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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Posted By: Robert N Pruden In Response To: Wind and its effect on kayaking (Michael)
Date: Wednesday, 7 May 2008, at 11:45 p.m.
: Can anyone give me information on wind and its effect on kayaking, as far as
: sea kayaking and river kayaking goes? I'm not having the best of luck with
: google.I paddle on relatively shallow rivers mostly. Basically, wind can change a calm flat river into one filled with standing waves. A kayak can veer left or right depending on wind direction and force. It can also either blow you upstream or cause you to move forward at a much faster speed that you could normally attain with your usual paddling tempo. The worst case scenario that I have encountered was rather extreme. I was out one day in high winds. There was so much chop that I couldn't see the sandbars. My bow got hung up on one, the wind and current caused the kayak to rotate so that the hull was perpendicular to the current - I was out of control. To make matters worse, the ferrule on my paddle broke so that I couldn't regain control. I eventually shoved off the sandbar and let the current take me backward till I could sort matters out. On a deeper river, of course, I wouldn't have to worry about sandbars but difficulties with control can cause a capsize, which wouldn't be good if you couldn't roll. I can't roll so I usually bail when I go over. Wind can separate you from your kayak in the event of a capsize and you lose touch with your kayak. You can bet it won't be easy to catch. Hope this gives you a starting point for more questions.
Robert N Pruden
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