/her share of camping fees. Water can be restocked at Jones Island, Obstruction Pass and Sucia Island.

Parking, Roll-on and Kayak Transport Logistics: We will offload and park at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal (overnight parking $30 for up to 96 hours). We'll roll our kayaks onto the ferry to and from Orcas (~$26 westbound, free eastbound). To work with the weekend's currents, we will launch and land at Enchanted Forest Road End beach, at northwest Orcas Island. Transport between the ferry dock and the launch/land location for ourselves and our kayaks has been arranged for $200 total round-trip. This cost will be shared equally. The transporter will store our kayalk wheels and, if the full circumnaviation cannot be achieved due to adverse wind conditions, can pick us up at a bail-out location.

Equipment Requirements: Kayak, paddle, pfd, paddlefloat, pump, sprayskirt, warm hat and waterproof hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and snacks, VHF radio if you have one, immersion gear, kayak boots, kayak wheels, boat light. Camping gear, food and water.

Immersion Gear: Wearing immersion gear, a dry-suit or a wetsuit, is required on this paddle.

Conditions and Contingency: This paddle is contingent upon wind and weather conditions that are acceptable for this paddle. If conditions are too rough for this paddle but acceptable for a more protected paddle, we may do a different, more protected paddle route.

Miscellaneous Requirements: This paddle may also posted on the Washington Kayak Club website, and, per their insurance requirements, all participants will need to sign a Waiver and Release of Liabilty, similar to the WKC Waiver (http://www.washingtonkayakclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=821680&module_id=158094). A copy will be available for signatures at the meeting location.

Waiver and Indemnification: This is not a guided paddle nor a kayaking-skills lesson. In signing up for this paddle, each sign-up-ee certifies that he/she has the required kayaking skills and experience described in the "Sign-up Requirements". Kayaking activities have inherent risk and each sign-up-ee acknowledges that kayaking activities have risk of injury or even death, and signs up and participates entirely and exclusively at his/her own risk.