Thetis Island Circumnavigation

I completed this circumnavigation by sea kayak on July 20, 2025, as part of my larger Islands Circumnavigation Project.

Thetis Island is the third island of 40 I completed for the project.

I wrote a blog post about this trip, with more details about the area and history.

Island Circumnavigated: Thetis Island, Southern Gulf Islands

Date Circumnavigated: July 20, 2025

Direction of Circumnavigation: Clockwise

Island Size: 10.36 square kilometres

Route Summary: Launched at Blue Heron Community Park just north of Yellow Point. Crossed to Pilkey Point on the northeast tip of Thetis Island via Miami Islet and the Ragged Islets. Completed a clockwise circumnavigation of Thetis starting and ending at Pilkey Point. Returned to Blue Heron Park via the same route (Ragged Islets and Miami Islet).

Total Paddling Distance:
Full trip: 15.87 nm (29.4 kilometres)
Circumnavigation only: 9.37 nautical miles (17.4 kilometres)

Total Paddling (Moving) Time:
Full trip: 4 hours 29 minutes
Circumnavigation only: 2 hours 42 minutes

Total Trip Time (Including Breaks):
Full trip: 4 hours 54 minutes
Circumnavigation only: 2 hours 57 minutes

Moving Average Speed:
Full trip: 3.5 knots
Circumnavigation only: 3.5 knots

Overall Average Speed:
Full trip: 3.2 knots
Circumnavigation only: 3.2 knots

Maximum Speed:
Full trip: 5.4 knots
Circumnavigation only: 4.9 knots

Boat: P&H Aries 150

Highlights:

  • Checking out the buoy marking the shipwreck at Miami Islet (the last time I was here thick fog rolled in and I was focussed on transitioning to navigating by compass).
  • Seeing a seal mother nursing her pup on the rocks (they were not spooked by me).
  • Cruising through The Cut between Thetis and Penelakut Islands with just enough tide height and the flood current pushing me along
  • Navigating pleasure craft traffic on the crossing back to Blue Heron (not my favourite activity, to be sure)!

Photo Gallery:
Click on any image for a larger view!

Launching at a low tide at Blue Heron Park. My kayak is a speck at the water line!
Red nun buoy marking safe passage around the rocks and reefs north of Thetis Island.
Batman’s Island? Nope, just a cormorant drying its wings on the navigation marker on the Ragged Islets.
Beautiful pocket beach for a break on the east side of Thetis Island.
Entering The Cut from Clam Bay: shallow water, sandbars and day markers to guide the way.
Following a row boat through The Cut between Thetis and Penelakut Islands, with just enough water to paddle through.
Approaching Telegraph Harbour Marina on the west side of The Cut.
Hudson Island straight ahead as I round Foster Point at right towards Preedy Harbour.
Intertidal northern tip of Hudson Island, where I stopped for a quick break.
Break stop on the Ragged Islets on my way back to Blue Heron Park.
Purple shells pop next to my purple kayak.