I had the opportunity to test out my skills in some difficult conditions this Sunday... winds were 27 knots with frequent gusts that reached 37 knots (according to a local measurement station). Knowing the risks of paddling in such conditions where the water and air is 37 degrees F, we choose a location that was somewhat sheltered and safe but offered challenging conditions. We found one place where the waterway narrowed after a two mile wind fetch, the winds at this point seemed much stronger and the waves were much larger than in the more open areas. Whitecaps were everywhere. We put in at a downwind launch point and worked our way upwind - we figured that if we got in trouble, we'd get blown back to shore. My boat is fairly new to me, so I was eager to test its capabilities (and mine) in the high winds. My previous boat had the habit of pointing into the wind (Current Designs Sol ST), the new boat (NordKapp) turns downwind in these conditions. Theboat paddled by my paddling partner, a Katsolano (sp?), also exhibited the same behavior as the NordKapp. My question is: after pointing downwind I found that I had a devil of a time getting the boat heading upwind again... what techniques do you use under these conditions to gain better directional control of the boat in high winds? I tried a variety of techniques: turning on top of waves, adjusting the skeg to different positions (up clearly worked best), sculling, boat tilting, bracing, sweeping strokes - nothing seemed to work well. We did a lot of paddling and did a lot of playing in the waves - I was able to make the turns, but only with a whole lot of work. What's the secret to making turns easier? I've read that drogues can keep the boat pointing to the wind, but I'm not really interested in this as a solution, it's hard to play with a ball and chain attached. Greg *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I had the opportunity to test out my skills in some difficult conditions this Sunday... winds were 27 knots with frequent gusts that reached 37 knots (according to a local measurement station). Knowing the risks of paddling in such conditions where the water and air is 37 degrees F, we choose a location that was somewhat sheltered and safe but offered challenging conditions. It's great that you choose to practice in these conditions. Far too few paddlers purposely go out and paddle in these conditions. The obvious consequence of not practicing in these conditions is to be way out of your league if you are out paddling and these conditions present themselves. My previous boat had the habit of pointing into the wind (Current Designs Sol ST), the new boat (NordKapp) turns downwind in these conditions. I would have guessed the opposite. I would have expected the Nordkap to weathercock(turn into the wind) and the Solstice to leecock(turn downwind). Perhaps some of the boat design gurus on this list can explain the mechanics of the two and what parts of boat design affect boats response to wind. My question is: after pointing downwind I found that I had a devil of a time getting the boat heading upwind again... what techniques do you use under these conditions to gain better directional control of the boat in high winds? Try a bow rudder. Planting the paddle blade in front of you-say near your knee. Get the paddle as vertical as possible. In my experience this will help to anchor the bow of the boat and allow the stern to come around. It is better if you initiate it with a good sweep on the opposite side. Dennis *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Lorraine&Dennis wrote: > Try a bow rudder. Planting the paddle blade in front of you-say near your > knee. Get the paddle as vertical as possible. In my experience this will > help to anchor the bow of the boat and allow the stern to come around. It > is better if you initiate it with a good sweep on the opposite side. And a reminder that a bow rudder only works well when you have significant forward speed i.e. it is not a "static" maneuver. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've been told (and I think it was discussed a few months ago here) that you put the skeg down to assist when travelling downwind (and following seas) AND that it, essentially, prevents you from turning the boat upwind. If you want to travel upwind, you have to put the skeg up. (I'm sure people much more knowledgeable than I will correct me here if I got this wrong.) Greg Hollingsworth wrote: > > <snipped> > I tried a variety of techniques: turning on top of waves, adjusting the > skeg to different positions (up clearly worked best), sculling, boat > tilting, bracing, sweeping strokes - nothing seemed to work well. > <snipped> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I don't know if you will find a really easy way to turn in high winds when your boat has a tendancy to fight you by heading downwind. You can use the skeg as described elsewhere or weight the boat forward or back to chance its center of gravity. I know someone described a sliding seat. I have a fixed foam seat in my Romany, but if I am out on a multi-day trip I can usually move my gear to make the boat more bow or stern heavy as needed to conteract any tendancy to turn up or down wind. Regardless of if it is weight shifting or a skeg that you use the tendance to turn up or downwind will get much stronger as you increase the hull speed. My Romany will turn into the wind ususally when I paddling at a high speed, but likes to lay side ways in the steep wave troughs when sitting still. A someone already mentioned spinning a boat on a wave crest. Timing is everything here. Quick slap stroke or sweep at just the right moment can save a lot of effort and make for a quick easy turn. Someone also described a bow rudder. I do often use a bow rudder alternating with a sweep on the other side, but I would be leary of using a nearly vertical shaft angle as they described. This may be powerful way to do the stroke, but it also makes a nice sail for a 30 knot wind gust to catch. If you have advanced bracing skills I prefer to use very agressive low brace rudder and an extreme hull tilt to whip my bow up wind. From sideways to the waves I get up as much speed as possible do a sweep on the down wind side and lean into the next wave on the upwind side with ruddering low brace and radical hull tilt. By getting my boat on its rail and digging into the meat of a wave with my low brace I can ususually get my bow point up the wave, and with luck I can do little flick of the paddle to spin on the wave crest to finish the turn. Good luck and get lot's of practice. I don't think there is really an effortless way to fight the wind when it gets that strong, but with practice and good timing you can make things a lot easier on yourself. Greg Hollingsworth wrote: > I had the opportunity to test out my skills in some difficult conditions > this Sunday... winds were 27 knots with frequent gusts that reached 37 > knots (according to a local measurement station). > Knowing the risks of paddling in such conditions where the water and air > is 37 degrees F, we choose a location that was somewhat sheltered and > safe but offered challenging conditions. > > We found one place where the waterway narrowed after a two mile wind > fetch, the winds at this point seemed much stronger and the waves were > much larger than in the more open areas. Whitecaps were everywhere. We > put in at a downwind launch point and worked our way upwind - we figured > that if we got in trouble, we'd get blown back to shore. > > My boat is fairly new to me, so I was eager to test its capabilities > (and mine) in the high winds. My previous boat had the habit of > pointing into the wind (Current Designs Sol ST), the new boat (NordKapp) > turns downwind in these conditions. Theboat paddled by my paddling > partner, a Katsolano (sp?), also exhibited the same behavior as the > NordKapp. > > My question is: after pointing downwind I found that I had a devil of a > time getting the boat heading upwind again... what techniques do you use > under these conditions to gain better directional control of the boat in > high winds? > > I tried a variety of techniques: turning on top of waves, adjusting the > skeg to different positions (up clearly worked best), sculling, boat > tilting, bracing, sweeping strokes - nothing seemed to work well. > > We did a lot of paddling and did a lot of playing in the waves - I was > able to make the turns, but only with a whole lot of work. What's the > secret to making turns easier? > > I've read that drogues can keep the boat pointing to the wind, but I'm > not really interested in this as a solution, it's hard to play with a > ball and chain attached. > > Greg > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Greg, > the new boat (NordKapp) > turns downwind in these conditions. The boat paddled by my paddling > partner, a Katsolano (sp?), also exhibited the same behavior as the > NordKapp. This is interesting because from things I had read I thought the NordKapp had a slight tendency to turn upwind. Even with the skeg in the up position? Nothing on the forward deck to catch the wind? > My question is: after pointing downwind I found that I had a devil of a > time getting the boat heading upwind again... what techniques do you use > under these conditions to gain better directional control of the boat in > high winds? Profile of the boat above the waterline, the boat's natural pivot point (I don't know the term for that), a rudder or skeg, and anything sticking up out of the boat (deck bag or you) will influence the boats tendency to turn up or down wind. From my understanding a rudder/skeg will produce enough drag to make most boats turn downwind when sitting still. For me this is an effect I'm trying to achieve with my Guillemot since it wants to turn hard into the wind. When facing down wind it is easy for me to get it in a broach condition. I just finished putting a rudder on it so next weekend I hope to see how much I've changed the handling. On the other hand, if I'm just playing around in the waves, I don't want anything like a rudder or skeg influencing my boat at all. The moderate rocker of the Guillemot, relatively flat bottom and hard chines make this boat very easy to spin around on the crest of a wave. The one thing I'm concerned about is that by putting the rudder on, when I'm playing and the rudder is laying on the deck, it may want to turn even harder upwind. > I tried a variety of techniques: turning on top of waves, adjusting the > skeg to different positions (up clearly worked best), sculling, boat > tilting, bracing, sweeping strokes - nothing seemed to work well. I think it is supposed to be hard to turn a boat with the skeg deployed, no? I've got no experience with them so someone please educate me if I'm wrong. How did it handle with the skeg fully retracted? Learning all I can... Woody *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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