Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking

Posted By: Ken
Date: Wednesday, 4 June 2008, at 8:04 p.m.

In Response To: Wind and its effect on kayaking (Michael)

: 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.

That's a pretty broad question; the responses thus far have addressed how much it slows you down when you're paddling into it, but to address your question more broadly - i.e., what is wind's effect on kayaking - it can:

- Slow you down (see Burch, Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation,
for a discussion of how much)
- Speed you up, if it's from behind (ditto)
- Propel you, if you have a sail or kite
- Cause your boat to weathercock or leecock
- Push you off course laterally
- Create waves that make paddling difficult (or fun)
- Create bigger or steeper waves, if it blows against current
- Make it easier to see current
- Blow weather in from other areas
- Blow fog away
- Blow spray in your face
- Blow your hat off, mess up your hair, chap your lips
- Make you cold
- On a hot day, make you comfortable
- Make it hard to roll up on your downwind side
- Make you wish you were using a Greenland paddle
- Blow your kayak away from you (faster than you can swim) if you wet exit
- Blow away any untethered gear
- Make it hard to hear (your companions, other boat traffic)

And at a rest stop or in camp, it can also:

- Blow sand in your food
- Blow away annoying insects
- Blow down your tent
- Dry your clothes
- Make it hard to start a fire

And I'm sure it can have lots of other effects...

-Ken

Messages In This Thread

Wind and its effect on kayaking
Michael -- Wednesday, 7 May 2008, at 9:35 a.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Robert N Pruden -- Wednesday, 7 May 2008, at 11:45 p.m.

Addendum
Robert N Pruden -- Wednesday, 7 May 2008, at 11:51 p.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Etienne Muller -- Wednesday, 28 May 2008, at 3:59 p.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Mike Savage -- Thursday, 29 May 2008, at 6:50 a.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Etienne Muller -- Friday, 30 May 2008, at 5:28 p.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Mike Savage -- Saturday, 31 May 2008, at 8:10 a.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Ken -- Wednesday, 4 June 2008, at 8:04 p.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Paul -- Monday, 23 June 2008, at 6:02 p.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
JohnK -- Monday, 30 June 2008, at 5:32 a.m.

Re: Wind and its effect on kayaking
Paul -- Wednesday, 2 July 2008, at 11:52 p.m.

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