Today I went to Huisduinen for a clockwise circumnavigation of the Noorderhaaks (Razende Bol); a challenging area in case of heavy weather. But today there was only an easterly 4Bft; predicted to increase to 6 Bft near the evening. I was accompanied by 4 club-members, all eager to use the opportunity the weather offered for a tour in late November.
Wieger did the planning and proposed to try to complete the circumnavigation in 2 hours; in this case we could plan both crossings of the Marsdiep on the outgoing tide.
We left Huisduinen and made the crossing to the west-end of Noorderhaaks while wind and waves came from right-behind. The 16X asked quite a lot of attention to keep course in the low waves which were constantly pushing me of our course. I was concentrated to use the rudder the right way and I realized that this behaviour in keeping course is very similar to for instance my AnasAcuta's (also a manoeuvrable kayak), which I used for years without a variable skeg.
So there is nothing wrong in the design. The only thing is that in a kayak outfitted with a variable skeg you have a choice: you can use the skeg and thus change the behaviour of the kayak. Or you choose not to use it, just relying on your paddle-technique. Discussing this, Jan told me he seldom uses his skeg (in a Nordkapp Jubilee) for this reason and not to become dependant on the skeg. Only if necessary for some reason he does so.
So, I realized, you can become lazy by using a variable skeg frequently.
Certainly you will not in the 16X. And I was lazy already; because I was almost forgotten how hard I had to work in my AnasAcuta once she did not have a skeg yet.
On the other hand although you will not becoming lazy in the 16X with the wind from behind, you can on other courses when using a rudder instead of performing edging and sweepstrokes. But I realize this is not a fair statement as that's going about another choice: buying a kayak with or without rudder. And that's up to the paddler him-or herself.
Once we reached Noorderhaaks we paddled between the two surf-zones along the island. We paddled at a fast pace, with the wind coming from the right side, and although the sea was quite confused by local shallows it was very easy to keep course with the 16X, while only using the rudder to keep course.
An occasional braking wave, trying to throw me on the beach, could be mastered with a simple low brace; stability is very good (as written before).
Jan notices that the rudder only occasionally comes above the water surface and that the fin almost always stays submerged. That's good information and in a way this explains why the fin has got an increased surface (made deeper) in the new Epic-rudder-construction, coming in 2011.
At a certain moment we spotted two other kayakkers playing the outer-surf-zone. At once we changed our course towards them. Living in Den Helder, they were paddling their normal playgrounds. One of them spotted Wieger's Xcite. It appeared that he was interested in this kayak and had tried to get a test-kayak to try it. He told that did not succeed in this until now. So testing now was "once in a lifetime" as he explained. So they changed kayaks in the open sea. As they wanted to try the kayaks in the surf-zone, this was the starting-signal for us also to play in the waves of the outer zone.
For me this was also a very welcome intermezzo because I wanted to meet longer waves to try the 16X in. Honestly I didn't expect finding such waves today.
But Yes !!!, the surf zone over there produced long waves, giving enough opportunity to surf them before they ended in white foam.
To catch a wave with the 16X you have to speed up, but the reward is a long surf. The 16X surfs well in long waves and listens good to the rudder while surfing. It is what I expected: probably the wave, pushing the kayak, submerges the total surface of the rudder and makes it much more effective.
We played for half an hour making some beautiful runs. As we had to catch the tide we had to move on.
We still paddled a fast pace at the north side of the island; in a confused sea and against wind and tide. This time I am very happy with the functioning of the rudder; with knees clutched under deck as well with the knees in the middle of the cockpit. Of course there is a difference between these positions, as written before, but probably I am finally used (
) to the proper way of dosing the rudder movements. I also got the impression that paddling at sea in a fast pace makes it easier to use the rudder.
As written we paddled quite fast, but today I did not have the idea that the 16X is superior in speed compared to the other kayaks. It is just that I can easily catch up with my buddies. When I speeded up Wieger could easily follow in his Xcite. When I stopped the game, I had my muscles nearly cramping. I could not understand this at that moment, but a day later I could: I did not feel too well than for a few days. So I probably had been ill already on the tour. Honestly it would be very strange that, while having reached 9 km/h over an extended period before, I could not reproduce this at sea.
While paddling I also looked at differences with the other kayaks; focussing on the rocking in waves. In higher waves there is only a small difference: the 16X stays a bit lower than the other kayaks. In small waves however Jan noticed that the 16X moves very horizontal through the waves; slicing them with her sharp bow.
While rounding the east point of the island we had to cross a shallow. I could feel the fin scratching the sand-bottom and decided to start walking to cross this area. With the new Epic rudder-construction, with retractable fin, this aspect is also solved.
The second crossing of the Marsdiep, back to our starting point, is without any remarkables as the wind, although increased to almost 5Bft, blows in the same direction of the current. So no firework of the waves today.
Back at our starting point we practised some rolls. I did as well with the 16X. The first time my PFD prevented rolling to the other side under water. As the water was cold I did not take the time to roll further under the kayak and just started to roll with the paddle too low. I rolled up, but you understand this was not a very beautiful roll. Still it was possible to roll up; making clear rolling this kayak isn't too difficult. Other rolls went very well.
Afterwards we had a cosy time in the restaurant Nogal Wiedus, next to our starting point. Probably you understand that, due to the playing in surf, we did not succeed in completing the tour in 2 hours.