Re: [Paddlewise] Excessive Weather Cocking (or is it Fairy gliding with the wind)

From: "Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net>

> I'd say "you weren't using the weathercocking, the weathercocking was using
> you". Your technique slowed you down and had you paddling only on one side.

But I wanted to slow down and paddle on one side.  Otherwise I wouldn't have
done it.  I was tired and my left elbow was bugginf me.  Using the wind
was the best way to deal with it.  

> the paddling skills manual on our website www.marinerkayaks.com
> <http://www.marinerkayaks.com/>  I list a dozen ways to deal with
> weathercocking to avoid having to paddle just on one side and fall behind
> your paddling partners. 

The trim options were limited, since it was a light day paddle.  I was 
edging anyway and wanted to minimize use my left arm - the latter 
means the assymetric paddling options aren't useful.  

> Wouldn't it have been nicer to have paddled evenly balanced on both sides
> and also easily kept up with your group? 

I didn't see much on your techniques page that give me evenly balanced paddling 
options.  Assymetric strokes, either by holding the paddle offset or by 
sweep strokes, I find tiring.  Going faster is not to advantage, since 
increasing speed is inefficient - it takes a lot more energy.  If I'm
not in a rush, I'd rather let the wind push me than work harder.


> The direction you actually go [...]

I can balance the weathercocking with a paddle stroke and still get the 
kayak to go roughly in the direction I want.  If I angle the kayak to
take advantage of the wind, I have to paddle to counter the downwind
motion.  If the kayak doesn't weathercock, I still have to compensate
for the downwind motion.  That work is there regardless.  The advantage
of the wind ferry is that the wind moves me while I'm doing it.  I'm
not worried about the speed - it's not a race.

> Sure you can paddle mostly into the wind
> and current and get your "ferry" angle to provide some side force that moves
> you across the river or lake. Except in the case of a current flowing almost
> as fast as you can paddle, it is probably a lot easier to take a more direct
> route and as a result spend a lot less time paddling mostly against the wind
> or current to gain the small side force pushing you toward your goal.

Unless I misunderstand you, it sounds like all those WW paddlers that cross a 
river on a ferry _without_using_any_paddle_strokes_ are performing magic.

Mike
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