Surfski Knowledge Base

Most or all of these stories come from the Whatcom Paddlers message board archives. Context may be missing in some cases due to related threads that were missed, attachments to the original messages that are not included here, and web links in messages that no longer work. Some messages in the original threads may not be included because they were deemed to add little to the context (apologies to those authors) and we were trying to streamline the time consuming process of recording these stories to some extent.

Most of these stories were chosen for humor, exceptional paddling adventures and/or lessons learned from fortunately survived mishaps and mistakes. But some also involve very sad outcomes. The dates included in story listings are generally the dates of the first posts and not necessarily the exact dates of the happenings described.

• Dogfish and Subsurface Observations 12/11/2004

• Lost Paddle/Boat Stories 1/17/2005
• Bellingham Bay Boat Wakes 3/08/2005
• Boat Drop and Who Should the CG Rescue First 4/06/2005
• Surfski Double to Hales and Eliza 4/23/2005
• Two Epic Trips - Lummi and Back, Anacortes to Friday Harbor 6/19/2005
• Winter Rescue (Vancouver Is. Folks) 12/03/2005
• Soltice Paddle 12/22/2005 (night paddle with wind)
• Colonoscopy Prep (Stir with 1/2 Paddle)

• New Years Day 2006
• Saturday Morning Paddle 1/21/2006
• A Little Too Nuclear 2/04/2006
• Safety Story From SF 2/28/2006
• Jet Ski Run-in 7/27/2006
• M. Gregory vs 30ft Gill Netter 8/21/2006
  • Right of Way 2/07/2011
• Westport 11/05/2006
• Big Wednesday/Paddle Friction Fit Woes 11/15/2006
• Swimming with the Fishes 11/23/2006
• Monday Madness 12/11/2006 * Followup
  • Safety/Coast Guard Rescue
  • Kafuffle
  • Reply to Sharon
  • additional comments were included in other message threads…

• Wind Convergence 2/24/2007
• More Leash Stories 3/12/2007
• Forgive Us Our Trespasses (Vendovi Is.) 4/07/2007
• Swimming in Cold Water 4/10/2007
• Round Lummi Counter-Clockwise (Dean's Trip to Hell) 6/17/2007
  • LG's Eel Grass Ode (another Lummi Circuit) 9/01/2007
• Hood Canal Paddle 07/05/2007
• Howe Sound Accident and Safety Discussion 10/07/2007
• Kayak Sailing on Bay 11/20/2007
• Rescue of Ill-Prepared Paddler 12/22/2007 (and discussion of rescuing with a surfski)
  • Heather Untethered; Simon, On Time
  • Tsunami Ranger Rescue Story
  • Bob Putnam's Sprint Kayak Dump in Freezing Water
  • Towing Practice
  • More Self-Rescue Practice In Cold Water\Air

• This is Hard (When to Get On and Off the Water) and Leash Issues 1/12/2008
• A Rather Spritely Run (& can you hear my whistle) 1/19/2008
• A Very Sad Accident 1/31/2008 (November 15, 2007 incident)
• Steering Malfunction 2/13/2008
• RD on Safety Setup and Vietnam 4/09/2008
• Know Your Night Lights and Don't Paddle Over Tow Cables! 4/10/2008
• DJ Learns About Canadians from LG 4/23/2008
• Yeah, I've Been in a Kayak Before 5/22/2008
• Long Swim in SF Bay 5/26/2008
• Neah Bay/Hobucks Skisurfing 6/05/2008
• Westport and Paddling without a Rudder 6/18/2008
  • Ski Layup Strength and Cartop Carrier Load Stress
  • The New Think Lasagne
• Tug Wake Surfing 6/21/2008
• Another Lummi Is. Circuit w/ New Onno Paddle, & "205" 7/15/2008
• The Big Banana vs. The Big Corncob 8/18/2008
• When It Might Be Too Cold to Paddle 12/20/2008

• Leash Velcro Reliability And 40 mph Fronts 1/04/2009
• When Remounting in Cold Water Is Harder Than Expected 2/01/2009
  • More Hypothermia - Dunkin Dustin 2/02/2009
• Fine Whine (Cold and Snowing) 3/09/2009
• But Don't Forget About Sun Protection 3/27/2009
• The Clairvoyancy and the Ecstasy 4/11/2009
• Upside Downwinder - On the Edge of Uncomfortable 4/12/2009
• Surfski Balance Drill 7/17/2009
• July Madness - 1 month total mileage paddled competition
  • Single Day Length of Ross Lake and Back (~45 miles) (What Not To Do At The Border) 7/25/2009
  • Single Day Circumnavigation of San Juans (83 miles) 7/25/2009
  • Single Day Circumnavigation of Orcas Is. (62.3 miles) 7/28/2009
  • Results
• Wednesday Niter Collision With Swimmer 7/30/2009
• Just Another Windy Weekend 9/06/2009
• Paddle 2 Patos Island 9/28/2009
• Saturday Morning Paddle Unpacked: Lemmings? 11/01/2009|
  • Safety…
  • Winter Paddling and Future Downwinders 11/15/2009
  • No VHF? 11/19/2009|
  • Alfred E Newman Safety 11/21/2009
• Kite & SUP Downwind 11/05/2009
• Wake Ride on Bay & Waves on Lakes 11/05/2009

• New Year's CG Rescue 1/01/2010
  • Epic Paddle Lock Failure 1/04/2010
  • Storm Paddling Meeting 1/10/2010
    • Storm Paddle Checklist
• Rob Mousley on Paddling in Extreme Conditions 3/04/10
• Marine Park Ski Lift 4/06/10
• North American Odessey 4/22/2010
• Parking Lot Boat Damage 4/26/2010
• Sea Kayaker Rescue 6/01/2010
• Storm Season is Here - Beware 10/10/2010 (Working Your Way Up to Bigger Conditions)
  • B-Team Storm Paddling at Padden (More Working up to Rough Water) 10/24/2010
• Only in Bellingham 10/20/2010
• Phatboats 11/10/2010
• Sea Kayak vs Surfski 11/12/2010
• Epic Oahu Storm Paddling 12/10/10

• Port Townsend Kayaker Rescued 1/05/2011
• Inflatable PFD Test 1/24/2011
• Japanese Quake Tsunami 3/11/2011
• Lake Whatcom Wednesday Niter Rescue 4/14/2011
• Sailboat Wake Surfing 7/21/2011
• Mille Lacs Minnesota Fatality - Failed Leash 10/09/2011
• Wildcat Sidewinder 11/13/2011

• Survival at Sea (how fast the Bay changes) & Nordic Waveriding 1/02/2012
• OC6 Portland to Astoria 5/06/2012
• S2S Practice Canoe Run (Gnat what we expected) 5/07/2012
• Gale Warnings & Lk. Whatcom Downwind 10/14/2012
• Eel Grass Islands 10/31/2012
• To Downwind or Not to Downwind Bay w/ High SE Winds 11/03/2012

• Wed Niter Moved to Bay, Safety, Remounts 7/10/2013
• Brandon Nelson Paddles 151.87 Miles in 24hrs 8/21/2013
  • Afterwords
• Lemmings II: The Fog of Yore 8/31/2013
• Surfski Rescue "Practice" 9/23/2013
  • Wide Ranges of Experience and Ability, Primers for Newbies
  • First Big Wildcat Downwinder 9/24/2013
• Heavy Weather, Close Call, CG called with VHF 9/28/2013
• Whidbey Island Circumnavigation 10/24/2013
• Sea Kayaker Rescue on Bay 11/02/2013

• Lipp Units 4/04/2014
• Wind Changes and Choices 11/06/2014
• South Africa Surfski Race Fatality 11/17/2014
• Length of Lake Washington Race (Pedal Boat Trouble) 11/26/2014
• Unexpected Consequences, Big Ships, DSC, Cold water and Me 12/06/2014
• Surfers at Post Point Tree 12/10/2014
  • Remounts and Leashes 12/11/2014

• Regrouping, Bike Tumbles, and Foot Straps 4/03/2015
• Superlicious 4/04/2015
• Sequim Sea Kayakers Deadly Accident 4/13/2015
• Vancouver Island Circumnavigation Attempt 8/14/2015 ¹⁾
• Gusts 50+mph, Waterspouts, Leashes 8/29/2015
  • Was Bay Launch Wise, Leashes
  • Another Idea
• Rescue Assists & a Gorge Rescue Tale 9/03/2015
• Halloween Weeds 10/31/2015
• Open Canoe Crabbing on Bay 11/05/2015

• Rolling Surfskis & Did You Check Your Leash 1/27/2016
• Dress for Air or Water? 2/07/2016|
• Simon's Swimming Lessons 2/13/2016
• Typhoon Time 3/01/2015
• Coasties 3/03/2016
• Rough Water Downwind OC4 3/13/2016
• Surfing Marine Park 3/13/2016
• Maui Shark 5/06/2016
• Pre-winter Safety Round Table + 2 Group Paddle Stories 10/07/2016
• Best Day Ever 11\08\2016
• Another Good Day & New Winter Paddle Suits 11\12\2016

• Calling All Checklists (unleashed) 2/15/2020

• Orcas in Bellingham Bay 9/02/2007
• Paddle Quickly, Think Slowly (Local Orca History) 8/25/2008
• Whale Watch Guidelines 7/29/2009
• Orcas Off Lummi 12/26/2010
• Orca Bay Visit 5/04/2016
• Orcas in Bay Socializing at A Distance 5/27/2020

• Easter Whale Adventure 3/23/2008
• River Otters 1/15/2011
• Morning Paddle Wildlife 6/03/2011
• DN's Grey Whale Escort 5/28/2020
• Return of the Ancient Murrelet 7/07/2015 ²⁾
• California Sea Lion 5/23/2016

• LG's Jamaica Vacation 11/13/2005
• BKCC Meeting + Long Discussion of Club Options, K1s, Kids Program, Boathouse, etc.1/10/2007
• English Channel Swim Qualifying in Lake Whatcom 6/20/2008
• PM and Deepwater Horizon 5/02/2010
• LG's Hip Replacement Delirium 3/02/2012
• Sterling's Auction Beer Glass (LG & RD drunk in tents) 12/09/12
• Signs of a Paddleholic 12/20/2012
• DJ's Stolen Double Surfski Sting Operation
• Alcatraz Swim 2013
• S2S Timing Chips and Salsa 5/26/2013