Orcas Island Event: West Sound to Blind Island RT - L2

When
September 18, 2026
8:15 AM
Location
Four Winds Bay
Spaces left
6

Registration

Members with wet exit certification
Active club members with wet exit certification, including kayaking professional and lifetime.
TO and Safety
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Full Name:: Tom Waldron
Email address::thomaswaldron1952@gmail.com
Phone:: 5037061505
Activity Title:: Orcas Event: West Sound to Blind Island RT
Date of Activity:: 9/18/2026
Narrative:: Starting north from Four Winds Bay, we’ll paddle along the coast line of West Sound to the Orcas Ferry Terminal. From there, we'll cross Harney Channel to Blind Island Marine State Park, stopping for lunch. There are restrooms on Blind Island and 360-degree vista of Shaw and Orcas Islands. Note that there is no potable water available on the island.

After our stop on Blind Island we’ll travel west, along the coast line of Shaw Island. A half mile past Broken Point, just before Wasp Passage, we’ll cross behind Bell Island to Caldwell Point on Orcas Island. From there we’ll continue north along the Orcas coastline, circumnavigate Double and Victim Islands, before returning to Four Winds.

Paddling around 3 knots, time on the water, including lunch, should be between 5 -6 hours.. Distance approximately 11 miles.

Meeting Time:: 8:15:00 AM
Launch Time:: 9:00:00 AM
Type of activity:: Paddle Trip
Put in:: Four Winds Bay
Take out:: Four Winds Bay
Route Alternative for bad weather:: N/A
Required equipment::
Minimum Immersion protection:: Drysuit
Primary Organizer:: Tom Waldron
Co-Organizer(s):: TBD
Has organizer paddled here before?: No
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before?: No
Organizer's first aid and CPR current?: Yes
First Aid /CPR Person::
Maximum number of paddlers:: 10
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy:: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature:: 50 - 60 degrees F
Estimated Water Temperature:: 45 - 55 degrees F
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch):: 5 - 6 hours
Tide times & heights:: 9/18/26
Low: 0.36 ft 4:29 AM, High: 6.82 ft 1:36 PM, Low: 5.96 ft 7:05 PM
9/19/26
Low: 0.62 ft 5:31 AM, High: 7.01 ft 2:40 PM
9/20/26
Low: 0.79 ft 6:39 AM, High: 7:14 ft 3:26 PM, Low: 5.45 ft 9:39 PM

Current information:: 9/18/26
Ebb: -1.15 Knots 12:54 AM, Slack before flood 4:43 AM, Flood: 0.89 Knots 8:51 AM, Slack before ebb 1:08 PM, Ebb: -0.36 knots 3:22 PM, Slack before flood 5:53 PM
9/19/26
Ebb: -1.07 Knots 1:36 AM, Slack before flood 5:32 AM, Flood: 0.9 Knots 9:59 AM, Slack before ebb 2:15 PM, Ebb: -0.37 knots 4:44 PM, Slack before flood 7:43 PM
9/20/26
Ebb: -0.95 Knots 2:28 AM, Slack before flood 6:24 AM, Flood: 0.95 Knots 10:55 AM, Slack before ebb 3:01 PM, Ebb: -0.48 knots 5:52 PM

Hazards:: Shipping traffic
Wind strength:: Level 2: 7-12 knots (14 mph) – wind noticeably effects movement of paddle
Waves, Swell, Breaking Waves: Level 2: Waves up to 2', no breaking waves
Sea state:: Level 2: Waves up to armpit; light to moderate chop, scattered whitecaps
Landing types:: Level 3: Bad footing, rocky shores, or surf up to 1.5'
Currents:: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance:: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing:: Level 1: Less than 0.5 miles
Paddling Environment::
Overall rating:: Level 2
Rating Comments::
Location:: Four Winds Bay, Orcas Island
Photos (Optional)::
COVID-19 Status of Trip:: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Tide Station:: Orcas Tide Station
Link to map of route (Optional):
:

Oregon Ocean Paddling Society
Portland, Oregon