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On 7-Sep-2003, (William R. Watt) wrote:

I've been taught by a number of the best sailors and paddlers I could find.

Would that be lessons? I think I see your problem. Lessons close the mind.
The only thing lessons open is the chequebook.

I take lessons all the time. Who says I pay? Not all lessons are from
professional instructors. I learn from others who are more experienced. You
on the other hand, assume you know everything and can preach about anything.
Yet you prove with your ridiculous claims that you know little at all.

The greatest paddlers who
made the greatest discoveries never had a lesson.

Bull****. The explorers and traders that opened up North America learned
about canoes and paddling from the first nations. Many explorers had native
guides. The Europeans worked with the first nations to set up the trade they
had. Read Adney and Chappelle for starters - information on how the white
man aquired canoes for the fur trade from the natives.

I never had a paddling lesson in my life and was able to jump into 20
different kayak models and paddle them like an "expert" instantly. There
is nothing to it.

Kindly explain to us all how to do a proper forward stroke, if you're an expert.

Sailing IS differnt. It takes a whole lifetime and you never really learn
it all.

I could say the same thing about kayaking, but you wouldn't get it.

nonsense. by making out like kayaking is some sort of secret ritual you
are the one who is self-agrandizing. its child's play.

If it's child's play, then explain why one of the paddlers I was out with
this weekend gave up when he saw the half-meter waves on Georgian
Bay. Surely if it was child's play, no one would be afraid of such
conditions.

Also explain why another paddler couldn't keep his kayak traveling in a
straight line with a wind on his port bow.

If it's child's play, why do so few paddlers advance beyond the most basic
skills?

I've padded a kayak. Not a challenge. Nothing to it.

In perfect conditions, for a few minutes, on a little puddle. Good, now tell
us all how to carve a turn to the right with waves on the starboard bow.
Surely a self-taught expert like yourself can enlighten us all.

I wonder what all those Inuit do
without "formal training" to not only paddle a akayk but carry a seal or
two home on the deck.

Hmmm, It never ceases to amaze me how often you show off your ignorance.
The Inuit were trained from early childhood in how to kayak and hunt. No
hunter magically arrived at his skills - it was all a lifetime of training. This
is documented. Go look it up. Start in the library of the Museum of
Civilization over in Gatineau.

Bull**** - I've experienced those squalls running into Lac des Chenes in sailboat
racing when I was a member of BBYC many years ago. They come in so
fast that a paddler well into the lake would _not_ have time to get to shore.
If you want to stay in little puddles then you can stay off the water if
storms come up.

shows how little you know about fur tradign routes. taht's professional
paddlign at its best. call yrou self a paddler? Bah.

What the hell does that have to do with fur trading routes?

Mike