This is a two day event at Deception Pass State Park near Anacortes, Washington. You can come for one day or both days. You can camp at Deception Pass State Park, or stay wherever you choose so long as you can be at the meeting location on time.
Deception Pass is the most popular state park in Washington state for good reason. It is the intersection of land and sea, with beaches, cliffs, a menagerie of wildlife that flies, swims, or runs, and millions of cubic feet of water move through a narrow opening with every tide cycle from Skagit Bay to the ocean and back again. It has several campgrounds, hiking trails, and boat ramps. There are restaurants and pubs within easy driving range in Oak Harbor and Anacortes.
BE ON TIME
Launch times are not flexible, as ocean tides do what they do when they do it and we must be ready. If you are late, you will be left behind.
If conditions are suitable, we will have a play day in the Deception Pass Narrows one day, primarily utilizing the ebb currents to practice peel outs, ferries, upstream attainment, and whatever other opportunities are available.
The other day will most likely be a tour. Depending on conditions, this could be a tour to Alan and Burrows Island on the west side of the park, or to Skagit and Hope Islands inside Skagit Bay east of Deception Pass.
All trip location decisions will be made on site at the time based on conditions. As with many saltwater paddling events, the primary environmental factor is the wind speed and direction.
Meeting place and time
Specific details of meeting time and place will be shared with participants closer to the event. In general, we will meet at either Bowman Bay Boat Ramp, or at the Cornet Bay Boat Ramp, depending on where we are going to paddle that day. There are other launching locations in the area that could be used if needed.
Be sure to bring your Discover Pass! You will likely get a ticket if you don’t have one. Note that a current camping receipt also works as a parking permit, but only until 1:00 PM on the day you check out of the campground. You can buy a Discover Pass at the park if you wish.
Trip Organizer’s Notes
This trip is an opportunity to develop our skills in the company of other paddlers. This is not a class. Everyone can bring skills that they want to work on. We will work together in mutual support of skills and safety.
Deception Pass Narrows is essentially a low-gradient, very high volume salty whitewater river, where the currents constantly change speed and also change direction with the ebb and flood of the tides. It is known for erratic currents and whirlpools.
For any potential Deception Pass Narrows paddling, participants must have previous experience paddling in currents, such as whitewater paddling or prior experience in Deception Pass. A roll is useful, but not mandatory. I expect people may capsize and either self-rescue or get rescued by others.
For the open water tours, especially any tours to Alan and Burrows Islands, participants must have OOPS level 3 experience and skills.
LAUNCH POINTS
In general, we will meet at either Bowman Bay Boat Ramp, or at the Cornet Bay Boat Ramp, depending on where we are going to paddle that day.
WEATHER
Weather Forecast: 7-Day Marine Forecast 48.41N 122.66W | Northern Inland Waters Including the San Juan Islands (
weather.gov)
Current Predictions: Deception Pass (Narrows)
Mean Flood Dir: 108° (T)
Mean Ebb Dir: 277° (T)
Date Time (LST/LDT) Event Speed (knots)
2024-04-02 02:36 AM ebb -4.24
2024-04-02 05:54 AM slack -
Sunrise 6:45 AM
2024-04-02 07:30 AM flood 1.52
2024-04-02 09:48 AM slack -
2024-04-02 01:00 PM ebb -5.53 Max Ebb
2024-04-02 04:42 PM slack -
2024-04-02 07:42 PM flood 5.17
Sunset 7:43 PM
2024-04-02 11:48 PM slack -
2024-04-03 03:30 AM ebb -4.92
Sunrise 6:43 AM
2024-04-03 06:54 AM slack -
2024-04-03 08:48 AM flood 1.89
2024-04-03 11:18 AM slack -
2024-04-03 02:06 PM ebb -5.24 Max Ebb
2024-04-03 05:42 PM slack -
Sunset 7:45 PM
2024-04-03 08:42 PM flood 5.21
Required equipment: Helmet, Towline
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Dennis Pennell
Co-Organizer(s): Ken Sund
