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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: DISTANCE TO PADDLE
Posted By: Ross Leidy In Response To: Re: DISTANCE TO PADDLE (David)
Date: Tuesday, 24 October 2000, at 11:16 a.m.
I was curious how fast I paddled, so I took my GPS with me for a reservoir paddle in the Guillemot using a Greenland paddle. I found that with a steady cadence (but not strained) I could maintain 3.9-4.0 mph for long distances. For sprints, I couldn't get any faster than 5.0 mph (and that was peak), at least with the Greenland paddle. With a lazy, but steady cadence I moved along at 3.2-3.5 mph.
Someday I'll try varying the paddle and boat and see what kind of numbers I get.
Ross
: Bert
: I disagree with the generous estimates given prior. You cannot realistically
: go any faster than an average of 2.5 miles per hour, or 2.5 knots, which
: is just ever so slightly faster (1.0 knot = 1.1 mph). I have carefully
: studied this with beginner paddlers when I teach. We have a 2.5 mile
: paddle we use as a first hour's outing, and have repeated it with hundreds
: of students. Also, we have paddled next to sail boats, keeping pace, and
: asking them their crusing speed. Often we find we are cruising at 2.0 mph,
: not 2.5. The main rule, is easy does it. No beginner can kayak much
: faster, nor can an older paddler with a big fat touring boat. With a
: current behind you or toward you, this number can go as high as 4.0 - 5.0
: and as low as 0.5. Winds with or against you, same kind of thing. Plan no
: more than 5 hours of paddling per day, which is about 12.5 miles. That
: will knock the wind out of most novices, who will find that their hands
: develop blisters between the thumb and first finger (on the webbing),
: shoulder pain from improper strokes, occasional tennis elbow or wrist
: numbness from overuse...you get the idea. Anything more than about 3-4
: hours the first day is pretty ambitious. If you set a faster pace, yeah,
: people might be able to keep up, at the risk of overuse injury. And there
: are always the faster, stronger paddlers, put them at the back of the
: pack, and put your slowest, weakest paddlers in front, to pace the group.
: That might hold some people back, but it insures no-one is being pushed
: beyond their limits. Many sea kayaking troubles involve beginners being
: lead into conditions beyond their ability by experienced kayakers.: Fact is, unless someone is expert, you won't make many miles. If they want
: mileage, tell them to get a sailboat. If they want speed, tell them to try
: whitewater. Let flat water paddling be filled with lots of stops,
: observing and "grokking" the scenery. It just ain't all that
: fast a way to get around.: Hope this helps
: David
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