Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sailing and trading


I know it's not trading related, but it's what I have been up to lately. The Google Earth image is a plot of the path of my sailing kayak last weekend. I have coloured it by distance, starting with red and finishing with magenta.

I have had a couple of buy signals in January (and both trades were taken!) so I might start posting some trading soon.

stevo
at

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:46 PM

    Hi Steve,
    What make of kayak have you been sailing? I've paddled kayaks for many years and thought about a sail now that I'm getting older and to cover a bit more distance at times, but not suitable for my K1.
    PeterH

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  2. stevo5:37 PM

    Peter
    I have a Hobie Adventure Island. I don't know much about kayaks but the Adventure Island is very handy since I can get back using the pedals or a paddle if the wind drops (or I break something). I suspect that real kayakers wouldn't really know what to make of it!

    The path on the Google Earth picture was over 23 km and took a couple of hours. You can see the tacking legs as I sailed into the SE wind, with a big leg out to Lion Island.

    stevo

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  3. Anonymous11:37 PM

    Thanks Steve,
    I just checked out the craft on the hobie site. Very unique and versatile. Can the sail easily be lowered, to get under a bridge of about 2.5m clearance at high tide. Is peddle power really more powerful than two blade paddle, or just marketing hype.

    Peter

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  4. stevo4:31 PM

    To go under a low bridge you would furl the sail, it wraps around the mast, and then pull the mast out of the socket it fits into.

    I don't think it would be very easy do do on the water but I haven't tried, probably just a matter of technique. You could lay the mast down before leaving the shore and once under the bridge slot it in - ideally in shallow water on the shore.

    In terms of peddle versus paddle peddling is very easy and moves it along nicely but I am not a skilled paddler. I would think the average person would find the peddling to be easier than paddling.

    stevo

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  5. Anonymous9:50 AM

    Steve,
    Thanks again. They look like a lot of fun in light conditions but you would likely to get soaked in heavier conditions is my guess. I'm going to take a drive down to Tweed Heads for a closer look as they have one on display. Price is $4190.

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