Calculate slack tide and time your passage or crossing for that period. Paddle in currents under controlled conditions to familiarize yourself with your boat s performance in current. The land affects conditions via shallows, beach surf, headlands, cliffs and river mouths. Waves steepen and break heavily on shallows. Avoid those areas when waves are large or strong currents are forced to flow over them.
Waves steepen and break on beaches, shoals and submerged rocks.
Generally try to avoid landing in surf with a loaded kayak. If you have to, come in across the break, bracing into and leaning into the breaking wave. Avoid surf on rocky beaches. Seas become chaotic. Best handled by rapid paddling or avoiding by either going wide or, occasionally, in close.