This is a long trip report that may incur in kayaking heresy, or improper traditional concepts handling. So please, indulge with me. If you decide to go ahead, you can go through the writing or you can watch the video that tells the whole story in 8 minutes. http://outdoors.webshots.com/video/3036475110031769591aTbvpJ or http://community.webshots.com/user/cayucochief It all started because my dear friend Ken Johnson switched to Greenland Paddle (GP) and was so excited about it. It was to my surprise that Ken, known to be very determined, was convinced to abandon his > 400 USD full carbon Epic paddle, for a piece of cedar toothpick. So we accepted that two pieces would be made for my son Gustavo and myself and three of us travelled with some kayaks to Corpus, Tx seeking light in our kayak lives. Daniel our new foreign business collaborator looked at kayaking with doubts and curiosity, and came back fascinated with the sport. We arrived on Sunday 11, and were eager to meet the GP missionary and craftsman Michael Patterson and our new toys. So we were fascinated to meet this 7th dan black belt martial arts expert, magnificent carpenter at Aransas Bay, and got started. As you can see in the video, Michael is a fantastic roller, that can be a good match for Peter O. Sullivan in Calif. We were ready to get wet, even with the cold day and colder water. Gustavo picked up the rolls immediately, but I could not figure out how to grip the paddle, so the other tip kept looking for flounders and cat fish in the bottom. The paddles were beautiful. We did some paddling and the going was smooth and nice, with relaxed handling, instead of lifting the arms to the shoulders. But my big concern was, when going far from shore, what would I do in case of capsize. TRANQUIL WATERS.- On the second day, weather looked pretty bad and Daniel was in his second kayaking day ever, so a judicious choice was made. Paddling would be on the Nueces River, where we could get the feeling of the paddle on tranquil waters. We enjoyed the paddle a lot and there we made some great discoveries. Maneuvers like bow rudder, sculling draw, stern rudder, side drifting, etc. were made graciously and with ease, with less arms stress. Water was not suitable for lots of wetting, so no rolls and the such. Just one bow support dipping to freshen up since I had my neoprene wet top and was "boiling" (using Mark Sander's term). PADDLEFLOAT REENTRY AND ROLL.- On the third day we tried Baffin Bay. A friend had bought a QCC and before letting us borrow the packing stuff, since we are shipping a kayak to California, he wanted to make sure his boat was OK. Unfortunately, our trip was of no use, since the QCC leaked badly from the skeg box and he kept the packing stuff to send it back. But we had a nice paddle with good wind and some small waves. After a small round I went over to see if a paddlefloat rescue would be possible with GP. My concern was about the bag sliding out of the flat, straight, slim Greenland paddle tip. Second big discovery. The paddlefloat tends to separate from the paddle, but the attaching strap stretches, making a tight loop that prevents the float from drifting away. Have to be careful though, because on heavy weather it may get loose, but it worked twice for me. At that point I knew that theoretically, I could rescue myself in case of capsize. OUT IN THE BAY.- The next day we went out in coming wind, with some white caps, and small surfable waves. We started moving out and the G paddles felt very good. Surfing back, it was different. All others left me behind and I could not accelerate as fast, basically because I was not comfortable with the bracings and ruddering, should I need them to correct course. The "what if" kept me cautious and therefore slow. Or maybe, I was not trained to an effective stroke to catch the waves. Ken told me to get my Euro, and suddenly light shone again. What a good feeling it was. Turning, bracing, leaning to change course, accelerating out or back to catch the wave, all felt good and natural, and safe. It was like being born again. Then, the rolls, and all worked naturally. So at that very moment I had made up my mind. My beautiful handcrafted, shiny, almost perfect GP was going to have a special honor place on the wall of my Veracruz kayak club, near my beautiful Euro paddle motif handrails, but ... NOT THE END OF THE STORY.- For one thing, paddling out, correcting course, maneuvers, fancy strokes, etc, worked OK for me with the GP, on the other, it was me who felt uncomfortable, not the others. So I kept an uneasy feeling while driving back to Mexico. Once at home I entered my small practicing pool and was determined to give the paddle another trial with rolls before placing hangers on the wall, taking my time to find the grip position and maybe, even just float and start waving the paddle around to feel the lifting power, etc. But it was not necessary. Just sat on the shortened kayak, picked up the paddle from one end just as I did with the Euro, and voila, sculling started working and I thought, "I really think I could roll with this". An so I just went over, and got it on the first trial, and continued to do so, but then I noticed that sculling was easier, and lying sideways could be done better due to the paddle floatation, etc. I had started writing my report and had to throw it away. I gave my GP a big hug. CONCLUSION.- Fact 1.- Physics say that the torque is force applied to the Center of Mass times distance. No doubt there is more torque when using a Euro, where the CM is farther apart, at the center of the blade. Fact 2.- GP blade shape and floatation make some strokes and drills very easy and elegant. Fact 3.- My friends paddle pretty fast with GP. I have to work on it. Fact 4.- On long touring trips, arms are more relaxed with GP. So,I have to conclude that GPs are very good for touring, exhibitions and most sea uses. In the case of races, extreme timing, white water playing and surfing, I think the Euro paddle gives that extra torque to pick up that wave, to turn on that green wall or to brace on that tall foamy income. As Patrick Martin says, when messing with Dumpie, I rather have my Euro. Elsewhere I'll proudly use my GP, and will make it a point to feel at home with it either over or under the air-water division. Thanks to Ken Johnson for his great hospitality, to the Corpus Christi kayak club and to Michael Patterson for his great craftsmanship getting rid of all the extra material from the 2 x 4, carefully chosen cedar strips. See you on the water. Rafael Mexico www.mayanseas.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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