Hammersley paddling race, kayak workshop & SUP clinic
This spring, with an event barren landscape looming in our area, the Explore Hood Canal team began brainstorming how we could support local communities and local non-profits bring back some of the energy with Covid-conscience tailored safe events. Paddling events kept rising to the top of the list with their inherit social distancing properties.
Apart the “paddle length distancing” outdoors, Hood Canal and South Puget Sound waterways are pristine, beautiful, and the perfect match for all water skill levels.
Paddling Safety Awareness
Like the trails and parks filling to bursting, Covid restrictions have led to a rise in purchase of personal watercraft but perhaps not an increase in water safety awareness.
Kayaks and SUPs, mass produced for the desperate consumers in dizzying shades of enticing colors, are available at every big box store promising a cheap and easy way to get freedom on Washington’s waterways. Although one can be delighted that sales surged and people got outdoors, the risk associated with little instruction on proper use offered by stores online or giants like Walmart or Dick’s has led to a much more disturbing fallout than litter and over-crowding in our parks. Accidents and drownings statistics in 2020 were so alarming that a Bill was proposed to require safety certification for all people on the water — not just for those in powered boats over 15 HP.
The current rules are simple and common sense should prevail. Life jackets, understand your surroundings, educate yourself about winds, currents, tides, travel in groups and develop a safety plan. But then, who thought we had to tell people to respect the trails?
Opportunities to Educate (and have fun)
Paddling events are a great way to share ideas on skills as well as safety. When the tourism team began researching possible anchor events in the local area, imagine our delight when we found that Salmon Bay Paddle had included Hammersley Inlet in their paddling competition series and has included a sea kayak paddling clinic in their events in Shelton.
Fiona Wylde SUP Racing Clinic | May 7
Cost: $40 per person / Max 20 participants / Open to: All skill levels welcome from novice to experienced racer. Participants use own gear.
To register email in advance.(Payment methods accepted: Cash, Venmo, Paypal)
Salmon Bay Paddle is the leading provider of personalized private one on one and small group stand up paddle board (SUP), kayak and surf ski lessons in the Pacific Northwest. Owner, Rob Casey, is the author of two paddling books and is considered a pioneer of stand up paddling by Stand Up Journal Magazine. Rob and his certified coaches travel all over the Northwest offering paddling skills and safety classes to everyone from beginner to advanced paddler.
Salmon Bay Paddle’s event in Shelton (May 7-8) includes guest speaker, ICF World Champion Fiona Wylde, hosting a SUP Racing Clinic Friday May 7 (5-7pm) at the Shelton Yacht Club; the Hammer the Inlet Race beginning at 10:15 am, May 8; and on-site Kayaking Clinics beginning at 9 AM.
Hammer the Inlet
Saturday – May 8, 2021
Heat Start Times: 10:15 AM to catch end of the ebb current.
Hammersley Inlet hosts some notoriously swift tidal currents that can work with - or against - the paddler. | photo Rob Casey, Salmon Bay Paddle
Hammer the Inlet is roughly a 15.3 mile race in swift tidal current on Hammersley Inlet in South Puget Sound. Beginning at Shelton’s yacht club, paddlers will take the 1.9 knot ebb out from Shelton and the 1.4 knot flood current back up the winding picturesque inlet to where it empties into lesser Puget Sound.
Paddlers call this run the ‘Hammersley Shuttle’ for the tidal push allowing for a nice glide with current. Back eddies and eddy-lines add a little spice or challenge around the various bends and curves at Skookum and Libby Points and Cape Horn.
All human powered paddling and rowing craft that can self rescue ae welcome to participate in this race. The cost is $45/ single person craft, $55 /double person craft. The fee increase on May 7th ($55 1p, $65 2p) with registration ending Friday at 7 PM.
Salmon Bay Paddle has arranged a motel discount for racers (10% off) a the Shelton Inn but there is plenty of lodging locally at waterfront Short Term rentals as well as lodging on nearby Hood Canal. Visit Explore Hood Canal’s lodging pages for an overview.
Shelton Pop UP Kayak Clinic
An adventure seeker, Robert has paddled much of the Puget Sound, kayaking and camping year-round, navigating tidal currents, wind, rough water, and large, open-water crossings. He is an ACA certified instructor, member of Washington Kayak Club, and instructor with the North Sound Sea Kayaking Association. He is a member of Qajaq USA. When not on the water, he’s looking out to it, writing from his home off Poverty Bay in Des Moines, WA.
Salmon Bay Paddle instructor, Robert Nissenbaum, will provide kayak lessons during the race limiting each clinic size for safety. All kayak instructors are ACA certified. Must book 48 hours before start of clinic to hold your spot. Call (206) 465-7167 for questions.
Clinic Schedule
9-11 - Kayak Basic Stroke Clinic
11-12 - Kayak gear and outfitting session
12-1 - Lunch / Break
2-4 - Kayak rescues and recoveries
A portion of proceeds from this event are donated to the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group.