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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Tested my speed today
Posted By: Ted In Response To: Re: DISTANCE TO PADDLE (David)
Date: Tuesday, 24 October 2000, at 4:48 p.m.
This thread aroused my curiosity enough to go out on a lake today and measure my speed in a controlled environment (no current, absolutely no wind). For what it's worth, here's what I got paddling a Pygmy Arctic Tern this morning (no load, graphite paddle) as measured by my GPS:
One hour at 4 mph - This was relatively easy. At times my speed tended to creep up to 4.2 or 4.3. I suspect that without rest periods or slower paddling periods though, anything more than a couple hours of this would leave me fatigued.
Next hour at 3 mph - This was a relaxed pace that felt like I could keep up all day.
Not knowing my top speed, I sprinted hard and held a speed of 6.3 mph for 300 yards or so. The boat was definitely climbing uphill at this speed and is not going to go much faster with me as the motor.
I then went to the opposite extreme and tried to paddle a steady 2 mph. I had trouble going that slow. My natural relaxed cadence it too fast. I could average this speed by alternately paddling and gliding.
This was interesting, but still the biggest planning consideration when we go out in Puget Sound is tides and wind. There are numerous places where the currents are as fast or faster than my no-wind cruising pace.
Ted
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