Kayak Academy Sea Kayaking 101, SK101

11 July 2023

So Sea Kayaking? The Holly Grail of Joy & Beauty? How did we get here? First a little background.

I live on small island in the Pacific Northwest nearer to Canada than Seattle and I’ve always been drawn to the water. And, more importantly, I have a lifelong love of sailing and beauty.

Many years ago when I had property settled into my island home, I rekindled my love of sailing. Fist with a 24 foot Bluenose Sloop and then a custom Shields 30 foot One Design.

Bluenose Sloop

LOA: 23’ 5: - LWL: 16’ - Beam: 6’ 4” - Draft: 3’ 8”
Displacement: 2,050 lbs - Ballast: 800 lbs - Sail Area: 218 ft2

Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death

Custom Shields One Design

LOA: 30’ 2: - LWL: 20’ - Beam: 6’ 5” - Draft: 4’ 9”
Displacement: 4,600 lbs - Ballast: 3,080 lbs - Sail Area: 360 ft2

Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death
Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death

Sea Kayaking 101 - The Grand Idea

Having sailed the San Juan Islands for countless hours, I’ve never really done any kayaking. I have a very vague recollection of kayaking with a friend 25 years ago, and I believe our day trip took us through Cattle Pass. But that’s it, all I really remember about kayaking is that I didn’t die.

So this first class is meant as a “Proof of Concept” test to find out if I like kayaking and if it can replicate my joy of being on the water.

Sea Kayaking 101 - The Aftermath

So my initial thoughts after taking the basic sea kayaking safety course from the Kayak Academy?

It was Fun: I had a blast taking the course. I’m not usually the course kind of guy. I’m more the “learn a bit and jump in” kind of guy.

It was Easier & Harder Than I Thought: I thought kayaking was kind of a simple thing where you row in a very unstable boat. Boy was I wrong. First the hard part seemed simple. I was surprise how stable the kayak felt. I went over a time or two but mostly because of the hard part, the myriad of paddle strokes. Any thought I had that kayaking wouldn’t meet my mental needs was gone.

I was Still on the Fence: I had fun, but wasn’t immediately “hooked”. But a seed had definitely been planted.

Sea Kayaking 101, Testing the Waters (11 July 2023) - Paddling Alone & Dodging Death

Lesson Kayak - P & H Scorpio MV

Length: 17’ 3” - Width: 22.8” - Volume: 317l



This kayak was a pretty good fit. Well as much as I could determine based on my inexperience.

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