G'Day, I'm after advice (again!) please! At the moment I move from strong forward paddling strokes in "organised" waves to short and more rapid shallow angle strokes when in clapotis of about the same height (1-1.5meters). This makes me feel like a wimp but also seems to work. The technique doesn't seem right. Is there a better way? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Peter O writes: >>This makes me feel like a wimp but also seems to work. The technique doesn't seem right. Is there a better way? Why doesn't it seem right, but seems to work?? In mixed conditions a shorter stroke with a shallow shaft angle can work just fine. there's less time for the mixed water to catch a blade if it's short and shallow and with a higher RPM you can get the same amount of speed as with a long, deep stroke. This is a standard of Greenland technique. The shorter, shallow stroke can also be converted into a brace or supportive stroke more easily than a deep, long stroke, perfect for mixed conditions. Don't fix what ain't broke. Hope this helps. Steve Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe N 45º 39' 47" 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr. W 122º 36' 16" Portland, OR 97217 Web: www.aldercreek.com Phone: 503.285.0464 Email: aldercreek_at_qwest.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> To: "'Paddlewise'" <Paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 2:39 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Clapotis technique > G'Day, > > I'm after advice (again!) please! > > At the moment I move from strong forward paddling strokes in "organised" > waves to short and more rapid shallow angle strokes when in clapotis of > about the same height (1-1.5meters). This makes me feel like a wimp but also > seems to work. The technique doesn't seem right. Is there a better way? > > All the best, PeterO > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed > here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire > responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. > Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net > Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Heike wrote: - >What is Clapotis G'Day Heike and thanks Doug, Steve, Kevin and Robert for your encouragement and advice, Heike, clapotis is a word used to describe waves that seems to leap up from nowhere. Its caused when reflected waves eg from a cliff, or point meet waves travelling to the cliff or point. Sometimes the reflected wave will be going down while the oncoming wave is going up and the two cancel each other out. Sometimes both waves will be going up at the same time and they add together giving a bigger one that seems to come from nowhere. The combination of waves from either side and waves jumping up typically 3 or 4 feet (1-1.5 meters) is what I have experienced. They can be much bigger but I haven't experienced that yet. I come across them regularly when rounding a point as a Jet Cat Ferry gos by or along the stretch of coast from North Head in Sydney to Blue Fish Point. This stretch takes about 15 to 30 minutes to cross which is plenty of time to get used to the conditions. My Pittarak hardshell is fairly narrow and tippy and balances really well in confused water with flexible hips. The beamy Klepper is very good also. Theres an ancient "disused" treated sewage outfall at Blue Fish point so I really want to paddle at my best in that locality:~) I sometimes get trapped in these waves, not being able to go forward very fast and being knocked way off direction as Doug described, just maintaining balance. As Robert said the boat is quite often knocked back into the right direction anyway. The fast shallow angle strokes work like Steve said except that its not as fast for me and its reassuring to know that its not bad paddling technique. There are also periods of calm in between the chaos when I paddle more "normally" in the right direction and with a lot of energy to build up forward momentum until the next chaotic run. These calm periods seem to last a few seconds. When all this is happening I'm just focussing on the immediate surroundings and it requires concentration. Its not an easy place for rescues. Robert and Kevin both mentioned relaxing and Kevin also suggested not paddling just sitting maybe eyes shut. While I'm not exactly relaxed I've certainly tried just sitting (out of laziness and exasperation) and its as you say Kevin there doesn't seem to be a major problem with balance though I do have to low brace sometimes. Trouble is the stretch of water I'm thinking of takes about 20 minutes to cross at the best of times. My objective is to make efficient progress I think the balance is OK. As Doug suggested I will try a deeper angle stroke while being prepared to brace more often, as well as optimising the shallow angle stroke (nice to know its a Greenland technique). Sitting without paddling and your eyes closed sound like a useful challenges best done with a friend in carefully selected water. Looking forward to learning more through trial and hopefully not too many errors and heeding the voices of experience, All the best and thanks again, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> To: "'Paddlewise'" <Paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 5:39 AM Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Clapotis technique > > I come across them regularly when rounding a point as a Jet Cat Ferry gos by > or along the stretch of coast from North Head in Sydney to Blue Fish Point. > This stretch takes about 15 to 30 minutes to cross which is plenty of time > to get used to the conditions. My Pittarak hardshell is fairly narrow and > tippy and balances really well in confused water with flexible hips. The > beamy Klepper is very good also. Clapotis is pretty much what you see paddling in New York Harbor on many days especially at the south end of the Hudson where it meets the Upper Bay. Reasons should be obvious: --Lots of ferries and other commercial and recreational traffic scurrying around in no particular pattern sending off wakes in every which direction. --Hard sided edges of unyielding seawalls that reflect back all that already confused wake action to add even more forces to the confusion of waters. --A natural tendency for the water to stack up in the area as a result of ocean flood currents driving northward against a river's southward current and the phenomenon of water coming from a wider body (the Upper Bay) to a more narrow body (the river). It sometimes can rock you pretty badly. I have seen clashing waves spout up 3 or more feet when they hit each other. Also findiing oneself deep down in the trough of the wave action and not being able to see above the confused waves around you for what traffic may be doing. However, such extremes are not that usual but they do occur often enough. It is great training for learning how to be calm and for letting your boat do its thing under you. One way to deal with is to paddle under lots of power because a boat in motion at speed offers quite a stable platform. But you also need to at times do nothing and let the forces do their thing. Do a little of both (lay off and power) in clapotis is probably the best technique. ralph diaz-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Ralph Diaz said: One way to deal with is to paddle under lots of power because a boat in motion at speed offers quite a stable platform. But you also need to at times do nothing and let the forces do their thing. Do a little of both (lay off and power) in clapotis is probably the best technique. I like Ralph's technique better than the one I first learned--keep paddling but put your head between your knees and kiss your butt goodbye. Seriously though, a great training technique that a friend of mine taught me was to go out in some very rough, confused seas on a windy day. We usually do this just outside of a breakwater so that we can get some good reflection waves coming off of it. Stop paddling, and wait for the wind and water to start turning your boat. Then continue this turn by using only a very easy reverse sweep. The goal is to do a 360 degree turn in about 10 minutes. This will have the wind and waves hitting you from all sides. After you have completed a turn, try it in the other direction. It is a great confidence builder and really helps your skills. Of course, only do this with a partner and in conditions that will allow for a safe re-entry/rescue if necessary. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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