The ferry to Port Townsend is sometimes blown off course toward Oregon from tide swells/wind from de Fuca. Ferry doing the same as a kayak, blow downwind into calmer water under Flager SP then approach Townsend from there not straight across from mainland: Whiteknuckle ferry ride.

I paddled thru a wind devil driven rip at False Bay, San Juan Island, conditions going from 2-3' waves coming down from Cattle Point to 10' with a 15 mph plus wind, changing in 45 minutes as I ate lunch on False Bay. I assume this is an Olympic Range weather phenomena blowing thru a valley area on SJI but a phenomena considered when kayaking along the Olympic Range.

NOAA Weather Service online or Canadian weather on VHF-southerly winds with a Juan de Fuca wind ? gives more wind devils ? in that correct or what ?

What your looking for is a place for practice where rescue is probable, a swimming takeout feasible.

I use a BACKUP inflated balloon rescue device. Am trying the two blade paddle float hip snap practice-a Sea Kayaker article maybe on UTUBE ? and Ford's excellent rolling DVD.