Re: [Paddlewise] Race Training.

<snip>
| Even though I was still able to put more effort into my paddling, it
seemed that my
| boat just didn't want to go any faster.

This is my point about using some device to measure speed.  Before I had
the GPS I would expend ENOURMOUS amounts of energy to paddle fast.  I
PERCIEVED I was going fast because of my effort.  I was wrong.  I was just
moving water around.  I have enough strength to overpower the paddle but
that does not make me move faster.  There  is a word begining with C use to
describe what happens to props moving too fast in the water.  Can't think
of it after two days...  Grrr..  In a sense this is what I mean when I talk
about overpowering the paddle.

I like to paddle at night for various reasons.  One is that the lake is
glass smooth.  If I'm in the grove the paddle strokes make a certain sound
as does the boat moving through the water.  Its swish swish swish swish
swish.  The water moving around the hull has a tinkling sound punctuated
with swish swish swish.  8-)  If I hear SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH I'm wasting
energy.  I can see it on the GPS.  I can feel it as my effort increases and
my speed decreases.  But it took the GPS to know what the feel meant.

To put it another way.  My wife and I took two people kayaking for the
first time.  The man was flailing at the water.  Splashing water all over
the place, getting tired and out of breath very quickly.  He was moving no
faster than the woman who was calmly just paddling along.  He lathered up
in sweat while she was nice and comfortable.  This was on a 400 yard paddle
from the put in to the other side of the lake.  He was doing a few things
wrong but mainly he was overpowering the paddle.  I never could get him to
calm down and paddle more smoothly.  He was exhausted at the end of the
trip and she was just fine.  One was nice and smooth the other used to much
muscle and hacked at the water.

The Resident Boat Designer Dudes(RBDD) had a conversation about Hull Speed
once so I'll let them answer that question.


|Which would mean that the race, when paddled with exactly the same
|equipment, can only be won by endurance: who can maintain max hull speed
|for the entire race? (or by making references to his sister ;-)

There is a effort/speed curve in all this.   I can sprint the boat at a
certain speed but the effort required to do this sprint is very high.  I
suspect that I'm past the hull speed at that point.  I cannot keep up that
level of effort for more than a minute or two.  Then I rest.  For awhile.
8-)

I don't think someone, mere mortals, can really paddle the boat
near/at/over hull speed, the RBDDs are going to get us on that term, for
more than a few minutes..  If the race is a sprint that is one thing.  I'm
not sure it is possible if the distance is over a couple of miles.  But
that depends on what is "hull speed."

Interesting.....

Later...
Dan


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************