Name: Fleets Island: Steve Frazier's Long Boat/Short Boat Paddle
Start: 2024-06-15T09:30:00-04:00
End: 2024-06-15T15:30:00-04:00

This is one of Steve's favorite paddles. Great paddle for a mix of advanced and beginner kayakers. Meet at 9:30, launch at 10:00.
Fleets offers an ideal location for a mixed group of paddlers with strong beginner skill levels in boats suitable for sheltered estuary waters, and those with appropriate Intermediate skills/boats to handle open water, wind and waves, to do a joint/separate mixed group paddle. Plus, it is one of the better coastal venues with enough parking space for a big group.
We'll spend a good bit of time on the Island's west side beach before continuing the paddle if weather conditions are nice, where folks can sit in the sun, hang out in the water, or take short excursion paddles as they wish using the beach as a staging point. After the paddle we will, in VA Paddlers tradition, go out for something to eat before heading home.
Fleets Island is located just east of White Stone, VA. You will find abundant wildlife, white sandy beaches, deep to shallow clear blue-green water, and great coastal scenery. The interior of the Island at Windmill Point Creek/Oyster Creek should be suitable for anyone with more than Strong Beginner level experience (true 'Beginners', not Novices) when launching from the county's Canoe/Kayak Launch Area. It is sheltered and provides a relaxed paddle opportunity for short/rec boats or for those with little coastal experience but interested trying saltwater. There is also access to open water, wind and waves if you feel comfortable trying it, and bailout opportunities if conditions kick up.
The open water area around Fleets Island is great for more experienced long boat paddlers wanting to enjoy serious wind, waves and distance. The underwater topography and shoals in this area can provide ample waves and swells for sea kayaking challenges if the wind is from the E to SW at 8+mph. At sustained levels above 10-12+ mph for any period of time, hang on, it'll be a blast!!
The county Canoe and Kayak launch and parking area that leads to the interior put in location is approximately 1/4 of a mile before our usual launch spot at the end of the road for long boat trips. Parking at this area is ample and short/rec boats may launch either from the floating dock or beside it after a short carry to the launch area.
The interior area paddle is approximately 6-7 miles, or more depending on how far you want to venture. It is well sheltered and suitable for Strong Beginner (true advanced beginners, not novices) level paddlers and rec boat kayakers. An open water island circumnavigation is around 12 miles, but due to possibly significant swells/waves if the wind is up please be aware that this paddle is more suitable for those with sea kayaks, appropriate equipment, and at least intermediate paddling skills (preferably in waves/sea conditions). For group and your own safety, spray skirts are necessary and are to be used by anyone doing the long boat trip out into the Rappahannock and the Bay.
We usually stop for a rest on the beach at the Island's west side.
Short/Rec Boats should meet for the Oyster Creek interior launch area at the Canoe/Kayak Launch parking lot on the west side of Windmill Point Road (SR695), located approximately 1/4 mile before the end of the road.
Sea kayak/experienced paddlers can opt to launch on the beach at the end of SR695 for the more open conditions paddle. Please park by pulling in instead of parallel to save more room for others. Parking space is very limited at this area consider offloading your boat and equipment then moving your car to the Canoe/Kayak Launch parking lot.
Be sure to bring plenty of water to drink and something to snack on. I would like to limit this paddle to roughly 10 long and 10 short paddlers. Contact me to bring a guest.
REMEMBER THE MANDATORY VA PADDLERS POLICY FOR PARTICIPATION IN OUR GROUP THAT PFDs WILL ALWAYS BE WORN AND PROPERLY FASTENED WHILE WE ARE ON THE WATER - NO EXCEPTIONS.

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Fleets Island: Steve Frazier's Long Boat/Short Boat Paddle

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Fleets Island: Steve Frazier's Long Boat/Short Boat Paddle

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