- Details
After today's activities there were a few hours left. Because the wind was blowing at a 5-6Bft force from SW, this was an ideal opportunity to paddle with the 16X and the midwing to the lake "Alkmaardermeer" and play in the waves.
To reach the lake I had to paddle approx. 6km over de Zaan (a river) and some canals where I could also measure the speed I reached.
With the current wind-strength this gives not an accurate measurement but it gives a good indication. Against the wind I measured, paddling at a fitness -pace, 8 km/h. Whereas in the few sheltered sections on the way to my lake I easily reached 9-10km/h. So for the time being I write that cruising at 9(-10)km, in flatwater-conditions with minor wind, should be possible; with good technique and enough trunk-rotation. Later I will check the full-sprint.
- Details
As I picked up the 16X yesterday I was very eager to learn more about her. So for a first impression I made a small tour, together with Tiny, in "my backyard": the "Wormer- and Jisperveld'.
Tiny accompanied me in her fast flatwater touring-kayak. That brings me immediately to the subject "speed". Normally a slender touring kayak is much faster then a seakayak. But paddling the 16X in the shallow waters next to Tiny I did not have any indication that I had to work hard to keep up with her. The speed of both kayaks seemed quite equal .
Of course this is quite an subjective impression. But later I will investigate speed better. Anyway: the X16 feels fast and accelerates quickly.
While sprinting at maximal speed it feels if the X16 could accelerate for ever. For me it was impossible to reach the maximal hull-speed.
After getting into the cockpit the kayak felt very stable from the beginning; both the primary- and the secondary stability are good. It felt like a rock in these calm waters.
- Details
Today I went to kanosport.nl-shop to pickup a test-kayak. Eric offered me the use of one of his demo-kayaks for testing. By mail he proposed to the Epic 16X or 18X. So there was a choice to make and the evening before I was busy thinking about the two kayaks.
Difficult choice because both are interesting kayaks.
After Googling a bit it seemed to me that the 16X was a good choice to start testing with, because she is more manoeuvrable and thus probably usable under more different conditions and by more paddlers of different levels. Another practical reason seemed that a 18X is almost 6 meter long and does not fit very well on the roof of a VW-polo.
On the other hand; paddling a very fast kayak like the 18X is a joy to my hart: I love it to split the water at high speed. And another reason for the 18X is that Freya rounded Australia with that kayak, so it must be a very capable kayak-design; just as capable as Freya herself.
- Details
Vorig jaar was onze eerste trektocht langs de Noors kust ons goed bevallen. Hadden we vorig jaar een veel minder beschutte kust; dit jaar kozen we voor de oostkust van Noorwegen. Wel meer bewoond maar ook mooi. Begin augustus was het nog net geen vakantieperiode zodat het in onze eerste weken niet heel erg druk op het water was. Later zag je vooral veel bootjes.
We hadden wel heel mooi weer waardoor we veel harder opschoten en we ook vaker op de open zee konden blijven. Later trok de wind wat aan, maar achter de eilanden was het goed te doen op een enkele oversteek van een baai na.
KLIK hier om verder te lezen en de grotere kaart te bekijken
- Details
Wednesday-evening a week ago the wind was blowing NE at 5-6BFT: a perfect condition to try the paddle on my weekly 19km-trip tot the kayak-club.
Nice about this trip is that I have the wind from all directions on the different stretches.
So let me summarise my trip
1. Getting used to
Probably that has something to do with my own kinetik wing because I noticed that I was paddling the Greenland paddle in the same way. Of course with the tilting of the blade while pulling.
It was also interesting to notice that I did not have to think one second about NOT turning the paddle-shaft: All my paddling life I used a right-twisted shaft and you could expect that this deeply anchored habit is difficult to change. But no: It all felt very natural.
When paddling in wind coming from aside you develop over the years the habit of leaning into the wind when you feel a sudden gust of wind.
This evening there were certainly gust of winds and after a few gust a realised It was not necessary to lean into the wind anymore as the wind did not have any grip on the pushed blade in the air.
This felt very safe indeed because very strong gusts can capsize even an experienced paddle in a second of unawareness.
- Details
Some time ago Ed wrote on my weblog the question: "What's going on, why no new tests on your website?"
I mailed back that I was just starting up again after the winter-period. May-be a weak excuse because I could also write in winter time: reviews about f.i. AnasAcuta and Nordkapp as I have these kayaks in my fleet.
Anyhow, after exchanging some mails Ed asked if I was interested in testing a Greenland paddle; he made 3 paddles himself and offered one of those for testing
Ed
- Details
Last Saturday I planned to test the Xplore (Tiderace).
I could borrow Wiegers' and planned to use it on a crossing of the IJsselmeer from Stavoren to Andijk vv.
A distance of about 2x15 km .
Thx Wieger.
- Details
After my experiences with the Cetus in the second half of 2009, it's about time now to describe some technical details about her before finishing my testperiod with the Cetus.
The hull
The Cetus has a rather rounded underwatership with flat midsection and a sharp bow. Furthermore the hull is given a swedeform shape which helps making it a fast kayak.
Deck layout
- Details
Today I attended a tour, organized by Hans Heupink for the Dutch Kayak Association. Due to the expected 7Beaufort-winds the planned surf-session was canceled and instead we made a nice tour in the Voordelta; to say hallo to a lonely seal.
I did not take a testkayak with me today, but paddled Willem's Breeze (a clone from Plasmors' Ligue de Bretagne) a trustworthy kayak I did not use frequently yet. Given the wind 5-6Bft, I felt very secure in the stable kayak giving me plenty of opportunities to watch my companions.
Thus I noticed that Govert paddles his new Cetus. Having tested the Cetus myself, this was an opportunity for me to interview him and to record his experiences.
- Details
Today I played in the surf near Bakkum at the Dutch coast. We were there with club-members of the KVU and two guests: Axel and Hans.
During the day the westerly wind increased to 6 Bft, offering good conditions with waves up to 1,5 meter for kayaking in surf. The only drawback was that the tide was going down at the time that the wind was OK. The low tide produces, in combination with the wind, steep and powerful dumping waves which made it a challenge to break through them in order to reach surf-able waves.