[Paddlewise] Racing and paddles with hydrofoil shape

John wrote:
> 
> I am not sure why racing needs to be different. If you run do you not run?
> Do you learn inefficient running because you don't race? Ditto with skiing?
> Maybe the requirements are more extreme but does it make sense to try learn
> the skill properly no matter what you are doing?

Racing is different because races normally take place in ideal and
controlled conditions. Racing boats are not designed to roll and move around
rocks and waves, neither racing paddles. Racing gear is designed to 
maximize the efficiency of the human body motion to move forward in
ideal conditions. If the conditions were variable, race results could
not be compared against each other, and one wave would determine who
is first and second in a race regardless of the quality of the athelete.

> In other words you are saying that th Greenland paddle works like a wing
> except in a horizontal direction instead of vertically?

The lift of the wing has a vertical and a horizontal component. 
The vertical component is upward in wing paddles, and downward in
Greenland paddles, unless they are use for sculling or bracing.

Since the lift is not perfectly vertical, up and down, the objective
is to take advantage of the horizontal component of the lift.

> >
> >A good scientific way to improve Greenland paddling would probably be
> >to experiment with NACA foils, and decreasing angles of attack towards
> >the ends, like airplane propelers. Maybe one could get to the most
> >efficient Greenland paddle for Greenland racing, if there ever is
> >that discipline.
> 
> Suppose someone said that they had done this test already and discoveredf
> it was not valid?

Then I would be happy to know that I do not have to do that test myself.
Has it really happened? Could you give me a pointer to the tests so
I can find out what, and how, they were testing. Could explain
why the test, or the idea of the NACA profiles was not valid.

- Julio

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