In my first race I drafted as much as I could. I had difficulty staying
in the wake. I dont use rudder. I noticed that no one around me was
drafting.

ace wrote:
In my first race I drafted as much as I could. I had difficulty staying
in the wake. I dont use rudder. I noticed that no one around me was
drafting.

So why not use the darn rudder? I just don't understand the machisimo
that demands that 'real kayakers don't use a rudder'. I can make quick
corrections to my position and put the boat *exactly* where I want it by
using the rudder - without adjusting my stroke, weight, paddle, etc.
And we're talking about racing here - and in particular drafting - fine
positioning is important.

W/regard to drafting, it depends. A lot of paddlers don't practice
drafting, and don't feel comfortable doing so. Side riding is wetter in
a kayak, and you need to be very careful to give the person you are
drafting enough room. Coming from canoe racing, drafting is such a part
of paddling, it's automatic. Also, some races discourage drafting, or
will make special reference to sharing the work. In general, sitting on
for miles and then sprinting away near the finish is considered pretty
bad form, and will not earn the respect of your peers.

Marsh Jones wrote:
ace wrote:

In my first race I drafted as much as I could. I had difficulty staying
in the wake. I dont use rudder. I noticed that no one around me was
drafting.

So why not use the darn rudder? I just don't understand the machisimo
that demands that 'real kayakers don't use a rudder'. I can make quick
corrections to my position and put the boat *exactly* where I want it by
using the rudder - without adjusting my stroke, weight, paddle, etc. And
we're talking about racing here - and in particular drafting - fine
positioning is important.

Did it occur to you that perhaps his boat doesn't have a rudder? REAL
kayaks don't, you know... ;-)

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Marsh Jones wrote:
ace wrote:

In my first race I drafted as much as I could. I had difficulty staying
in the wake. I dont use rudder. I noticed that no one around me was
drafting.

So why not use the darn rudder? I just don't understand the machisimo
that demands that 'real kayakers don't use a rudder'. I can make
quick corrections to my position and put the boat *exactly* where I
want it by using the rudder - without adjusting my stroke, weight,
paddle, etc. And we're talking about racing here - and in particular
drafting - fine positioning is important.

Did it occur to you that perhaps his boat doesn't have a rudder? REAL
kayaks don't, you know... ;-)
Actually, yeah, it did. I recall from his previous thread that he hired
a CD Solstice GT for a race, so I assumed he chose not to use it.
Anyhow, real RACING kayaks DO have rudders :-)

Marsh Jones wrote:

Actually, yeah, it did. I recall from his previous thread that he hired
a CD Solstice GT for a race, so I assumed he chose not to use it.

The Solstice doesn't need a rudder - it tracks quite well. A rudder can be
useful on the Solstice in worst-case wind or current conditions, but most of the
time it is completely superfluous. I paddled one for five years and never used
the rudder once.

Unless he was dealing with a particularly bad crosswind or current, the rudder
would have just slowed him down.

Mike

I'm really conflicted about whether to use rudder. I had a heck of a
time when I was rounding two small islands on the course. ALso, it was
difficult if not impossible to stay in the wake of boats ahead of me
that i was drafting off of.
Michael Daly wrote:
Marsh Jones wrote:

Actually, yeah, it did. I recall from his previous thread that he hired
a CD Solstice GT for a race, so I assumed he chose not to use it.

The Solstice doesn't need a rudder - it tracks quite well. A rudder can be
useful on the Solstice in worst-case wind or current conditions, but most of the
time it is completely superfluous. I paddled one for five years and never used
the rudder once.

Unless he was dealing with a particularly bad crosswind or current, the rudder
would have just slowed him down.

Mike

I'm worried that the rudder will slow me down and I would have to learn
to brace myself with peddles that are not fixed. Thanks for sharing
your experience and knowledge. You really have helped me alot!

Marsh Jones wrote:
ace wrote:
In my first race I drafted as much as I could. I had difficulty staying
in the wake. I dont use rudder. I noticed that no one around me was
drafting.

So why not use the darn rudder? I just don't understand the machisimo
that demands that 'real kayakers don't use a rudder'. I can make quick
corrections to my position and put the boat *exactly* where I want it by
using the rudder - without adjusting my stroke, weight, paddle, etc.
And we're talking about racing here - and in particular drafting - fine
positioning is important.

W/regard to drafting, it depends. A lot of paddlers don't practice
drafting, and don't feel comfortable doing so. Side riding is wetter in
a kayak, and you need to be very careful to give the person you are
drafting enough room. Coming from canoe racing, drafting is such a part
of paddling, it's automatic. Also, some races discourage drafting, or
will make special reference to sharing the work. In general, sitting on
for miles and then sprinting away near the finish is considered pretty
bad form, and will not earn the respect of your peers.