Peter, Found a reference to "The Ditch" on Wikapedia later today; the phrase makes more sense now as I see it refers the area separating the two countries, as in "I'll be flying across the ditch to New Zealand tonight." Also, on rereading my Andrew McCauley I see it could have used a little more editing. Sorry about any geographic people slurs. Not been my best week. Doug *************************************************************************** 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 have just returned from the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) annual forum, where there was a tribute to Andrew. Before the keynote presentation by Nigel Foster and his wife, Kristin Nelson, on their Labrador expedition, Paul Caffyn gave a brief summary of Andrew's journey, including his courageous decision to return to Tasmania on his first attempt. Paul was at Milford Sound waiting for Andrew to arrive and said he felt hollow when he learned of the upturned kayak. Dave Winkworth, a friend of Andrew's from Australia, then gave a very moving description of Andrew as someone very special, but also very normal, who would have felt comfortable sitting in the audience of paddlers about to watch someone else's journey. Dave then asked, if when next paddling our favourite piece of water, we could pause and raise our water bottle to the memory of Andrew, a fellow-paddler. A fitting tribute. -- John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
That will be one of the first things I do when I get on the water again in a kayak. I have a picture of him on my screen saver now, and talked to my teens about his life and accomplishments. Doug >I have just returned from the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) >annual > forum, where there was a tribute to Andrew. > > Before the keynote presentation by Nigel Foster and his wife, Kristin > Nelson, on their Labrador expedition, Paul Caffyn gave a brief summary of > Andrew's journey, including his courageous decision to return to Tasmania > on > his first attempt. Paul was at Milford Sound waiting for Andrew to arrive > and said he felt hollow when he learned of the upturned kayak. > > Dave Winkworth, a friend of Andrew's from Australia, then gave a very > moving > description of Andrew as someone very special, but also very normal, who > would have felt comfortable sitting in the audience of paddlers about to > watch someone else's journey. > > Dave then asked, if when next paddling our favourite piece of water, we > could pause and raise our water bottle to the memory of Andrew, a > fellow-paddler. > > A fitting tribute. > > > -- > John Kirk-Anderson > Banks Peninsula > NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This just showed up on the internet: http://www.smh.com.au/multimedia/national/mcauley/index.html Thanks John for the KASK update. Doug Lloyd >I have just returned from the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) >annual > forum, where there was a tribute to Andrew. > > Before the keynote presentation by Nigel Foster and his wife, Kristin > Nelson, on their Labrador expedition, Paul Caffyn gave a brief summary of > Andrew's journey, including his courageous decision to return to Tasmania > on > his first attempt. Paul was at Milford Sound waiting for Andrew to arrive > and said he felt hollow when he learned of the upturned kayak. > > Dave Winkworth, a friend of Andrew's from Australia, then gave a very > moving > description of Andrew as someone very special, but also very normal, who > would have felt comfortable sitting in the audience of paddlers about to > watch someone else's journey. > > Dave then asked, if when next paddling our favourite piece of water, we > could pause and raise our water bottle to the memory of Andrew, a > fellow-paddler. > > A fitting tribute. > > > -- > John Kirk-Anderson > Banks Peninsula > NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** 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 notice Andrew was using a wing paddle. Anyone feel there is any advantage to the wing in this sort of trip. I doubt he was going very fast and maintaining a really good wing technique day-in-day-out seems a little unlikely. Any thoughts? On Mar 2, 2007, at 2:10 PM, Doug Lloyd wrote: > This just showed up on the internet: > > http://www.smh.com.au/multimedia/national/mcauley/index.html > > Thanks John for the KASK update. > > Doug Lloyd Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.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/ ***************************************************************************
>I notice Andrew was using a wing paddle. Anyone feel there is any >advantage to the wing in this sort of trip. I doubt he was going very >fast and maintaining a really good wing technique day-in-day-out >seems a little unlikely. Any thoughts? Hi Nick. Here's a small excerpt from one of the NSW lads found at: http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/magazine/57/skegs.htm Exceprt: "I did a trip with Andrew McAuley two years ago and have seen him in action many times since. He uses a wing or propeller paddle. I have watched him and others using wing paddles and the benefits of it have played on my mind. I wanted to give a paddle a go and was quite lucky to borrow one from Rob Mercer (Thanks Rob!). Since then I have picked it up and tried it, thrown it away saying, "definitely not for sea kayaking" and finally given it a fair dinkum go. It was not until I had paddled with it for some time that I became convinced of the advantages of using a wing paddle on the sea. I took the 'wing' on a 90km training paddle in preparation for my Bass Strait crossing and learnt the technique required to get the best out of it. Easier to use than a straight paddle and efficient through the water, it was to my liking and, from that moment, I was a convert. Now I won't use a "straight" paddle, even if you pay me." Looks like some of these guys down under like them for the long haul. Too bad Andrew couldn't have shaved just one more day off his crossing attempt.. Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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 paddle sprint racing kayaks with a wing, and wild water kayaks with a non-wing. Wing blades are not as good for bracing and rolling. When it comes to sea kayaking, if the conditions will be rough, I prefer a non-wing blade. On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:49:09 -0800 Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: >>I notice Andrew was using a wing paddle. *************************************************************************** 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 just finished Watertribe.com 300mile Everglades Challenge using the Epic Mid-Wing the entire way. In my experience the blade is slightly less forgiving for bracing and not great for sculling. Otherwise it is a great tool that encourages a good forward, stroke even when fatigued. Steve Bailey aka KneadingWater RICHARD CULPEPER wrote: > I paddle sprint racing kayaks with a wing, and wild water kayaks with > a non-wing. Wing blades are not as good for bracing and rolling. > When it comes to sea kayaking, if the conditions will be rough, I > prefer a non-wing blade. > > On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:49:09 -0800 > Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: >>> I notice Andrew was using a wing paddle. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Nick wrote: >>>>>I notice Andrew was using a wing paddle. Anyone feel there is any advantage to the wing in this sort of trip. I doubt he was going very fast and maintaining a really good wing technique day-in-day-out seems a little unlikely. Any thoughts?<<<<<<< The downside to the wing that I see is that it is not as good for bracing. Also because you always use the same stroke it can wear you down because you can't switch to other strokes for a rest. Nigel Foster's article in Sea kayaker pointed the later point out a few years ago. I think I experienced this when paddling on a long trip on Lake Powell with a old racing buddy who used his wing for the trip. As the long days wore on (we averaged 27.5 miles per day in short November days and gear laden kayaks) we went from him running me into the ground at first to him not being able to paddle as long or fast as I by the end of the week. At first I attributed this to me gaining conditioning on the trip (because I had started at a lower fitness level than my paddling partner) but after reading Nigel's article I think that the wing paddle he was using might have also been a good part of it. One of the articles said that Andrew was using a single kayak. I noticed Dave Winkworth's name was mentioned somewhere as well. Was Andrew paddling a Nadgee Explorer? Was Andrew using a rudder? A non-rudder kayak is also harder to control with a wing paddle because the stern draw stroke is awkward at best when using one. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.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/ ***************************************************************************
on 3/3/07 20:57, Matt Broze at mkayaks_at_oz.net wrote: > > One of the articles said that Andrew was using a single kayak. I noticed > Dave Winkworth's name was mentioned somewhere as well. Was Andrew paddling a > Nadgee Explorer? Was Andrew using a rudder? Funny old world. Dave Winkworth walked out the door five minutes ago, after a day's paddle where he got away from me in a down-wind run in his Nadgee versus my Tempest 170. Andrew was not paddling a Nadgee, it was a modified Mirage, complete with rudder. I'm sure the Aussies can provide full details. Cheers JKA -- John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
"...a wing paddle. Anyone feel there is any advantage to the wing in this sort of trip. I doubt he was going very fast and maintaining a really good wing technique day-in-day-out seems a little unlikely. Any thoughts?" I think the problem of maintaining "a really good wing technique" is probably similar to maintaining a good forward stroke with another type of paddle. If the paddler usually uses a wing paddle, efficiency gains are available. *************************************************************************** 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 Treby wrote: >I think the problem of maintaining "a really good >wing technique" is probably similar to maintaining >a good forward stroke with another type of paddle. G'day Peter, The problem's the same but the consequences may be potentially worse with the wing paddle as it may not forgive a sustained poor stroke. I'm told that people have a greater tendency to sustain shoulder injuries because the force available with the wing paddle is greater. But I don't if there are any stats available and thats what counts of course. I did wonder if paddling at sea would allow a broader range of muscle groups to be involved so reducing the risk of shoulder damage, thats even more hypothetical! Andrew had a reputation for maintaining a consistently well developed paddling stroke and had won at least one Hawkesbury Classic. Theres an adage within the NSWSKC club that the time you need a good stroke most is when you're least likely to be using it ie when you're tired (came from Rob Mercer I think). I find that very helpful and when tired will slow my stroke down and just go for perfection. It provides a deal of relief. Re the question on Andrew's boat. Doug posted a link a few days ago that has some quite detailed pictures of the boat - it takes a while to load as its a video clip. The boat was a Mirage 580 (single) that had been lengthened and the hull deepened slightly. 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/ ***************************************************************************
Most of what a paddler is doing on a trip is a forward stroke. A wing paddle encourages, even forces, a good forward stroke. The possibility of "greater tendency to sustain shoulder injuries" and similar comments, one hears from those who aren't using a wing paddle. If you start using one, and give yourself time to adjust your stroke and muscle tone, a wing paddle can be great. My impression is an efficiency gain for no extra energy. Is anyone on this list using a Lendal Kinetic Wing? Anyone using a Toksook? What are these like? They look like a bombproof rockhoppers and surfers paddle. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
-So, whadya all think about the Wing Paddle? Josh- Josh, I would hazard a guess and say that more kayakers in New Zealand are using wing paddles than not. This is due to the high level of participation in multisport and adventure racing, which has had a flow on to sea kayaking. I had always shunned the things, mainly due to ignorance. This feeling was reinforced when trying to teach a wing user how to do a sweeping brace stroke. He said that he couldn't, as the blade would dive. Most strokes that I suggested met with the same response. Eventually I asked him what they were good for, and he said he would race me to the corner to show me. When I suggested that we race backwards, he reneged. This view changed after watching a good friend who has been paddling for nearly 40 years, and has used wings since Mark 1, Version 1. He was coming in through surf in his sea kayak when he did a bow rudder stroke, while using his wing paddle. When I said I didn't think they were any good for anything other than forward strokes, he chucked me his spare paddle, also a wing, and said simply, "Learn to use it". I can now declare that there is nothing I can do with a conventional paddle that I can't do with a wing. They grab a big hunk of water and hold it tight, which does require slight changes to some slicing strokes, ie: hanging draws and sculling draws. Apart from those minor points, they're great. I now use a "wing paddle stroke technique" when using standard blades. This generates more power as well as solving a minor problem with tennis-elbow. I'm back to using my Lendal modified-crank shaft with Nordkapp blades, but can't help but wonder what would happen if I took a saw to the shaft and grabbed some epoxy glue, and...... Cheers John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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 have examined wing paddles, and tried them out and find them interesting. A well designed wing paddle is a huge improvement in blade design and very efficient in terms of muscle power in vs. forward thrust output. Most are designed I think unfortunately for sprints and not for long distance cruising, so it would be interesting to see one optimized for low power cuirsing. They suffer the same problem many modern designs do, they are not symmetrical so doing rapid "emergency" maneuvers properly need to be practiced so they become reflexive. Also I think, as someone else posted, they require a very different technique and you must learn how to use them properly, including making all the emergency actions automatic. These are two reason why I am a big fan of native style paddles. They have no such draw backs. Peter *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 06:26 PM 5/29/2002 -0700, Peter wrote: >A well designed wing paddle is a huge improvement in blade design and very >efficient in terms of muscle power in vs. forward thrust output. Most are >designed I think unfortunately for sprints and not for long distance >cruising, so it would be interesting to see one optimized for low power >cruising. Futura has a decent list wing paddles, and blade dimensions for Flite paddles on their site http://www.surfskis.com/options.html, Venturesport has the sizes for Bratcha paddles on theirs http://www.venturesport.com/cgi-bin/products/products.cgi?search=cat_wing_pa ddles&title=Wing%20Paddles Epic no longer lists the excaliber jr. on their site,http://www.epicpaddles.com but futura still had it listed. I find my 515mm by 170mm Bratcha II blades too large for use in our sea kayaks, its fine on the surf ski. I've used an Epic Mid (164mm by 500mm) on my surf ski a couple of times and find it a much nicer paddle, probably a comfortable size in a sea kayak for a strong paddler. I would like to find an Epic Jr or a small Flite to try in my sea kayak. I'm very, very aware that rough dimensions are not a great way to measure blade size. Only Epic supplied the actual surface area of the blade rough so rough measurements were the best I could do. None of this also takes into account the actual blade design - and there is a huge improvement in the blade design between my Bratcha II and the Epic Mid that I've tried. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Nick Schade said: Anyone feel there is any advantage to the wing in this sort of trip. I doubt he was going very fast and maintaining a really good wing technique day-in-day-out seems a little unlikely. Any thoughts? I haven't used a wing in decades, and never for long trips, but I have always changed my technique a little in long races just to be able to use different muscles, or, at least, the same muscles in slightly different ways. I believe that lowering or raising my forward stroke even a little changes things enough to give some benefit in a long, hard paddling session. I would switch from the old Scandinavian stoke, all torso with almost straight arms ( my usual stroke), to the Hungarian, classic no cross-over the centerline, and it seemed to help. My experience with the wing is the same as everyone else - it give less flexibility of technique than other paddles. This might explain the fatigue effect others have described. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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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