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Deception Pass Summary
allipp@…12/11/21 #30663
The predicted strong west wind did show up just prior to the race. The timeline going from seemingly flat conditions, to small whitecaps, to full on raging fury was about 15 minutes! This dramatic effect was most likely a result of the beginning of the ebb.
The first wave of racers started at 9:07, with the second wave at 9:20. Watching the first group take off, I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. When our group took off, the fast surfskiers Egor, Andrew and Don jumped out front, followed by Mike and I on the OC2, and then Beau and Gavin on their OC1s. Not very far into the race, just past the headlands of the bay, we already encountered a couple rowing shells in the water. Don slowed down to ask the first guy if he needed assistance, and as we came upon the next shell, we asked her if she was OK she said she was fine and just waiting for the safety boat which was only 50 meters heading straight to help the guy near Don. Based on the official boat being right there and her assurance that she was fine, we continued on. Beau, a bit behind us got a little less robust response from her, but after a brief stop continued on.
As we headed for the island, the only guys I could see were Andrew and Egor, and the bouncier and sloppier it got, the closer we got. They also headed way wide of the island, and Mike and I cut it pretty close, so we got around the island apparently ahead of them, unless they were told to turn around. In any case we appeared to be in the lead with only one first heat OC1 in front of us. We then proceeded to catch some absolute bombs!! As we approached the headlands a safety boat heading out from the pass informed us that the race was over and we should go in.
We turned left and headed back for Bowman Bay, and Gavin from SPOCC in his OC1 came up to us and pointed out a kayaker in the water. We went to assist, I held the nose of his kayak as he attempted, and failed three remounts. At that point a safety boat came and got him loaded up.
We decided to stay out and surf and did about 3 more short loops before calling it a day when a Coast Guard cutter herded us to shore! Despite the chaos and carnage, there was quite a safety crew, with at least 4 boats, a jetski and two Coast Guard cutters hanging out outside the island!
beau whitehead 12/11/21 #30664
Great recap Alan. That was so much fun, even though it only lasted about 10 minutes. As we charged out toward Deception Island I must have had a huge grin on my face as I was thinking “finally, a true open ocean race!” The swell and waves kept building with every paddle stroke. Some of those sets easily equalled the biggest days we get when we go there specifically to surf and the biggest I've seen inside Bowman Bay. That joy all came to a halt when I saw the first person swimming. And then the second, and then the third. Etc, etc. I quickly realized the true reality; that there were many, many people out there who shouldn't have been and now they were in trouble. “This is why we can't have nice things!” The first wave of racers started 20 minutes ahead of us, and many had not made it half-way to Deception Island yet before the trouble started. As I started to round Deception Island, a jet ski approached and said the race was cancelled. Had a great surf back to shore and a few more laps after that.
Thanks to the organizer, who I'm sure is going to take a real beating over this. He had more rescue boats out there than any local race I've been to. Coast Guard Tweeted there were 15-20 “capsized kayaks” rescued today.
PS: I'd love to hear how coming back through Canoe Pass was for Ian and looking forward to Denises' video (-:
Michael Lee 12/11/21 #30665
Another example of ocean conditions going from calm to insane in a few short minutes.
While speaking with another paddler before the race, I remarked that during the overnight windstorm, I wondered if the race would be called off. A race organizer overheard my comment and replied that the Deception Pass race is a rough water event and would never be called off due to conditions.
While I understand that rough water races can be fun and challenging, race organizers need to account for the varying skill levels inherent in any race field.
As Alan mentioned, the race went off in two waves, with the first wave being for recreational paddlers. Today was not a rec paddler day.
Michael J. Lee
Reivers Dustin 12/11/21 #30666
But wait, there's more!!! The change was bigger than you might get from reading Alan's post. It was so flat when I showed up I was thinking small rudder.
Then when the first wave was putting boats in Alan mentioned to me: “here comes the wind.” And as he said this a fiesty puff blew through. There was some small beach break and it started to get more consistent. Fun to watch boats trying to get off the beach. All kinds of skill levels on display. Finally first wave got away and it was clearly lumpy, but not like the 2008 run. Yet.
For second wave getting off the beach was quite a thing. Saw a few putting their boats in parallel to shore and getting spanked because they were sitting still broadside for the little breakers. As I looked toward the island I could see whale-backs once in a while. Waves that were big enough to break the horizon line. Not too many foamers - breakers. Second wave started and I was way behind the line with my feet out. Took me a while to catch the SUPs, then catch a few OC's. Then as we got past that point to South of Bowman bay the waves filled out with some really big rebound. I was struggling. Looking ahead it seemed the waves did not clean up closer to the island. My thinking was that this was building even more, not stabilizing. I put my feet out. Gave the whole thing an agonizing reappraisal. The brain cell raised up a little red flag. I wheeled it around and started working my way back to start line. Don't know if they had called the race off yet or not. But there were quite a few folks headed back with me. There were safety kayaks watching over me as I clawed my way back. Once out of the rebound zone I caught some really big rides. LB and another guy helped catch my boat at the shore line. But a boomer caught me from behind and I got rolled in the surf a bit. And lot of driftwood had come off the beach so the shoreline was a mess. Somebody got a photo of me covered in seaweed as I came up the beach. It was a whole different breaker zone at the beach by this time.
I noticed a bunch of ambulances in the parking lot. Didn't see anybody getting aid, but looked like the flag was up to get responders on station. They've always done a good job on having rescue boats out there, but this was all hands. I saw jet-skis, sherriff's boat and finally saw the big CG cutter. People were checking in so the organizers were counting heads. Lot of bullhorns telling people to check in so they could focus on anyone still out. Most of us were standing around jazzed with adrenalyne telling our stories. The big worry was the first wave folks. There were some that made it around the first island before conditions erupted. So how were they going to get back? One of our Surfski guys, Ian, made it through the bridge and back, but fortunately cut across Canoe pass (where the portage is). At some point in the parking lot I saw a CG Helecopter going low over the bay. The aircraft worked the bay quite a bit. I didn't notice anyone missing, but maybe some folks did not check-in before they left the parking lot.
Talking about it, the good runs would be on the other side of the pass at West Beach. I guess that's where the kids go for the rides. This start in Bowman bay is really vulnerable to a building westerly. I kept looking out there and it continued to grow. There were monster breakers all around the island and all the way across the west side of the bay. There's an exposed rock and you could watch spume firing off out there from the rollers. So I don't know if we'll be allowed to do another one of these. This woke up all the responders and they are probably thinking we are damn fools. But how about hang gliders? Rock climbers? Even mountain bikers have safety problems. I will grieve if anyone got hurt today. But I'm not asking for my money back. I like being able to make my own judgements, testing myself and my equipment. A buddy drove up from Bend for this. I met a neat couple who came down from Vancouver, BC for this. I like it rough.
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Michael Lee 12/11/21 #30667
I agree with Beau, I had fun surfing some big waves. However, seeing so many boats in the water made it clear that this should have been classified a race for experienced wave paddlers only.
Just my two cents.
Michael J. Lee
Stacey Wenger 12/11/21 #30672
What a fantastic description of the race, Reivers! Wish you would post this on Hood River Smallboats FB!
We’ll done!
Stacey C in Underwood WA
Denise Weeks 12/11/21 #30675
It’s true, Larry, I did take another lap after the race was called off, but I was not doing all that well with those big waves, the gusts, the kelp obstacles, other paddlers going this way and that, and my own general confusion. I think I need better glasses. What were those blinking lights in the distance, and what was that thing sticking out of the water? And is someone standing on the island? And is that guy talking to me?
So the footage doesn’t showcase any nifty wave riding, but hopefully it shows the growing conditions everyone has mentioned and what I saw going out to the island and back.
Thanks, everyone, for helping all the incoming paddlers and for hanging around and sharing stories for an hour or more afterward. It was hard to tear ourselves away from what we did and what we almost did.
Dan Mahar 12/11/21 #30676
Bowman Bay Beach Landings.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
allipp@…12/12/21 #30677
This race blew up all over social media and the news. On Facebook the 'Skagit Breaking' group had a report, followed by over 100 comments, most of which appear to be by landlubbers that have no idea about paddling. Kiro 7 news reported that “Over 20 kayakers were rescued by the Coast Guard” . Can we fact check that? Because, while the Coast Guard was present and did send out a launch, I'm pretty sure most of the rescues were made by the boats the race director hired for that very purpose.
I'm hoping this race doesn't jeopardize jeopardize future races around here.
Larry Bussinger 12/12/21 #30678
I saw at least three boats and paddler(s) brought back to shore by the rescue vessels when I was standing there.
Larry Bussinger
ana house 12/12/21 #30679
Wow! what an experience! This is my seventh year paddling (third Deception Pass race) since I discovered this amazing sport/obsession and I have to say that yesterday's race was both humbling and inspiring for me. I've been out in conditions many times over the years and have never seen such rapid escalation of wind/waves/current combo as a I saw yesterday! I wonder if Mother Nature decided we all needed a a dose of humility! I'm glad we got that lesson surrounded by our paddling brothers and sisters instead of being caught out there alone without our warrior tribe around us to band together.
I was about 1/3 of the way to Deception Island when I saw a woman hanging on to her rowing shell, unable to re-enter. I stayed with her until the rescue boat got her on deck, in case she started slipping from her boat. This set me back about 8 minutes and I had to really bust it if I were to make it through the pass against the building tide (I was in the second heat). After a few more minutes of effort heading toward Deception Island, I realized that I had probably missed my window to make it through the pass and was paddling in conditions above my pay grade. I turned around, started surfing back in, and came across another paddler who couldn't remount his boat. I stayed with him until another rescue boat could load him up, then I quickly got back to the boat ramp to try to assist with paddlers coming in.
After having a little time to process this experience, I have come to a number of conclusions:
1. Even with the best preparations and precautions, conditions can waylay our best-laid plans.
2. What we do is safe - until it isn't. We can only prepare so much for the unexpected and I feel yesterday's race was well organized/run and I hope the race directors don't get pummeled too badly by non-paddlers on social media who don't understand what we do and how quickly things change. All of the paddlers with whom I interacted after the race were all smiles and jokes about how we just got our asses kicked and that's paddling!
3. I feel fortunate to have discovered this sport and enjoy going to the races and hanging out with such cool people!
4. Especially in conditions like yesterday, I LOVE having an ama (no disrespect whatsoever to the skis, SUPs, kayaks, and rowing shells, I just really need my ama)!!!
I would like to thank the race directors for making yesterday's race possible and I will definitely be signing up for the next one!
Neil Plume
OC1
