I completed this circumnavigation by sea kayak on February 7, 2026, as part of my larger Islands Circumnavigation Project.
Marina Island is the eighth island (of 40) I completed for the project.
Island Circumnavigated: Marina Island, Discovery Islands
Date Circumnavigated: February 7, 2026
Direction of Circumnavigation: Counterclockwise
Island Size: NA
Route Summary: Launched at Gorge Harbour Public Wharf on Cortes Island around 11:00 a.m. Paddled out of Gorge Harbour then northwest along the Cortes shoreline until I reached Shark Spit at the north end of Marina Island. I started and ended my circumnavigation here, then returned to my launch via the same route I paddled out.
Total Paddling Distance:
Full trip: 12.21 nautical miles (22.6 kilometres)
Circumnavigation only: 8.19 nautical miles (15.2 kilometres)
Total Paddling (Moving) Time:
Full trip: 4 hours 5 minutes
Circumnavigation only: 2 hours 51 minutes
Stopped Time:
Full trip: 20 minutes
Circumnavigation only: 2 minutes
Total Trip Time (Including Breaks):
Full trip: 4 hours 25 minutes
Circumnavigation only: 2 hours 53 minutes
Moving Average Speed:
Full trip: 3.0 knots
Circumnavigation only: 2.9 knots
Overall Average Speed:
Full trip: 2.8 knots
Circumnavigation only: 2.8 knots
Maximum Speed: 5.6 knots
Boat: P&H Aries 150
Highlights: (Can we call them that for this one? 😬…)
- Doing this trip despite high wind forecasts. I thought I would have more protection from the wind than I did. Winds were blowing southeast 13-14 knots gusting into the high 20s in exposed areas. I experienced most of this as a headwind, hence my significantly slower average speed.
- Navigating big seas on the west and southwest shores of Marina Island, with swells over 1 metre. I felt like I was just crawling along.
- Navigating the long intertidal reef at the south tip of Marina Island. Thankfully I hit it at a middling tide height (as per my plan) and was able to find a route through the breaking waves and exposed rocks.
- Having my helmet with me to put on before navigating the reef. I had brought it along just in case — excellent forethought!
- Actively “reducing lemons” as I navigated the challenging sections. I don’t think I have had to consciously and consistently do this in the face of such real consequences on any previous solo paddle.
- Learning more about my own personal limits. This was a challenging trip, and while it was very much in my comfort zone skill-wise, I learned that it was not in my comfort zone as a solo paddler.
- Heavy rain pelting down along the northwest shore of Marina, in calm seas before I hit the messy stuff.
Photo Gallery:
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