Hi y'all, Any thoughts on the best way to handle waves coming broadside to the boat? I've seen articles that say one should lean into beam waves and brace into the wave. For example, the online article on waves by Shelly Johnson at www.canoekayak.com says to lean into the wave so the boat doesn't trip over on its lower edge. But the online article by Steve Salins on the same website says to lean away from a steep wave and keep the windward gunwale high, and I've seen similar articles saying the best beam wave technique is to keep your "ass to the wave", that is, lean the boat away from the wave. Any thoughts as to the real best technique here, when you need to make forward progress in a beam sea and can't quarter the waves? Thanks! Lewis (polymedia_at_csi.com) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Novice Alert! Take everything I say with a grain of salt since I've never been in really large waves. Everyone feel free to point out the errors in my thinking: > www.canoekayak.com says to lean into the wave so the boat doesn't > trip over > on its lower edge. I would suppose if there is a chance your boat will trip on it's lower edge, this would mean you are sliding sideways down the face of the wave. Leaning in to the wave also sounds like the best position should the wave break on top of you. You certainly need to brace into the wave, but if you're bracing, you're not making much forward progress. > But the online article by Steve Salins on the same > website says to lean away from a steep wave and keep the windward gunwale > high, and I've seen similar articles saying the best beam wave > technique is > to keep your "ass to the wave", that is, lean the boat away from the wave. In my limited experience this sounds like a capsize waiting to happen. You're leaning away from the side you'll need to brace on, and it probably won't take much to push you the rest of the way over. > Any thoughts as to the real best technique here, when you need to make > forward progress in a beam sea and can't quarter the waves? Why wouldn't you be able to quarter the waves? (That is a question meant for my own education) Other than getting knocked into that position, wouldn't forward progress best be made by quartering the waves? Especially if you're sliding down the face of them. Will the type of kayak you're in influence how you handle the wave? In the 2 - 2 1/2 foot non-breaking waves I've been in, my Guillemot slides over waves VERY easy when broached. Although I do lean while on the face of the wave, it is more to keep my torso directly above (perpendicular) to my legs rather than to lean "in to" the wave. I've found it helps for me to sit broached in waves to "get comfortable" being in that predicament. I'll sometimes sit this way 15-20 minutes when I get the chance to help me know the limits of the kayak (and myself). I know it isn't anything like being in 5 foot or larger seas, but it helps me handle those few moments when I have to transition between heading into the wind to following seas with a lot more confidence. 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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