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The Seattle Sea Kayak Club is the place where novices and experts swap stories, share kayaking info, and have fun doing it. The club has an informal social atmosphere which fosters opportunities to meet other paddlers. The club offers a regular monthly newsletter, monthly meetings, and trips.

We are not a large club. We don't even have business meetings or elections. We seek to maintain a friendly, personal type of atmosphere where club members can get acquainted easily.

Meetings at REI

Meetings cover a variety of topics and frequently include slides, videos, guest speakers, and story exchanges. Meetings are typically at the REI Flagship store in Seattle on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. There's no meeting in December. June is an outdoor potluck, and July and August we're all gone paddling. Please feel free to bring guests.

Missed "Paddle to Swinomish", last July 25 - 31? More than 100 canoe families paddled (some for three weeks) from places all over Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, arriving in a downpour at Swinomish (across from La Conner) to share their traditional songs and dances over the next six days and nights. This was the 22nd annual "Paddle to" event -- the first, "Paddle to Seattle," was in 1989 with only 9 canoes. 

Join Tom Steinburn and Gail Hermanson as they share their images and stories about this fantastic week.

Membership

Dues for joining the Seattle Sea Kayak Club and becoming part of this enthusiastic and creative organization of kayakers are only $15 per year - single, couple, or family. You may join at the club meeting or by mailing in an application form.

If you join between October 1 and December 31, pay $18 for a 15-month membership (that is, through the end of the following year).

Newsletter

The newsletter contains a broad variety of information related to sea kayaking, from updates on gear and environmental issues to events around Puget Sound, and reports from club members on trips and kayaking experiences. The newsletter also prints requests for people seeking paddling partners, ads for used boats, etc. We welcome (ok, beg for) contributions from members.

Trips

The kayak club offers trips which range from short evening paddles to long weekends and week-long trips. The2012 trip schedule has just over 50 trips and events. The trips are open to SSKC members and their guests. The club also assists members in getting paddlers together who want to do longer expeditions.

We have an annual Trip Planning Party for all members, this year on January 21, 2012. You need not be an expert kayaker to offer a trip, but you should select a trip that is comfortable for your skill level. You may come prepared with ideas for trips or get advice at the planning party from other, more experienced members. Trip schedules usually come out in late February. We mail them with the newsletter, or upon joining the club, and keep the schedule up to date on the website (for members only) with additions and corrections.

UPDATE 5/31/11: New Orca Approach Regs in Effect and San Juan County Park Permits

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued new regulations to protect Southern Resident killer whales (orcas). These regs change the approach limit from 100 yards to 200 yards, and prohibit boats from intercepting a whale or stationing a boat in the path of a whale. The so-called "no-go zone" along the west coast of San Juan Island was dropped from the proposed regulation, largely due to political pressure. In commenting on the original proposal,  SSKC had recommended a kayaker education program funded by permits issued at San Juan County Park. The county put this in effect last year for all launches at that park. For more info, visit the county's website.