RE: [Paddlewise] bracing and power

Sorry for tardy response on this - I'm sitting on a ferry off Wrangell,
Alaska and the web is not here ;-)

Paul wrote:
My own experience is that dynamic stability (from boat speed) helps to
overcome sea-state (clapotis & chop) - but is less useful in conditions 
of cresting side-waves & surf, and much less useful in wind gusts and 
willies. These situations benefit from a longer paddle (ie: longer than 
my last regularly-used Euro paddle).

Rob wrote:
Dynamic stability is not dependent upon which direction features come 
from, be it beam, stern or bow.

Rob, you missed my point. I know that the increase in stability from the
kayak's movement through the water (aka dynamic stability) assists in
resisting an upsetting force from any direction.

What I find is that the larger forces from sudden wind-gusts or big cresting
waves (side or head) may overcome your dynamic stability very easily - ie:
by stopping you dead in the water. If you haven't got a nice long lever arm
to fall back on (quite literally), practicing your roll becomes likely.

If your sense of balance is better than mine (it almost certainly is), then
you may be able to retain your balance with a shorter aid. For example,
anyone who can stand on a high-wire would find balancing a kayak pretty
trivial...

A long paddle just works for me better than a short one. It doesn't slow me
down and I don't accept that it has any adverse effects on my capabilities
or my enjoyment. I paddle often, I paddle hundreds of open-coast miles a
year, I've even been competitive in races. Yes, a long paddle has a
disadvantage in narrow rock caves or passages of a certain width, but that's
true of any two-bladed paddle. 

I don't use it because I get a better brace from it - that's purely a
by-product. I can go fast with a short paddle - and a higher cadence - I've
tried it. For a short race, that's almost certainly better. Over a long (for
me) day's paddle - say 10-16 hours and 60-80 km - I am just happier at the
end of the day if my cadence has been lower. Others might do this with a
short carbon wing and laugh... People have similar discussions on bicycle
gearing.

I'm not on a mission to talk anybody into using a GP - or a
longer-than-usual euro paddle. If you are curious, try them and find out
what works for you - and when - and why. Paddlers that I admire (for their
accomplishments), use a wide variety of tools - and seem to get the job done
just fine. Anyone who claims that there is only one 'good way' has  their
work cut out to convince me that it's all written in stone somewhere.

Best Regards	
Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand
(Temporarily in Alaska)
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