July 29, 2004

Getting comfortable

The biggest thing I noticed is the shakiness is almost gone now when I put it on an extreme edge. When I first got the boat it was obvious, at least to me, that I was pretty unsteady with the boat on edge. But that is very close to disappearing.

Another thing I've noticed is just how easy this kayak is to brace up with, and how natural and relaxed my low brace is becoming. As I edge the boat to the point of no return while doing a bow rudder, I find it very easy to slip out of the rudder on one side and low brace on the other to recover from the impending capsize. This boat and I are going to become good friends...

But until I learn how this kayak side surfs, how easy it is to get window shaded, what conditions it will take to knock me down - I just won't feel totally at home in her. Soon...

Bow rudders: There is a point when on edge this boat really starts to spin in a circle fast. But that point is just on the dry side of capsizing. Don't get me wrong, for a kayak 17.5 feet long, it turns plenty fast, but I like the extreme :) Maybe in time I will be able to hold it in that zone more reliably.

Last night a few of us played by the dock with our rolls. My butterfly roll is only there about 2 out of 5 times. When I hit it right I seem to know it will work before I even start to hip snap. When it doesn't I seem to know that too. The problem is in my setup. Sometimes it feels right, other times it doesn't.

After playing around a bit we headed out for a paddle after everyone was on the water. Down near Washington Marina we stopped to let the stragglers catch up as a plane passed over to land at the airport. As we were sitting there 3 mini waterspouts appeared on the water and we watched them dance a little before dying out. Someone mentioned the plane and it wasn't till that moment I made the connection.

We paddled back to Jacks through the Boundary channel. I landed on the dock and after putting the boats away headed for home as others walked in to Georgetown for dinner.

Woody