For most paddlers regardless of ability, this is the most challenging wind direction to have to deal with. How many times have we witnessed paddlers struggling to maintain their kayak’s direction because the bow insists on turning into the wind?

For some paddlers the easiest solution is to put down the rudder and use that to counteract the impact of the wind or to adjust the skeg. There are alternatives though, which all paddlers should be aware of, and for me, one of the easiest is to alter the position of your hands on the paddle shaft. For example if the wind is blowing from the right and the bow of the kayak is continually trying to turn to the right, it can be an absolute pain, as many of you will be aware of from bitter experience. So let’s consider two possible scenarios.

Some paddlers will be trying to overcome the turning by continuously paddling forward on one side only. The bow is turning to the right so, depending upon the strength of the wind, the kayaker may be doing 3, 4, 5 or more strokes on their right to every one on their left. At the end of the day, the muscles in the right forearm and shoulder will be at the best aching, but may be damaged and could therefore hinder and potentially prevent paddling for a few days or more.

A longer lever on the right

A simple solution is to create a longer lever on the side the wind is blowing from. When the wind is blowing from the right move both hands along the paddle shaft to the left. You will now have a much longer lever on the right to counteract the effect of the wind. In many situations, it is now possible to paddle along, performing strokes on alternate sides. If there are less experienced paddlers in the group then this is my preferred technique to coach.

Another option is to use edging to influence the direction that the kayak is heading. Edging is one of those mysterious skills, which is spoken about in hushed terms, as if it will solve most kayak handling problems. It is however, a relatively straightforward skill for a reasonably confident paddler in a kayak, which is padded out for them. Rather than being hard and fast about the appropriate way to edge, I have always found it more important to be aware of the technique and then experiment when paddling different kayaks, as different kayaks appear to behave in different ways.

Another option, which I have seen used to great effect, is to paddle a zigzag course. For example, if the wind is approaching from the right then paddle at about 45° to the wind for several hundred metres and then turn about 90° and head back towards the original line of travel, using the wind to speed your progress. Then repeat the cycle as many times as necessary. The great thing about this method is that it significantly reduces the amount of time when the wind is blowing on to the beam of the kayak and although the total distance covered is greater, it is likely to be easier than trying to maintain a straight course with the wind on the side.

What is important is to experiment with the various techniques in a controlled environment as opposed to trying to find a solution in the middle of a paddle when conditions suddenly deteriorate.

Kevin Mansell

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