Orcas Island Event - West Sound to Blind and Return - L2

When
September 19, 2026
9:30 AM
Location
West Sound
Spaces left
6

Registration

Members with wet exit certification
Active club members with wet exit certification, including kayaking professional and lifetime.
TO and Safety
Password Reserved for TO use

Full Name:: Ed Johnson
Email address::tenofthese@gmail.com
Phone:: 410.703.4793
Activity Title:: West Sound to Blind and Return
Date of Activity:: 9/18/2026
Narrative:: We will meet at West Sound 9:30 and launch at 10:00. Parking is limited. Our paddle will be a clockwise loop to take advantage of the westward current through Cayou Channel. We follow the eastern shoreline of West Sound until we near the Orcas ferry terminal. We’ll raft up, rest, assess boat traffic before crossing the Cayou Channel over to Shaw Island. Then we paddle east to Blind Island Marine State Park where we’ll stop for a break. The we’ll paddle west along Shaw Island with a helping push from the current until we reach Broken Point. From there we will cross over to Caldwell Point on Orcas Island and along the west side of West Sound past Algeria Island, Double Island and Victim Island. We eventually we’ll turn east and cross back to our put-in. 
Meeting Time:: 9:30:00 AM
Launch Time:: 10:00:00 AM
Type of activity:: Paddle Trip
Put in:: Orcas Island Yacht Club, 876 Deer Harbor Rd, Eastsound, WA 98245
Take out:: same
Route Alternative for bad weather:: No crossing
Required equipment::
Minimum Immersion protection:: Drysuit
Primary Organizer:: Ed Johnson
Co-Organizer(s)::
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:: 60
Estimated Water Temperature:: 55
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch):: 5hrs
Tide times & heights:: 09/18/26: H 6.8 ft (1:37pm); 09/19/26: H 7.0 ft (2:40pm); 09/20/26: H 7.1 ft (3:26pm)
Current information:: Current information is available for Harney Channel and Wasp Passage. At approximately 10am the current will be flowing westward through the Cayou Channel from Harney Channel (0.9kt) toward Wasp Passage (1.7kt, 1mile west Broken Point). These current speeds are almost the same on Fri, Sat and Sun when we would be making the crossings.

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 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
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 2: Between 0.5 and 1 miles
Paddling Environment::
Overall rating:: Level 2
Rating Comments:: If wind is blowing from the west, counter to the current, waves may become a factor.
Location::https://maps.app.goo.gl/KBpJQS1yAPKcDhvG9?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im
Photos (Optional)::
COVID-19 Status of Trip:: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Tide Station:: Orcas Island near ferry terminal
Link to map of route (Optional):
:

Oregon Ocean Paddling Society
Portland, Oregon