On Sunday 22 Sept. we crossed the border to Corpus Christi, carrying a newly modified single, the single that we took to California and the new double. Supposedly wind was 15-25 mph, but water was very choppy with 1 to 2 feet waves breaking on themselves and white caps all over.
The first test was all singles. We picked up an oil rig about 2.5 miles away in a direction perpendicular to wind and waves. We wanted to compare with comments in California about difficulty in turning the boat upwind under bad conditions.
Ken in the new boat and Juan Luis sped up at the Bay entrance. They were marking close to 4.5 mph. I was marking 3.5 - 4.0 up to 4.2. Wind was yelling and close deep water breaking waves could be clearly heard. It is a strong peculiar sound over the wind background noise.
Juan Luis was leading when he capsized and Ken went to assist him. He tried a roll twice but waves would send him back down. Made a reentry and roll while Ken advanced to assist him and almost left an indelible bow mark on his head. JL succeeded with a r and r. Started pumping with Ken holding his boat and when almost through another wave tipped him over. The second attempt was all successful and they continued. By that time, I had decided to help by keeping on since they were faster and reached the oil rig. We started back and wind and waves picked up, now on our right side.
Under the new conditions I started paddling 8 strokes on my left side times one on my right. I tried leaning and extended paddle sweep strokes, and managed to turn up wind but at the minimal distraction I was turned down wind and had to fight again to restore my direction. There was no problem of balance. Only twice I had to brace, and didn´t feel uneasy in the boat. What bothered me was the leacocking.
Ken, on the mean time, was having a ball. He depleted the front skeg that we placed in the new model, and was able to keep track in any direction paddling evenly. Juan Luis was also paddling on one side. This is the first time I encounter such situation, which was described by MB in Ca. Ken would talk to JL and come back to talk to me and back again, happy as a kid. We finally placed ourselves facing the marina entrance and turned our boats to surf in. We all three had a ball. The boats surf well, and it was so easy to catch waves, so we made it back in no time. Every time one was successful on a ride he pass the others.
We took turns in the new boat and coincided with Ken's hapiness. It can be seen at community.webshots.com/user/johnsonkw1
The double test was also very interesting. In flat water it proved to be faster than the other versions and Ken in the single was left behind with all his paddling power. Going out straight against wind and waves it proved much better than the previous double and we were even most of the time until we corrected course wasting precious seconds and could not stay up with him anymore. He concluded that it was not the boat but an endurance aspect but I was not satisfied with the way the boat was cutting incoming waves.
Surfing back we were kind of even. When the double picked up a wave it really got speed. The problem was to synchronize well the two paddlers for an effective ride.
The conclusion is that the double has improved a lot and can’t be beaten in flat waters by any of our previous doubles but is going back to the design table in order to attain a better rough weather behavior.
The search for the perfect boat seems an endless story, an endeavor that we do diligently in spite of the troubles of being salt sprayed, sun burnt, friendly treated, scenery exposed, sea food fed, thermally shocked with cold beer, etc.. such is life. Have to keep going.
Rafael
El cayuco chief
www.mayanseas.com