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From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] speed with versus against the current
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 16:08:53 -0400 (EDT)
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
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