SISKA's September 2020 Newsletter. Upcoming events, reports and articles

September 2020 SISKA Newsletter

Introduction

Dear Tony,

Thanks to those members who contributed photos and materials. After enjoying a SISKA event or paddle, please consider sending a short (100-150 words) summary article; for more information, contact one of us. If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!

Alan Campbell (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.

PPS: SISKA has a Meetup site for "impromptu" and other paddles organized by club members. For more details, go to https://www.meetup.com/SISKA-Meetup/. To join this, you have to be a club member.

PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR

Upcoming SISKA Events
Community Events of Interest
SISKA’s Annual General Meeting by Zoom – Wednesday, September 23 @ 7 pm
Rolling Practice on Mondays
Tips from the trips
Camp Cookery
Upcoming SKILS courses
Kayakin' Klips
Trip Reports
BC Marine Trails First Nations Engagement Program
Updating Your SISKA Profile is Easy Now!
Thinking of Buying a New-to-You Kayak?
SISKA Needs a New Meeting Place, Eventually…
To Buy or Sell
SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners

Upcoming SISKA Events

For more details, go to the SISKA website

Community Events of Interest

These events are not formally supported by SISKA, but considered to be of interest to a significant number of our members.

Any member may request an event to be included in this section by sending a note to chairperson@siska.ca.

SISKA’s Annual General Meeting by Zoom – Wednesday, September 23 @ 7 pm

by Alan Campbell

Since the Covid-19 pandemic will not be resolved in the next few months, it has been decided to hold SISKA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year virtually by Zoom, at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. You will receive formal notice of this meeting in early September by email, and be asked to install Zoom, a free download, on your device to participate in the video teleconference.
Our AGM is normally held each April to meet the requirements of the BC Societies Act as SISKA is a non-profit corporation. Typically, the first business is to confirm that a quorum of members is present. Under our bylaws, a quorum is 10% of the voting members (which is likely 35 as we currently have 344 members). The main business of the AGM is to approve the minutes of the last AGM, approve the annual financial report, receive any other reports of Club activities, and to elect or re-elect members to serve on SISKA’s Board of Directors. Unless there is any other business, the AGM is then adjourned.

Following our previous AGMs, which are usually fairly short, a regular monthly SISKA meeting has been immediately convened, and we have a presentation related to kayaking, the marine environment, or another topic of interest to members. Our Zoom meeting, a new experience for some, will require a little time at the beginning to get everyone online and oriented, but we are planning to make it as efficient as possible once we get going.
Then, once the AGM has been adjourned, we will begin our first monthly club meeting held by Zoom! We plan to have one of our accomplished SISKA members describe a unique kayaking adventure she had earlier this year.

Elizabeth Purdon, a PC Level 4 kayaker and Level 1 instructor, who recently circumnavigated Vancouver Island with her husband Bob, and paddling friend Marg Rees as “Bobby and the Sea Stars”, had the opportunity to paddle for several weeks in the Sea of Cortes, Baja, Mexico, with world-renowned kayaking legend, Freya Hoffmeister. Elizabeth impressed Freya (not easily done!) with her paddling skills and willingness to work hard to support this part of Freya’s current multi-year kayaking odyssey to circumnavigate North America. Elizabeth will share her experience with Freya by narrating an online slideshow she has created.
Mark Wednesday, September 23 on your calendar now and get ready to Zoom with SISKA!

Rolling Practice on Mondays

by BJ Porter

If your interested in practicing your rolling skills, BJ Porter has Mondays scheduled usually at Elk Lake or Oak Bay Marina. Let her know - bjporter108@gmail.com

Tips from the trips

by Lynn Baier

Rudder Cable Maintenance

On our recent trip to the North Brooks I learned a good lesson. I dutifully inspected my kayak for sea-worthiness before leaving and found a very slight fray in the steel rudder cable line where it disappears into the tubing inside the back hatch. I put down a bit of tape and declared it ‘fine’. We were day-tripping down to Orchard Point in active metre high seas when it broke. I had a beast of a time turning into Klaskino Inlet. When we found a friendly beach the repair was done. Fortunately I had brought along my repair kit and some handy repairers. Tony had switched over his steel cable and replaced it with spectra line, which has the strength of steel. This seemed like a good idea to me, as I know how to tie a knot but don’t trust my skill at crimping a steel cable, so I had some spectra line in my kit. The repair was quick and slick. I have now replaced the line on the other side along with another thimble and a bit of tubing, which are not essential in an emergency, but will prolong the life of the line.

NEED A BREAK or a BRAKE? Droop a piece of bull kelp over your hull to stop your kayak in moving water.

by Debbie Leach/Delcie

Camp Cookery

by Debbie Leach via Lynn Baier

Appetizer Idea

Cut cherry tomatoes in half, wrap in cooked, but still pliable, bacon and then toothpick skewer with a bit of lettuce. Voilà you have a BLT appetizer.

Upcoming SKILS courses

by JF Marleau

Note - SKILS have strict COVID-19 protocols for the safety of participants.

Kayak Surfing: September 10-11

Paddle Canada Level 2 skills/ SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide course: September 5-13 and September 19-27

Paddle Canada Level 3 skills course: September 19-23

Paddle Canada Level 1 instructor course: October 8-12

Paddle Canada Level 2 instructor course: September 21-25

For more information go to http://www.skils.ca/

Kayakin' Klips

by Debbie Leach

This is the start of a new column. Send us your clips to show "how to" do things. For example, Before you paddle off....practice your low brace. This helps you be ready for an unexpected wave.

Video HERE

Trip Reports

Dionisio Trip, Aug 9-12

by Alan Campbell

Amazing places are not far away!

Vancouver Island sea kayakers have many wonderful paddling areas to enjoy!
The Island's west, north and northern east coasts are popular choices, but logistics may be daunting for some, especially during the current Covid pandemic. Not to worry! There are plenty of gorgeous south Island destinations that are much more accessible but will still challenge your paddling skills.
Last week, Dave Chater and I were joined by 10 more SISKA members on a kayak camping trip to Dionisio Point on Galiano Island, that included a day paddle up the west coast of Valdes Island to Blackberry Point and the beautiful Valdes Cliffs. Although summer is coming to an end soon, this nearby trip is well worth considering for those with good paddling and camping skills. Jonathan Lomas created an excellent trip summary after we returned and agreed to share it with other SISKA members who may plan to do it themselves. Jonathan's trip report is included for you below, and complements the many photos we took and have shared at https://photos.app.goo.gl/txwjpg4ey7BKwkk18
At the very end of the photos you will find a very cool video/slide compilation created and shared by Konrad Sechley, another of our Dionisio paddlers - what a talented group!!
Happy paddling!
Alan

Galiano Island, Dionisio Point Provincial Park (SISKA Paddle), Aug 9-12, 2020 Map #’s 3442, 3443 and description in Mary Snowden Sea Kayak the Gulf Islands, pp. 130-131

Access and Launch: From Hudson Point just north of Fernwood Ave on N. Beach Rd, Saltspring Island. You can drive down onto the beach to unload and park along the road above.
Trip in: Took the 9:00am ferry to Fulford Harbour, drove to the launch site and arrived just after 10:00am. Left by 11:00 and did an immediate crossing to the south tip of Wallace Island. Stopped for lunch around 12:30 at a little cove on the other side to Conover Cove with all its campsites and washrooms (you could walk to Conover in 5 minutes from this lunch spot). After lunch we tracked the east coast of Wallace to Chivers Pt. and then did the crossing to Galiano (about 30 minutes in calm waters). An hour or more of paddling the west coast of Galiano got us to the northern tip for the passage through Porlier Pass at 2:30 slack tide. Even at slack there was a fair current, especially at the exit on the north east tip of Galiano and around the corner to the landing at Dionisio. Arrived at campsite around 4:00. Total distance 8.5NM.
Campsite ($5/person/night): About a dozen campsites are quite a way back from the beach and up the hill in a crescent among the trees. They are not very private and try to avoid #’s 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 for that reason. Best ones are #’s 1 or 2, with 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, and 14 not bad. There is a water pump (but you have to filter or boil the water) and two pit toilets that are serviced every day. There is a lovely lagoon at the back of the main beach that is great for swimming and great walks to the end of either of the points that define the cove. The sun sets just to the left of the view from the beach and can be pretty spectacular. Lots of bicyclists use this campsite. Wednesdays are the best (quietest) days to arrive. There is a second collection of campsites about 1km further back and closer to the water with ocean views. These are used mostly by the cyclists. There are three or four hiking trails of reasonable length (2-5kms).
Day Trips: On the first day we were windbound so did hikes along the coast and into the forest. One long ‘out and back’ hike starts in the park and takes the trail through the other campground and then beyond until you exit the park onto the unused tarmac private road. This road will take you many kilometres and there are various shore access trails down to the northeast coast of Galiano where you often find uninhabited or weekend-only cabins along the shore. You can also take a long loop trail within the park that goes out to the western point of the cove and then along to Porlier Pass before cutting back into the forest and returning to the campsite. These hikes are pleasant but not spectacular.
On the second day it was still windy but not as bad so we left with some drenching surf launches at 12:30 to catch the slack tide through Porlier Pass. It was an ‘exciting’ ride across the mouth at the eastern entrance to Porlier to get to the south end of Valdes and then a fast ride through Porlier’s currents before heading up the west coast of Valdes to the beautiful beach and views at Blackberry Pt for a late lunch. Half the group continued on for another 2NM to the cliffs and returned after about 1.5 hrs. Then the whole group cruised back to catch the slack tide at Porlier around 4:30, by which time it was pretty tame to cross and go through. Dionisio to Blackberry Pt and back was 10NM and for those who went on to the cliffs it was more like 14NM.
Trip out: The final day we waited until 1:00 for the slack through Porlier and got through with no trouble. We crossed in what were rising waters to the southern tip of Reid Island and then south to Mowgli and along the west shore of the Secretary Islands. Then we went along the west shore of Jackscrew where you can view a long series of amazing totems and other art work placed there by the private owners of the island. Coming out of Jackscrew into the Houstoun Passage we now faced a stiff 10-12 knot headwind for our crossing to the northern tip of Saltspring for a beach lunch there. Finally we had a grueling 2NM paddle right into the teeth of 15+ knot wind to get back down to Hudson Point. Got packed up and to Fulford in time to catch the 5:50 ferry.

Next time: Go in on a Wednesday to get one of the better campsites.
Note: Make very sure of the slack tide times to get through Porlier Pass!

Energizer Paddle – Whiffin Spit to Cabin Pt
August 23, 2020

by Dave Chater

On a gorgeous Sunday morning, 11 paddlers left Sooke’s Whiffin Spit for an Energizer Paddle to Cabin Point in East Sooke Regional Park. Total distance was approximately 8.5 nautical miles. The paddle was led by me and with Sandy Senyk as a co-leader for our group.

The waters off Whiffin Spit and over to Possession Point and Secretary Island can be quite “confused” and bumpy with the local currents, tidal action and winds. For this paddle, it was picture perfect with hardly a ripple and only gentle ocean swells. The weather and sea conditions allowed for exploring the varied shoreline along the route.

While it was picture perfect for paddling on our trip, it is always a good idea to remember that you are on an ocean, especially when in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is easy to get a false sense of security in these kind of conditions, when in fact it is important to maintain your situational awareness of the conditions around you. I and two other paddlers got surprised by a series of unexpected swells that broke into a series of large cresting waves just off Possession Point. Lots of bracing and ‘defensive” paddling but we all stayed upright and were able to carry on with the paddle. Lesson learned (especially for me as a paddle leader)!

The shoreline of East Sooke Park is spectacular and gives you the impression of being more in a wilderness setting rather than near a large urban setting. I have paddled here on lots of occasions, but I have never seen as many sport fishing boats out in this area between Beechey Head and Whiffin Spit as we saw on our paddle. I suspect there was well over 60 boats in this area. We did hear a few whoops and yells when a large fish was hauled in. We also heard a few grumbles over the radio when a fish was lost off the fishing line!

Our lunch stop was at Cabin Point which provides a small pocket beach that is well protected from the winds and waves. A perfect rest spot for our group.

After lunch, half our group took a small trip extension to Beechey Head (just east of Cabin Point) adding approximately 2 nautical miles to the paddle. The other half made their way back directly from Cabin Pt. to our launch point at Whiffin Spit.

Apart from the one “whoopsie” early in the paddle, overall, we had a lovely paddle in the late summer sunshine and at a fairly relaxed pace. Everybody made it back safe, sound and with big grins.

All-in-all a great day to be on the water.
Dave Chater, Trip Leader

BC Marine Trails First Nations Engagement Program

by Alan Campbell

SISKA supports the BC Marine Trails which is currently raising funds to support a specific engagement program with First Nations on the BC Coast.
Club members are encouraged to join the BCMT ($25/person, $40/family per year, online at https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/members/join-bcmtna) – the online map is invaluable! – and, in addition, to contribute directly to this important First Nations Engagement Program. The fundraising campaign is set to end September 30, 2020. You can donate online at
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bc-marine-trails-network-association/campaign/support-our-first-nations-engagement-program/
Here is a message from Paul Grey, BCMT President, from the last BCMT newsletter:
Dear Friends of the BC Marine Trails
The BC Marine Trails’ Vision is to link the entire B.C. coastline through marine routes and land sites for sustainable and safe water-based public recreation. Our First Nations engagement work shows not only respect but demonstrates a sense of camaraderie and partnership. This engagement, we believe, is a necessary step building an informal network of campsites, launch sites, and day use sites for paddlers today and in the future.
The First Nation’s people were the first “marine trail” users. The same features that make sites attractive to the BCMT, its visitors and friends, were used by First Nations groups over the millennia. The first use, and the importance of many of these sites, must be recognized generally, and when engaging with First Nations, and in many cases specifically by the BCMT. The BCMT first formed the First Nations Working Group in the Spring of 2019 and then hired a First Nations liaison and public outreach officer. From November to June 2020 we have been in discussion with at least 19 Nations. We have reached agreements with 8+ Nations to date.
Some of our current and future financial support has diminished during the pandemic. We need help building a marine trail network for everyone. If you are able to help, we would really appreciate a donation toward our goal.
Sincerely
Paul Grey
President BC Marine Trails

Updating Your SISKA Profile is Easy Now!

by Alan Campbell

Thanks to Webmaster Dave Ostapovich, the latest version of our SISKA website which was implemented a few months ago, makes it easy to keep your SISKA profile updated when changes occur.
Once you have signed on to the website, just click on the Members tab to see the options below, fill out the forms, save the changes and that’s it!

Change Your Password
Change Your Email Address
Edit Your Contact Info
Update Your Paddle Experience
Add Family Members(s)

Under Paddle Experience you can select your paddling level (Paddle Canada or self-assessed), note whether or not you have your Radio Operators Certificate and/or First Aid Certificate, and, if you are an instructor, the level you have been certified to teach.

Thinking of Buying a New-to-You Kayak?

by Alan Campbell

If you are in the market for a good used kayak, this is an excellent time to look!
Make sure you scan SISKA’s Facebook Gear Swap site, Used Victoria, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, MEC Gear Swap and the various retail outlets.
But also, at the end of the summer, so anytime now, many kayak expedition businesses have fleet sales, reducing the price of some of their kayaks, especially those that have been used for several seasons.
Here are links to a few of them to check if you’re interested – you’ll find more if you do a little searching around - and it’s worth contacting them to inquire if they haven’t begun their fleet sales yet:
https://bluedogkayaking.com/shop/fleet-sale/
http://kayakutopia.com/fleet-sale.html
https://www.oceankayaking.com/kayaks-for-sale
http://www.sealegskayaking.com/services/sales/used-kayaks/
https://www.coastoutdoors.ca/used-equipment/

SISKA Needs a New Meeting Place, Eventually…

by Alan Campbell

Of course, we are not planning any in-person, indoor SISKA meetings these days, and likely not for quite a while, considering the recent upward trend in new Covid case counts in BC.
Eventually, we will get through this and return to a more normal set of Club activities, including monthly meetings, but, sadly, we will not be able to use The Citadel’s rooms as we have in the past. The regional Salvation Army administration recently decided to discontinue rental use of any of their facilities to organizations that are not part of their church family of programs. SISKA and several other affected organizations were given formal notice of this about a month ago.
So, we are on the lookout for another rental facility that would accommodate our various meetings post-Covid when we are able to gather again. Ideally, it would have rooms of different sizes available, with access to kitchen, storage, and restroom facilities, be centrally located and have plenty of parking.
Since SISKA members often have connections with other organizations that may themselves have suitable facilities, we are letting you know about this now while we have plenty of time to come up with an alternative. If you do think of an option that might work, please contact Alan Campbell at president@siska.ca .Thanks!

To Buy or Sell

Marmot Tungsten 3 Person Tent - Green Moss colour

68D polyester taffeta PU coated fly
Zipper closure
Seam Taped Full Coverage Fly with Vents,
Free-Standing Design
Seam Taped Catenary Cut Floor
2 Vestibules

$150 - Email Tony - newsletter@siska.ca

If you have any buy/sell items that you would like to post in the Newsletter, please send a short description and your contact info to newsletter@siska.ca.

SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners

There are some fine discounts available from our kayak skills course partners for SISKA members who sign up for their skills training programs; have a look at https://siska.ca/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners2020.pdf

Our partners are: