RE:[Paddlewise] - Sea Lions - was Rudders (yawn)

From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 08:56:23 +1200
John Fereira wrote -
>I don't think it's as much a purist issue as it is a safety issue.  If
someone
>relies too much on a rudder in lieu of learning strong bracing skills they
may
>be taking a safety risk.  Whether or not someone chooses to use a rudder
>is a personal choice.  Learning strong bracing skills is a necessity if one
>ever paddles in a place where conditions might take a turn for the worse.

I just about always use a rudder and have to have strong bracing skills.
Bracing is a function of hull design/stability and the type of water
paddled in, nothing to do with a rudder or no rudder.

Learning strong bracing skills is necessary for enjoyable playing in surf,
with or without the rudder down.

Maybe you mean sweep strokes? Often wasteful in terms of efficient paddling.

Alex
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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Received on Tue Sep 07 1999 - 13:52:15 PDT

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