Re: [Paddlewise] Paul Caffyn bags rudders!!!

LOL... now *this* is a perfect example of anecdotal evidence. :)

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA

On 7/3/07, John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz> wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I was talking to Paul last night and he has this to add to the debate on
> rudders, and the questions over his data:
>
> 3My average daily paddling distance has markedly decreased of late. I9m
> blaming the rudder for slowing me down; it has nothing to do with my
> alleged
> advancing age. The main requirement is that rudders are painted with black
> and yellow racing stripes to keep sharks and crocs at bay.2
>
> The last is to do with paddling in tropical waters, where the stripes
> mimic
> those on sea snakes.
>
> Paul is obviously a slow learner, as he is putting the finishing touches
> to
> his latest kayak, a Nordkapp HM, with a high deck to accommodate his
> tightening hamstrings, weighing 25 kg (very heavy for him, it is
> reinforced
> for ice-bashing). Fitted with a rudder, of shiny aluminium, he is leaving
> on
> Friday for a trip to East Greenland, which is a reconnaissance for a
> longer
> trip next year, following the route of Gino Watkins.
>
> Paul is going with Conrad Edwards, with whom he has done much of his
> paddling over the last few years. Conrad, a K1 champion, also has a rudder
> fitted to his Nordkapp, and he uses a wing paddle. Is nothing sacred.
>
> While Paul is very opinionated on his support for rudders for long trips,
> he
> is happy to let the debate rage, while he simply does the miles.
>
> Works for him.
>
> Cheers
>
> JKA
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