Re: [Paddlewise] speed with versus against the current

-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 1998 1:49 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] speed with versus against the current


>
>This past weekend I did a sea kayak race in the Essex
>river basin (massachusetts coast, one of my favorite spots
>for a day trip).  On the trip out to the turn around island
>I stayed dead even with someone, going with the current.  When
>we turned around and headed back up I immediately pulled ahead.
>
>This is something I've experienced before.  I had assumed the speed of a
>canoe/kayak was constant relative to the current.
>
>Could someone explain what would make one hull faster, than the other
>with the current versus against it.
>
>This time the wind direction and waves could have been a factor, last time
it
>was in windless calm conditions.
>
>I'm assuming both of us continued putting in the same level
>of effort before and after the turn around.
>
>The first time I experienced this was against a marathon flatwater canoe.
>I attributed the difference to their boat slicing through the water as
>the water was displaced and ours riding up onto the water as it displaced
>the water.  This time it was a Seda Glider versus a VCP Nordkapp.
>
>
>On a separate note Sunday afternoon I got to enjoy my first unplanned swim
>from the surf ski.  Pulling up on a knee, to brace in waves, only works in
>boats with a deck...
>
>kirk


It has always seemed to me harder to paddle against the current as opposed
to with.  I mean that even with my eyes closed I think I can feel the
difference, i.e., without looking at the fixed shoreline.  I always
attributed this to my imagination since I can't think of a physical reason
it could be true.

Jerry

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