Nigel Foster's finesse

Nigel Foster's presentation of his Arctic trip by sea kayak was awe inspiring.

I gained new respect for the man that took on almost uncharted waters (by kayak standards) in very inhospitable conditions; cold and windy and patrolled by polar bears.

My first knowledge of this exceptional kayaker was years ago watching his instructional DVDs.

I was mesmerized by the incredible finesse he was using to make that kayak spin around like it was on a bearing.

I was however a bit incredulous on how easily his kayak could dance with so little effort. No paddle sweeps, no excessive edging, just confident paddle placement that to my ignorant eye seemed fit only for calm conditions.

I was now watching him from my kayak, on the water.
 

There was a breeze stiff enough to deter some paddlers from launching and wind driven waves were lashing the sandy shore.

I was back-paddling constantly just to keep position to watch him.

And with just as much finesse as in his DVD he was spinning that kayak around in circles like the water was flat and nary a whiff of wind.

No huffing and no puffing, with paddle strokes slowly paced and precisely placed his kayak was dancing on the water regardless of the adverse conditions.

The man is a Master like I have not seen before.

Despite his status of true authority on the water, a paddler with no equal, Nigel is extremely approachable and willing to share his knowledge without the air of superiority that I have encountered elsewhere. Softly spoken, thoughtful and considered, my conversation with Nigel was easy and inspiring.

As the 3 day sea kayak event (Rock and Roll) was drawing to an end Nigel had the morning free to go for fun paddle, not scheduled to any instructions.

I was lucky to join him with Andre Janecki of Hybrid Australia.

The seas were calmer than the previous day but the swell outside the bay was still a considerable 10 feet with a healthy rebound from the big waves crashing into the cliffs.

I paddled beside Nigel and if I didn’t see him launch his kayak I would have sworn that there was a little motor under his hull. He was paddling with a cadence that seemed like lily dipping while I was giving it my best shot to keep up. I watched him closely and his timing was crucial to his paddle stokes. I later asking how he could move with such grace and so little apparent effort; he replied that he was using the little waves to propel his kayak.

His stroke appeared to be lower than the current local trend of a high angle and aggressive body rotation. I saw gentle twist of his upper torso and his hand rather low, gently inserting his paddle to then exit a bit further than “Olympic form” would suggest.

I regard Nigel Foster without a doubt a "Legend" and a "Master of boat control without equal".
 

All images under license from Andre Janecki/Hybrid Australia
.

VIDEO: The Hybrid550 project

I am bored of always paddling in paradise.

The perfectly smooth waters of Moreton Bay and the endless sandy beaches of South East Queensland often leave me longing for more challenging seas.

Lately I have been trying to go out paddling in rougher days when motorized boats stay put and only lonely sailors are about. I usually don’t have company as most local paddlers don’t like wind and waves.

However I am looking at the bigger picture: train for conditions that are more challenging than my back yard.

Andre Janecki has helped me before with the kayak sled and a while ago he invited me to come and paddle his part of the sea, the rugged coast of NSW, Sydney, Australia.

I was not sure how the two of us would go along: my limited skills overshadowed by my egocentric character against his extensive experience in large ocean swell and a much more humble personality…
 

Andre Janecki-Hybrid Kayaks Australia

Andre is also a philanthropist with his sights firmly set on the UNLIMITED project, and that is what attracted me to spend time with him.

I don’t think he is in for the money, actually quite the opposite, and the Hybrid550 kayak of his design is just a fundraiser for the bigger project: a kayak for double leg amputee and paraplegic paddlers.

The least I could offer him was to make a promotional video because for every Hybrid550 sold, $500 goes to the UNLIMITED 

Armed with high spirit I loaded my car with a few cameras and minimal camping gear for a few nights. The goal was to travel light since I was not sure of my surf landings on rocky shores would be as precise as I was hoping for: a light boat makes easy work when dragged over shore rocks.

And finally I was paddling along the cliff line that I have seen so many pictures of before.

I concentrated on capturing this new world for me, trying to hold the camera while steadying my kayak in the healthy rebound; I am just not used to this.
I was hoping to film for all 3 days, but I failed to captured the stuff that kept me white knuckled fearing of flooding the day hatch and capsizing next to cliffs while retrieving my camera.
 

for a better viewing experience select HD if you have fast Internet connection, and use headphones

While I paddled along Andre I noticed that he was having a much easier time than myself keeping that kayak humming along: I was sweeping regularly in my British kayak with skeg, he was just enjoying himself in his ruddered kayak.

The Hybrid550 looks so slick and low profile (reminds me of a Greenland form kayak) to then surprise me with the amount of volume that really has inside those hatches; maybe is the 'symmetrical' hull shape that can carry that much gear compared to my 'fish form' boat.  

The trip was a real success. The conditions were an eye opener for me as my local bay is too easy to be able to develop decent seamanship in ocean conditions.

I am planning to spend more time on the South Coast.

GEAR: a rudder like no other

.
I found myself constantly sweeping on my right hand side with my Greenland paddle to keep away from the crushing waves against the tall cliffs.

The mild swell of 1.5 mt and the stern wind of 15 knots were affecting my British kayak like I have not experienced before.

in a bay away from the heavy seas

I often paddle in environments where wind is the only reason for a bumpy sea.

Even on my extended trips I have dealt with following seas and breezes with ease where a bit of skeg control would balance the weather cocking of my rudderless kayaks.

I used to paddle kayaks with over-stern rudders and while I found the cruising much easier than in a skegged boat I eventually abandoned the pesky blade sticking from the end of my boat.

The deciding point of getting rid of those kayaks with “crutches” came when for the 3^rd time my rudder was damaged when paddling in waves.

I was not happy with the unreliability of rudders.

As I transitioned to skegged kayaks I learned how to maneuver a boat with my body (by edging) and sweeping paddle strokes while directional stability was taken care by the adjustable skeg.

I now have 6 sea kayaks, all without rudders.

There is no denying that a skegged kayak is slower for me and that I don’t keep a perfectly true course in following seas. That does not bother me: I am in no rush and I usually don’t like to paddle too close to my buddies to be then bumping into them if my kayak sways a bit.

But all that I wanted right now was keeping myself off the big spraying smashing waves against the rocky coast. I looked over to my paddling buddy and I noticed that he was paddling with greater ease and I didn’t see any corrective strokes.

He was paddling a Hybrid550.

The Hybrid550, designed by Andre Janecki, is a kayak like no other. It has features that I have not seen on any other boat. The thought process that went into designing and redefining that kayak is astonishing.

Unlike so many kayaks that capture my attention and look so similar to each other, the Hybrid550 is unique. Its cockpit concept is inspired by white water boats with outstanding ergonomics for this chunky body of mine while still perfectly accommodating a more nimble paddler. One thing that concerns me is the width of the cockpit rim since my, how can I put it, “love handles” might rub after a while.  I hope one day Andre will produce the Hybrid 550 L (larger cockpit) but I understand his priorities are with the “UNLIMITED”  www.hybridfoundation.org.au

 

What intrigues me however is the unique design of the rudder.

As I was dissatisfied with my own rudder boats many years ago I looked at the alternative integrated rudder of Mirage kayaks. I liked the look and I like the idea of not having anything above deck, nothing to swing and insert in to the water with so many less parts moving resulting in a simpler design. What concerned me though is the fact that the Mirage rudder is always there, even when I want to seal launch or beach land and drag the kayak.

After repairing a few split rudder blades from friends' Mirages I decided that if I wanted a rudder boat it had to be stronger than that.

I did the initial mistake of confusing the rudder design of the Hybrid550 as a copy of the Mirage but I never had a real close look at the details.

I now know that the pivot points are totally different, the action of the swinging blade is different and the construction is nothing like the Mirage...
 

I had a GOOD look at the rudder on the Hybrid550 and I have one thing to say: brilliant.

It can take a reverse surf landing, right on the blade. What other ruddered kayak can do that?
None that I have seen so far.

rudder folding away and bending when being hit
I am a skeg man, I don’t paddle with ruddered kayaks. I came to the realization that rudders are not suitable for my style of paddling.

With the Hybrid550 however I now have to rethink my philosophy. 

Psychologists have found that familiarity breeds fondness: Repeated exposure to a new idea leads to progressively lower fear and avoidance and even, eventually, sometimes, to acceptance. (Megan Kimble)