Sea Kayak Training Weekend

Smith,Tangier,Watts Islands Kayak Trip

2008 Dates coming soon...

 We are starting off the 2008 season with one of the great Chesapeake Bay kayak trips. Join us as we spend Memorial Day weekend island-hopping across the Chesapeake Bay and exploring the area that so captivated Captain John Smith when he first sailed these waters exactly 400 years ago. Our route will see us paddling between some of the most intriguing and wildlife-filled islands of the lower Chesapeake, including Smith Island in Maryland, and Tangier, Watts and other islands in Virginia. This three-day, two night kayak skills development course will focus on developing higher-level kayaking and expedition-related skills.  Since it will involve several extended (3-5 mile) open-water crossings, it is designed for paddlers who have at least intermediate kayak bracing and kayak rescue skills. The trip will include one night spent at a Bed & Breakfast and another camping on a remote – and spectacularly beautiful – island. 

This is another opportunity to integrate kayak skill development with great kayak touring. Throughout the trip, we will be working on refining old skills and developing new ones as we paddle between the islands. By the end of the weekend you will have been exposed to – and have had a chance to practice – all the elements of our regular ACA Level 3 sea kayak training and portions of the Level 4 kayak training curriculum. You’ll learn new kayak strokes (e.g., bow rudder, hanging draw, low brace turn) and have an opportunity to practice them in open water conditions. In addition, you’ll develop more confident edging, build up your repertoire of safety skills (e.g. Eskimo rescues, towing) and expand your knowledge of kayak navigation.   

Itinerary

On Friday (day 1), the group will meet at the Crisfield dock and take the 12:30 ferry to the village of Ewell on the northwestern tip of Smith Island.  After packing up the boats, we’ll spend some time reviewing the charts and discussing navigation issues before setting off on the 11 mile trip from Smith to Tangier island. We’ll first wind our way through the myriad channels of Smith Island, then island-hop south along the chain of small sandy islands that link Smith and Tangier. These islands are the habitat of (literally) thousands of swirling, diving birds such as oyster catchers and pelicans. At multiple points along the way we’ll be introducing and working on new strokes and rescue skills. A particular emphasis will be placed on practicing kayak bracing skills and executing swift, efficient and effective kayak rescues. 

Smith and Tangier islands are the home to tiny, tight-knit communities whose friendly residents primarily make their living from the waters of the Chesapeake. And they retain a dialect that has its roots in Elizabethan English.  You’ll get to experience some of this charm when we spend our first night at a local B&B on Tangier. It is a cozy and very comfortable small hotel that serves spectacular family-style dinners and breakfasts. The dinners are of legendary proportions and include crab cakes, crab fritters, baked Virginia ham; hot corn pudding, coleslaw, home-baked bread, vegetables, etc. If you’re able to stand up after this feast, we can spend some time exploring the narrow streets and quaint homes and shops of Tangier.  

Saturday (day 2) is the day for the big crossings. We will head first for Watts Island, which sits literally in the middle of the Bay and from which we’ll have 360 degree water views. The 5 mile crossing can be challenging even in moderate winds, but provides a great opportunity for practicing open water maneuvers and rescues.  After a short lunch break on Watts, we’ll take off on another four-mile crossing, this time heading for one of the small islands that lie off the coast of Virginia’s eastern shore.  This is where we’ll camp for the night. It is nothing if not spectacular: a totally remote setting, a broad sandy beach, stunning sunsets, a protected cove on one side, channels with swift currents – it’s got it all. Since we expect to arrive in mid-afternoon, we’ll have plenty of time to set up camp and then spend another hour or two practicing skills in the cove, the channels or on the open water. 

On Sunday (day 3) the group will work its’ way northeast toward the take out at Saxis. We’ll be following a string of small islands (Halfmoon, Lower Bernard, Upper Bernard) that have 1-2 mile crossings between them. During this part of the trip, a major focus will be on practicing navigation skills as we test our ability to “nail” our course to each successive island.  This 11 mile leg of the trip is pretty special. To the west is nothing but water; to the east nothing but acres and acres of marshland, including the Saxis Wildlife refuge. There are only a few faintly visible, scattered houses, no motorboats screaming around and no people – it’s just us in our boats, the Bay, birds and marsh life. Which produces mixed feelings upon arriving at the take out in mid-afternoon. On the one hand, you’re looking forward to a hot shower and a beer; on the other, you’re really sorry that one of the great trips is over.  If the group wants to, we can extend this a little by going to Crisfield for a great, great rockfish dinner at a local restaurant before heading home.

Last modified: January 16, 2023