Alki to Lake Washington Feb 1 2025

The plan was to paddle with a friend from Alki to West Point (5.5 mile open crossing across Elliot Bay) and then into Shilshole Bay, through the locks, Salmon Bay, Lake Union and take out at Montlake Playfield Park (~12 miles).
I had done the crossing alone once previously in more severe conditions, but in a more stable ski (20 inch beam versus 17.25). This time, I was paddling the Stellar Eagle which is faster but considerably less stable.
I had paddled with my friend several times over the years and knew him to be a solid paddler, competent in stormy seas. However, this was a new route for him and I only briefly went over the route plan in the car. Seemed simple enough - paddle north to Alki. This was an error that could have had dire consequences.
As we paddled out towards the point, I shouted to him and said that we could "head down" anytime. Down, meaning downwind - over to West Point. it seems likely that he may not have heard me, even though we were only 25 feet apart at that point. I cut behind his stern and then quickly caught a one minute ride on a series of waves. When I turned around, my friend was no where to be seen. I paddled back out to the point, and then along the beach. At this point, I guessed - wrongly - that he had started heading downwind and that I probably wasn't seeing him due to the size of the waves. So I started heading north across the Bay.
The thing about paddling a tippy surf ski is that you can't really turn your head 90 degrees to the side and scan the horizon for more than a brief second or two or else risk a capsize. The ocean is a very big place and picking out a solo paddler more than a hundred yards away gets dicey. I didn't see him and just hoped I would catch up to him at West Point, though in retrospect, my ski would have been much faster and I probably would've passed him further to the East.
When I reached West Point and pulled ashore, I was alone. This would've been the time to pull out my cell phone (left in the car), or a marine radio (it's on my gear list now). There were already voicemails on my phone from both my friend and the Coast Guard. I later learned that my friend, had paddled around to the south side of Alki Point (out of view), and when he returned, after searching for a while, he called 911.
By the time I reached Salmon Bay, a police boat was slowly approaching and as he slowed down and turned towards me, I realized I needed to check in and potentially initiate a search for my friend. "Did you get separated from a kayaker at Alki?" "Yes". The search for me had already been going for at least an hour out in Elliot Bay. Everyone was safe fortunately. Lesson learned: Better route planning discussion, contingency plans, and communication equipment. Most paddlers would recommend a marine radio for these conditions.
Footnote - don't try to land at Montlake Park. I sunk in up to my crotch in mud as I struggled to reach shore.

[@reiversdustin3215]

excellent post. so often I thought we were on the same page. This blows up the more paddlers there are in the group.

[@JordanVV]

It's important to be transparent about your mistakes in life - tames the ego and promotes humility, and potentially others can learn too. Thanks Reivers. Hoping to come up for the race in March - hope to see you!

[@JordanVV]

"blows up" meaning separation and losing track of a paddler becomes a more challenging problem the more paddlers there are in a group.