We missed you today Doug. With a - 4.2 ebb flowing out of the Sooke Basin into what I estimate a 20 to 25 knot wind out of the SW we got to play in a sustained standing wave just off of Whiffin Spit. Michael Jackson brought his plastic Sirroco out to what the family calls "The Farm," and we launched from the bottom of the hill into a the receding tide. I almost called Michael in the morning. Our weather station on the roof was recording 15 to 32 knots out of the S. But, I figured the winds would slacken by the time MJ arrived. I used my back up Werner (Dr. Gori Veckian) Paddle just to stay familar and to spare the foam core carbon fibre from the rocks. Combined with a new helmet that fits, pookies and the knife like edge of the aforementioned Dr. Veckian I knew I'd be spending some time under water. My first static brace worked off side. Then the next, on side failed and down I went. Set up and back on top. Notes to self, change paddle angle by rotating wrists inside those popkies, leave the brain bucket in the water even though it feels like a sinking ship, until the last possible moment and relack. Back out into the standing waves for some surfing. Waves were steep with a very short frequency making it hard to get on the face and stay there for the ride. Most of my best rides came from the edge of the the big ones. From there I could get on the face throw in a correcting stroke and still stay on the face. Right on the green wall any sort of correcting stern rudder would mean you'd slow just enough to let the wave slide away under you. >From there we headed into the rock gardens that were being punded by wind waves from Juande Fuca Strait. Careful timing was key. We worked our way out past Simpson, Company and finially around Possession Point. Lots of driving rain smacking us right in the face as the winds out here we likely a sustained 25 knots. We rounded Jackass Rock and cut in for the phony water treatment plant at Silver Spray. MJ lead the way down the surge channel to the beach at the end. He got bounced side ways once and I thought his greenland stick was going to get turned into fire wood, but he threw in a nice correcting stroke and sailed on in. I decided speed was my best friend and raced to catch the wave and ride one breaker all the way in. Hot tea, light lunch and back on the water. The winds had slackened and MJ broke out the sail. Major envy as he surf sailed back and I paddled, surfed, paddled, paddled, surfed, paddled my way back home. Threw in another on side skulling brace coming off a wave and once again got to do a recovering role. Ditched the pookies and had no more trouble until back on the beach. After a number of roles I tried MJ's stick. Very nice on side. So over to the off side, minor ice cream head coming on, bad idea, paddle not right, recover sweep up on the other side. Got to shore, out of the boat, land won't stop moving, dizzy. Recover and lug boats back. Great day. Gordin Warner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Sounds like a great outing Gordin. Thanks again for the write-up. 35 knots is a little more fun, but infinitely more consequential if you blow it. I wasn't too far behind you. Took the kids and Yvonne for a hike down to Iron Mine Bay to walk-off the Easter Sunday turkey dinner. We were able to do some of the coast trail in the afternoon too. There were ice pellets falling furiously at one point, then rays of sun commingled with rain fell through onto the heavily moss covered tree trunks and the abundant ferns, through the thick canopy of trees. man, do I love our island. Funny, I remember looking out to Secretary Island where wind and tide were evidently in a much toned-down mood from earlier but still playful. I was thinking it would be great to be out there in my kayak ripping it up earlier. I was having more intercostal pain around my heart, so we had to head back. Passing by Whiffin Spit, I looked out to see if any kayakers were out. Funny, you were out there earlier in the day. I had my VHF radio with me, so had been monitoring sea conditions and wind speeds like I usually do, earlier in the day and then when hiking (helps me to know when the opportune time is to head over to East Sooke - in this case less rain and wind was better for the family - and helps me develop my observational skill with confirming sea state values when looking seaward). Lucky for you I can confirm your estimates were not exaggerated. :-) Anyone out there in Paddlewise land, both Gordin and I like to head out in our kayaks to this compact coastal rain-forest zone relatively close to home where rich deep green flora and lichen-covered cliffs backdrop a sometimes emerald green, sometimes molten silver-grey sea - while wind, waves, whitecaps and tide galore beckon city boys to come out and play. Doug Gordin (snip): > We missed you today Doug. With a - 4.2 ebb flowing out of the Sooke Basin > into > what I estimate a 20 to 25 knot wind out of the SW we got to play in a > sustained standing wave just off of Whiffin Spit. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Were you guys auditioning for that movie series that goes by the same name as the rock you rounded? :) Seriously, a nice report on a paddle way beyond my limits. Mark J. Arnold > From there we headed into the rock gardens that were being punded by wind > waves from Juande Fuca Strait. Careful timing was key. We worked our way out > past Simpson, Company and finially around Possession Point. Lots of driving > rain smacking us right in the face as the winds out here we likely a sustained > 25 knots. We rounded Jackass Rock and cut in for the phony water treatment > plant at Silver Spray. MJ lead the way down the surge channel to the beach at > the end. He got bounced side ways once and I thought his greenland stick was > going to get turned into fire wood, but he threw in a nice correcting stroke > and sailed on in. > Gordin Warner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Mark Arnold" <mjamja_at_earthlink.net> > Were you guys auditioning for that movie series that goes by the same name > as the rock you rounded? :) > > Seriously, a nice report on a paddle way beyond my limits. That rock is between Sooke Basin and it's various marinas and a well known fishing destination just off of Secretary Island. At certain tides the rock lies below the surface at the same depth of most propellers. Racing back with the coolers full of fish and bellies full of beer many fishermen have left their mark on the rock - thus the name. Gordin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:44 PDT