Re: [Paddlewise] Ferry gliding with the wind - (was Excessive Weather Cocking)

From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>


> Michael Daly wrote
> >I usually let it weathercock some and
> >take advantage of the wind and current
> >to ferry the kayak.
> 
> G'Day Mike and Paddlewise,
> 
> Does this mean you can use the wind to ferry glide as well as current? I
> love the idea of using weather cocking to good effect!

Absolutely - same effect and result whether it's wind or current.  
I rarely get to use current (except for rivers) since the currents 
on the Great Lakes are negligible most of the time (no tides).  

The best wind ferrying seems to come from conditions where waves are not 
as big as you'd expect for the wind speed.  The very best wind ferry I 
experienced in a sea kayak was on a lake with very heavy wind and 
virtually no waves (very short fetch).  I only had to paddle enough to 
keep my ferry angle and the wind blew me all the way across the lake.  
When I tried to ferry back the other way further down the lake where
the waves were bigger, it was a lot more work.  It may simply be that 
the lack of waves makes it easier to set and keep the angle.

> In the situation Mike describes is it the result of adding the vectors of i)
> boat velocity due to the wind plus ii) boat velocity due to the water
> current plus iii) boat velocity due to the direction being paddled?

Yes.  The situation for wind is just like that of a sailboat - the force on
the sail (in your case, you and the kayak) and the force on the keel
add to give the resultant direction.  In a kayak, you add paddle forces
as well.

Mike
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