Meet at Gyro Park (Cadboro Bay) beach. Paddle out of the bay towards Staines & Flower Islands before cutting across to the Oak Bay shore along past Cattle Point and Willows Beach then circle around Mary Tod Island at the Oak Bay Marina. Return to Gyro Park noodling along the Oak Bay shoreline passing the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

Lunch stop at either Willows Beach (on the return leg) or at Turkey Head.

Tides for Oak Bay look to be fairly flat during the paddle time, going from a low of 2.7M at 1000hrs and a high of 3.1M at 1500hrs. Current for Race Passage (nearest station) shows us catching the last of the ebb at 1000hrs (2kts) with slack at about 1115hrs before turning to flood with max of 2.4kts at 1510hrs. Baynes Channel currents run 75% of Race Passage, so current should not be a factor during the paddle.

Washroom facilities at Gyro Park and Willows Beach.

Drysuits are required for all participants.

TBA - wind strength and direction will determine if the paddle proceeds as planned or possibly be relocated or cancelled.

PLAN B - I am concerned about the wind forecast ... depending on the predictive model you look at the wind is consistently forecast to be coming from the east / south-east ranging in intensity between 10 and 15 knots which is quite unfavourable for a paddle along the Oak Bay shoreline.

Plan B takes is to the protection of Saanich Inlet. The paddle would likely be Brentwood Bay ferry dock to either McKenzie Bight via Spectacle Falls or Brentwood ferry dock to Coles Bay.

Always dress for the possibility of immersion and please bring a drybag containing a spare change of clothes. The drybag goes in your kayak with you, not in your car at the launch site. Please bring a lunch or snacks and sufficient beverage to keep you hydrated, as well as a thermos of something warm. Your paddle leader will introduce the plan and make sure everyone is comfortable with the requirements. Please stay off the water until the group is ready. If you have a VHF radio please bring it with you.