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Turning into the Wind An effective sequence for turning a kayak into the wind, in this case to the right, is to start with good forward speed, look right, edge-tilt left and sweep stroke on the left (downwind) side. While maintaining the left (downwind) edge-tilt, follow the sweep with a bow rudder on the right (upwind) side. It’s best not to rush the sweep but to make a quick transition to the bow rudder at the end of the sweep. During the bow rudder, the blade’s angle of attack will pull the bow to the right. Placing the blade as far forward as possible will also increase the lateral resistance at the bow, retarding the bow’s downwind drift while the stern remains free to drift, complementing the turn. Leaning forward will help you get the blade farther where it will be more effective as well as sink the bow deeper in the water, increasing its lateral resistance. Hold the bow rudder for only a moment to avoid any significant loss of speed. A loss of speed is detrimental to an upwind turn because it decreases the weathercocking you’re using to enhance the turn. Any speed you lose in the turn will be difficult to regain as you head into the wind. To help maintain your speed, blend the bow rudder into a forward stroke on the same side. Be sure to keep the forward stroke straight back so it doesn’t become a sweep stroke turning you in the wrong direction. A bow rudder is an effective tool for upwind turns, but any paddle technique with a paddle placement aft of the cockpit will put you at a distinct disadvantage. It’s quite common for beginners to use a stern rudder when trying to turn the kayak upwind, but the aft placement of the blade will increase lateral resistance aft and cause the bow to swing downwind. Some novices will even revert to a reverse-sweep stroke on the upwind side when they discover the stern rudder doesn’t work. That will only serve to make matters worse, as a reverse-sweep stroke dramatically diminishes the forward speed that would contribute to a turn into the wind. |
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