RE: [Paddlewise] Arctic Sea Kayak Race 1998

I'm an OC1 kinda' guy who is toying with the notion of Sea Yakin'. I don't even qualify as a newbie yet. So please be gentle ;-D

1) What are wing paddles ?

2) I am a, er..... uhm.... full figured gentleman. Can anyone recommend boats with large cockpit openings?

Oh yeh, I have just moved from southeast Michigan to Stockholm. Hence the interest in learning a new style boat.

THANKS
Hal

-----Original Message-----
From:	Dan Hagen [SMTP:dan_at_hagen.net]
Sent:	den 5 april 1999 06:55
To:	Paddlewise
Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] Arctic Sea Kayak Race 1998

niilo alhovaara wrote:
> 
> ASKR 1998, July 27-31: A participant's view
> (ASKR: www.nif.idrett.no/padling/askr.html)

  ...<snip of report>...

> ...Every Race participant used a wing paddle and
> had the kayak fitted with a rudder. Same thing as to
> the ASKR crew. Comments, anyone?

Thanks for the excellent report.

As for the paddle and rudder issue, the use of wing paddles in a serious
race is certainly not a surprise. Nor is the use of rudders, given the
very long waterline length of the boats that were used in the race. As I
understand it, one of the boats that has done very well in the ASKR is
the Eian Fritid Spitzbergen (a Norwegian design now made under licence
by P&H), which has a waterline length of over 18 feet and essentially no
rocker. Even many of us who dislike the use of rudders have acknowledged
that they have a place on such boats, but I am not sure what the
relevance is for those of us who use our boats for touring and play. I
prefer a more maneuverable (and rudder-free) boat, but if I were to take
up racing seriously I would certainly consider changing my equipment.

Dan Hagen
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