Last saterday I joined together with Wieger, a tour from the NKB (Dutch Kajak Association) starting in Muiden. Because of the wind the original destination, the "island" Marken, was changed into Durgerdam which was shorter by as well as offering a more convenient course with the wind and last but not least also offering better surfing possibilities on our way back.
Although the area is very familiar to me, there was enough to be seen: 6 kayakers I did not meet before and two trainies practising for becoming an instructor. They practised issues like group-behaviour and paddletechnics on us.
Further I observed the other kayaks on this course with short waves and with the 5-6Bft.wind blowing at an angle of approx. 25° against us.
I paddled my Nordkapp HM of which the integral skeg was modified by sawing it partially away. Nevertheless this kayak shows in this wind some leecocking when gliding over a wave; not very severe and the kayak could be managed well without working too hard.
Observing the other kayaks I noticed that Mariner and Shoreline did not leecock noticible, while Nordkapp HM (there was another one), Point65 XP and Aquariak leecocked a bit. Unfortunately I missed a observation of the Explorer on this.
Looking at he underwatership of these kayaks I saw my theories fit because the kayaks with a square stern or integral skeg did leecock as well as the kayaks with a high bow, being the result of a designed longer waterline which creates a kinked bowline profile.
From the other kayaks with a more traditional bow and stern I could not see any noticible leecocking. Asking Wieger he told me that his Mariner only occasionally, when hitting an particulair steep wave, showed some leecocking and could easily be steered back on the desired course.
Of course any kayak shows, when exposed to the conditions as described, some leecocking. It is however a matter of design if a kayak deals with this easily or if the kayaker has to work hard to stay on course.
A I look at it, the "old" Inuit did a good job with the design of their kayaks: no long waterlines and no bulky bows.
Why design a kayak with features which make it only a little bit faster while compromising on the performance.
What's the importance of being 0,5 knot faster?