The Xcite along the coast again.

Today you can't really call the conditions suitable for testing. It was real nice weather. Sunny and only 2-3bft wind from the north: a present !. But as we were in the mood for paddling, I paddled the Xcite.

Starting at Wijk aan Zee we paddled to the south, crossing the piers of IJmuiden, having a break at a restaurant before turning back.

Of course there were almost no waves and than it is interesting to see that the Xcite needs the skeg to be a bit lowered for weathercocking. I think that weathercocking is a good quality for a seakayak because this makes a kayak less sensitive to leecocking. So the Xcite weathercocks a bit, which is OK. But it is interessting that when the Xcite is paddling what she is designed for, paddling waves, you almost never need the skeg. Just because of her maneuverability.

On our way back we did some rockhopping along the piers behind a few big concrete blocks. Maneuverability is a nice qualkity than.
This is also a good spot for some exercises again. I liked to check the stability again; after the re-entry having rolled up.
Well, the result of the exercises was:
High brace: very easy
Rolling: very supple Re-entry: very good.
And after the re-entry the stability felt much better than a few days ago. But this could well be that there are no waves at the spot of practicing today.

In addition to the test on Sunday, we now practiced the X-rescue as well.

The Xcite is quickly emptied thanks to the bulkhead just behind the seat. There were enough perimeter ropes along teh deck for grabbing by rescuer and swimmer. Today I practiced the entry from outside the two kayaks, grabbing the lines of the rescuer-kayak over my own deck. I ended up on my stomach on my backdeck and from that position it was easy to twist myself into the big cockpit.

After passing the piers we came into a zone with "wind against current" which produced a choppy sea. I was, again, impressed by the good secondary stability of the Xcite.
The last part of the trip I paddled as close to the beach as possible: to paddle is as much waves as available.