This cross-club paddling event, named “Raft Up”, was conceptualized in 2023 as a way of safely introducing members from other paddling clubs to new destinations on Vancouver Island by utilizing the knowledge from the local clubs. This year the Raft Up concept has been expanded to include all 4 paddling clubs on Vancouver Island: Victoria’s South Island Sea Kayaking Association (SISKA); Cowichan Kayak and Canoe Club; the Nanaimo Paddlers Club and ours. Over the past 3 years, our club has been invited to paddle with Victoria and Nanaimo and we expect to receive Raft Up invitations again this year.
Our club’s invitations have been sent out indicating we will welcome up to 25 members from the other clubs to paddle with our members in September on days with some lovely high tides.
On each of the two days the plan is to offer these 4 paddling options:
1.) Comox Harbour Tour – Rating: CVPC’s “Day Paddle Easy” Leisurely shoreline paddle likely to include the Royston Wrecks, Courtenay Estuary, Little Mexico on Goose Spit (this requires ~1 nm crossing) ~ 3-4 hours with stops, distance and speed to be decided by the group
2.) Comox Lake – Rating: CVPC’s “Day Paddle Easy” Leisurely shoreline paddle (possible <1 nm crossing) likely to include Perseverance Creek, Coal Beach, Whyte’s Bay, Comox Dam ~3-4 hours with stops, distance and speed to be decided by the group
3.) Deep Bay Past Denman and Chrome Island to Hornby Island Rating: CVPC’s “Intermediate Day Paddle” ~4 hours; 8 nm (return) to Ford’s Cove or Heron Rocks with 2 crossings in each direction, includes time spent on Hornby Destination will be changed if its windy. This paddle IS NOT APPROPRIATE for novice paddlers! Limit of 10 participants with 6 non-CVPC members per paddle.
4.) Union Bay to Denman Island then Tree Island (with option to circumnavigate) Rating: CVPC’s “Intermediate Day Paddle” ~4 hours; 7 nm diagonally to Tree Island (return) or up to 10 nm in total to circumnavigate Seal Islets, includes time spent on Tree Island Requires ~2 nm crossing to Denman (~2.5 nm if paddled diagonally to Tree Island)
Paddle coordinators are required so, if you are willing and able to assist, please contact Helen Koziol.