Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling with kites/umbrellas

I  have a 7.5 and a 15 sq. ft parafoil. The 7.5 would pull me along faster
than I would be blown without it but it wouldn't pull me at hull speed. The
15 sq. ft. works very well on land but I have
rarely found it beneficial on the water. Way more trouble than it is worth
in my opinion.
It is difficult to get it launched from the water and more problem trying to
keep it up in the air once I do. If the
wind slows a little you end up back paddling to keep it in the air while
your
paddling friends are disappearing around the next point. I have found it
especially difficult to relaunch once it has gotten wet.

Once in a 25 to 30 knot blow on Dungeness Spit (in the old days before it
was ranger infested) that kite got my adrenaline up. After my partner
released the bow and the kayak pivoted out to sea (I felt like a bull rider
swinging out sideways as the gate opens) and then immediately started to
plane it only took me a few seconds to realize I had a tiger by the tail and
wasn't sure how to let go. It had me planing across the water as it swung me
side to side as it lashed back and forth. I was in my narrowest (20.5" wide)
kayak. I quickly realized that if I dumped and lost my grip on the kayak it
would easily sail the many miles to the next shore without me. I got out my
knife so I could cut the line quickly if necessary. I had a devil of a time
making progress at getting the kite back down while
trying not to drop and snag the paddle (that I had tucked under my armpit in
order to
work the hand reel) and keep my balance without the use of the paddle. If I
back paddled hard I could barely hold my position against the wind. I
seriously considered
cutting it loose but didn't want to loose the expensive kite. I managed by
fits and starts to make some progress (gain a few wraps on the reel then
loose a few, tuck the paddle back up further under my arm again) and
eventually reeled it most of the way
in. When it was only a few feet away I thought I might not even get it wet
but it swung over and dove into the water. Then I was afraid it would act
as a sea anchor and yank me over as I planed past it on momentum. A wild
ride I won't soon forget. I could have made great time that day if I had
wanted to go that way but I was going to have to paddle back into the wind
to the spit afterward so didn't want to go too far.

The last time I tried to use it was near camp after a long crossing. I spend
an hour fussing with it without much success. Convinced there must be
something wrong with it I tried it again once I was at camp. It worked
perfectly with just being tied of to a log.

Sails are way more practical but don't mess with leeboard and the like. It
is much easier to paddle up wind than to sail that way so why bother with
all the excess baggage when you already have the paddle. With a kite I could
"sail" (without a rudder) more than 45 degrees to each side of straight
downwind (by how I positioned the rotating line  between the bow and my
cockpit I attached the kite line to. With a simple spinnaker (on an old
Feathercraft double) I was able to sail nearly 90 degrees off the wind  (by
wrapping the spinnaker around the mast some and using it like a mainsail.

Unless the sail is very easy to set up you will probably get to your
destination quickest by paddling anyhow but sailing might save some energy
(if you don't have to hold it up against the wind anyway).

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com
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