Today we paddled on the IJselmeer because the tides didn't allow a trip at sea in daylight. Beside this the weather-predictions were quite unstable, not allowing us for a trip to Noorderhaaks f.i.
So we started in Uitdam for a 10 km crossing to the other side: Block van Kuffeler.
Conditions were ideal for summer-lovers, but not for testers: 2bft, sunny and too warm for a drysuite. This stimulated me for high braces to cool down a bit. As I tested the high brace before in the Xcite, I knew I could use this brace as escape safely. Half an hour later the weather suddenly changed: it became cold and the wind increased. Allowing us a few nice surfs at the lee side of the lake.
Arriving at the other side we had to look for shelter as the thin wind cooled us down too much during our break. In the mean time the wind increased to W-5 bft and after leaving we rocked over the steep waves at the lee shore. We had to work us against this wind over approx. 6 km; setting course for Marken. The whole trip we rode short waves and I noticed that the Xcite leecocked a bit on the moment the bow was exposed to the wind while on top of a wave. Keeping the Xcite on the desired course was easy as she responded very good on sweepstrokes and edging. Her manoeuvrability is also an important ingredient for keeping the correct course.
Although the kayak splashes a bit I had a very dry ride.
After putting on an extra shirt at Marken, (the weather became icy cold) we started our final leg, back to Uitdam. The wind blowing at out right side. Not much to tell about this conditions. Only about minor leecocking; easy to correct for. Funny enough Jos, being a bit heavier, did not show any sign of leecocking in his NDK-Explorer. I think that the difference in kayak, the Xcite being slightly more flat-bottomed, is only part of an explanation. My weight is rather low and so I am riding high and catching more wind. But anyway, the Xcite was very controllable and easy to paddle the whole trip. :smile: