If I am competing in a flat water race, is it worth not using my rudder for a 7.5 mile course? My gut tells me that keeping drag to a minimum will save me a little time. I am a 63 year old who wants to better his time in a race I did two years ago. I own a QCC 500 and want every bit of help I can get. I appreciate all wisdom/comments. Best Regards, Tony Reynes *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I would say it all depends on conditions. If you are expending a lot of energy trying to stay on line due to wind/current conditions without your rudder - then the extra drag caused by the use of the rudder might be a smaller 'cost'. If you don't *need* the rudder to keep you on course then having it in the water is extra drag and will cost you time. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
--Not 100% applicable but close enough. A friend is an Olympic level sprint kayaker and her boats all have small rudders on them... Joe P. Subject: [Paddlewise] Rudder drag ..If I am competing in a flat water race, is it worth not using my rudder for a 7.5 mile course? My gut tells me that keeping drag to a minimum will save me a little time. I am a 63 year old who wants to better his time in a race I did two years ago. I own a QCC 500 and want every bit of help I can get. I appreciate all wisdom/comments. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day Tony, I would say keep the rudder up provided the boat tracks well and the currents aren't squirly. However, if keeping the rudder up means you have to use significant levels of edging to keep the boat on track, then this could interfere with a good racing stroke. Also would hope the rudder pedals have a section for pushing against that doesn't turn the rudder. All the best for the race, 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 15:17:03 -0500, "Tony Reynes" <tony_at_tesar- reynes.com> said: > If I am competing in a flat water race, is it worth not using my > rudder for a 7.5 mile course? My gut tells me that keeping drag to a > minimum will save me a little time. I'm of the firm belief that the drag of the rudder is worth it. If you have a perfectly balanced stroke, with no wind, current, or need to use corrective strokes, then I would skip the rudder. If you have a cross wind on the course, and you decide against the rudder, you'll lose a lot of time making course corrections instead of just powering forward. > I am a 63 year old who wants to better his time in a race I did two > years ago. I own a QCC 500 and want every bit of help I can get. I > appreciate all wisdom/comments. Work on your forward stroke. Better technique will far outweigh the drag of your rudder. You want a nice efficient stroke, plus a quick stroke rate. It's fun to watch an "old timer" with great technique blow away a muscular "youngster" who has lousy technique :-) Kirk happily racing a ruddered fenn mako millenium. -- Kirk Olsen kork4_at_cluemail.com *************************************************************************** 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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