Kayaking in Windy Conditions

Get 15% off at Outdoorplay!
Use code 'PaddleTV15' to get 15% of your next purchase at bit.ly/41iqxMu
Wind is one of the most limiting factors for paddlers. In this video, we talk about how to paddle when it's windy.
Gear I have tested and recommend:
Portable Kayaks:
Paddles:
Aqua-bound Shred (whitewater) bit.ly/3L9h04E
Aqua-bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece (rec/touring) bit.ly/43KLWQb
PFDs:
NRS Chinook PFD (fishing) bit.ly/3AaGAzS
NRS Zen PFD (whitewater) bit.ly/3odrMxK
NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec) bit.ly/41yCpK0
Dry Gear / Layers:
NRS Flux Dry Top bit.ly/41EvCyC
NRS Riptide Splash Jacket bit.ly/3L9awmd
NRS Axiom Dry Suit bit.ly/3A6RdUj
Jackets:
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Hooded Jacket www.cotopaxi.com/products/fue...
Shirts:
NRS Silkweight Long-Sleeve Shirt - Mens bit.ly/3KOMegb
NRS Guide Short Sleeve Shirt bit.ly/41jskkf
Pants:
NRS Benny Board Shorts bit.ly/41fyAtm
Footwear:
NRS Boundary Boot bit.ly/3Lb8Clo
Astral PFD Sandal bit.ly/41EiFVc
Sunglasses:
Wiley X Outdoor Sun Glasses bit.ly/3NtJQKR
Other Paddling Gear:
NRS WRSI Current Helmet bit.ly/3L90rpz
NRS Drylander Shock Cord Sprayskirt bit.ly/41g8C9l
Surf Ears Ear Plugs bit.ly/3AbMl1y
GoPro Hero 11 Black amzn.to/3ZWVXHN
Rapid Pure Purifier amzn.to/3iuIo1C
Zoleo Satellite Communicator amzn.to/3kv0hOt
NOTE: These are affiliate links in which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, but it is a great way to show your support. Thanks!
Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of helping get people on the water and creating life-long outdoor participants.
Outdoorplay: www.outdoorplay.com/
NRS: www.nrs.com/
Wiley X: www.wileyx.com/
Check out our full Paddling Gear Guide here: in4adventure.com/paddling-buy...
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY and subscribe to our NEW Blog, In4adventure.com!
FOLLOW ME
Facebook: / gopaddle
Instagram: / paddle365
Twitter: / gopaddle
Blog: in4adventure.com
PRODUCED BY
Heliconia: www.heliconia.ca
Contact: [e-mail]

[@soloseakayaker]

Such a great video, huge thanks for bringing this topic up! I'd like to add. Don't be afraid of the wind, as extra tension causes extra fatigue that breaks the technique, as fear also reduces the physical ability to perform self-rescue, or just be reflexive and intuitive. If it's too windy don't go kayaking trip, just play around at a safe spot, and train on what you have learned from the experts. Wind can be so much fun too!

[@sw-ohiolakers2670]

I always wondered why weathercocking causes kayaks to turn INTO the wind... always seemed counterintuitive to me. But Ken explains it very well. It finally makes sense. Thank you.

[@NickSchade]

It is important to remember that although paddling downwind feels easier than upwind, going downwind creates more situations that may cause a capsize. Not only don’t you see waves coming, but they are likely to give you a bit of a push. While the push may feel welcome it may actually suddenly push your kayak off course and make the kayak unstable. Downwind may be physically less demanding, it is riskier than upwind.

[@wolfkayakingclubbahamasadv619]

I totally agree.

[@maryhenry3257]

SO AGREE. In surf conditions I feel much safer, so much more in control when heading into the wind, than having a tail wind and not being able to anticipate (even though surfing can be such fun, it depends on my mindset in the moment I guess). Turning your head to have a peek at what’s coming can sometimes be enough to cause spills in surf.

[@PaddleTV]

Great point!

[@Facelessguy-193]

That happend to me yesterday

[@timomomomo969]

Rear quartering winds seem to give me the biggest challenge

[@peterbrownnl]

I'm mainly a solo tourer here in Newfoundland. Here on the island, our winds are unpredictable, as is the weather. One thing that I've learned and try to teach fellow paddlers and customers is, don't be afraid to play the common sense card. Every paddler is different, and that reflects in their gear, boat, skeg/rudder, and for this case, experience. Only you can determine whether you should paddle in certain conditions or not. So don't be afraid to play the common sense card. There have been times when I would have loved to paddle, but because of the conditions, I played that card. It sucks because I didn't paddle, but it's good because I never got into a dangerous situation. It's important to grow as a paddler and push yourself to go further, but you also need to know your limits. Especially like me, if you're a solo paddler.

[@jameshiggins-thomas9617]

I would expect one fact to keep in mind is, if you're doing an out and back, you need to think about that reverse, not just the outbound. Might be easy to start out and then be hell getting back.

[@PaddleTV]

so true! It's easy to caught 'out there'!

[@richardseagraves9806]

I love paddling here in Vegas and have paddled many miles for endurance training. This is a very true statement as I have been with a group unprepared for this on Lake Mead and Mohave. It made for a brutal trip back where I had to literally pull people back. I've also been caught on a 12 mile trip where winds picked up for the trip back and the remaining 6 miles it took almost the entire day to get back. It was a valuable lesson for training. I started breaking up my segments into smaller chunks with multiple laps to account for the variability.

[@qaannat]

Paddling into a headwind, I find it helpful to time strokes so you are only paddling "downhill" on the backside of the wave. You can usually find a rhythm so you are not burying the bow into each oncoming wave. This seems or feels like it helps keep a better speed up with less effort.

[@iNeo1]

One thing I found is it really helps to feather the paddle, maybe 30 or 45 degrees. The wind really pushes against the top paddle the wrong way and can make each stroke almost twice as hard if it's not angled.

[@weshunter1796]

I'm relatively limited in my kayaking experience - mostly fishing kayaks on flat water. This year I picked up an inflatable fishing kayak, which I like and enjoy, but I discovered that even the slightest breeze will make it skate across the water. Seems obvious in hindsight that a boat sitting completely on top of the water with a larger cross section area to catch wind is going to be affected more by wind (compared to a hard shell sit on top fishing kayak), but something I didn't think about before I experienced it. Just a word of caution to anyone considering an inflatable that it could be much easier to become windbound.

[@guesshi1826]

So agree. Inflatables are much easier to be blown away, it's lighter and bigger area facing the wind.

[@PaddleTV]

So true... 99% of the time. I just tested an inflatable that actually acts like a hardshell though! Stay tuned... :)

[@ALFarrell-kv6ok]

Although I have been scuba diving for decades, I'm a relatively inexperienced kayaker. And an older one too. I therefore restrict myself to a max gusting speed of 10 to 12mph winds in my local ocean bay. And I check each hourly forecast before going out in order to see if the wind speed is set to increase or decrease each hour. I also pay attention to tides. I tend to go out 90 minutes before high tide and return within 90 minutes after high tide. This way I get more of a slack tide and less flow to struggle against. I'm avoiding having both a strong tide AND a strong tidal flow against me. Tidal flow is fastest in approximately the 2 hours in the middle between high and low or low and high tide. I always use a paddle leash so that if I'm taking a fall I can keep hold of the attached paddle to help retrieve the kayak before it gets blown or floated away. I have a snorkel mask and snorkel casually strapped around my neck and ready to don. I have diving fins close to my feet in the kayak to quickly don if things are going awry. A snorkel will allow me to breathe more easily in choppy water. Diving fins will help me to swim with much greater power and speed speed in wind and tidal flow. Safety first.

[@russellbeck7596]

Very interesting example of how much the wind can affect your paddling. So far I've only paddled on inland rivers in the UK. However on my last outing I experienced an increase in wind speed at just the wrong time and place in my 7 mile circular trip. Paddling on the Gt Ouse near Huntington UK. Just over half way round and starting to feel wearying, the river curved from a sheltered northerly direction into a wider north easterly course directly into the now 15 to 20 mph head wind. At this point the river is about 80 yds wide, both concrete wall banks are lined with tall buildings, deep with no landing points and passing under two bridges. I was paddling downstream through a wind tunnel on my own! With swirling currents around the bridge parapets and the wind kicking up waves. Only one thing for it, head down, dig deep and keep the bow straight on into the waves, that were breaking over the deck. That was a tense few hundred yards with a number of seat clenching moments, until I got passed the high buildings and the funnel effect was lessened. Anyway I lived to tell the tale and watch more episodes of Paddle TV.

[@PaddleTV]

Wow! That doesn't sound like a fun wind funnel to find yourself in!

[@magnushultqvist]

If you are an avid paddler there are other tecniques to compensate for sidewind and headwind. If you lean into the wind and use linked strokes you can do it for a little more. You can use the backside of The wave as a slope to get a little more power

[@PaddleTV]

Very true... Like any sport, there are nuances and little tactics you can leverage as you develop skill and experience. Paddling in wind is very similar to rolling a kayak... the rolling technique most people learn is very typical and simplified in the beginning, but with experience the technique becomes much more nuanced and 'instinctive'.

[@johncheung4005]

when stronge wind, 1. more speed for reducing energy loss in whole traveling time, 2. if too hard to go forward directly by stronge wind , oblique angle forward and longer distance.

[@deangousse2113]

Thank you Ken. Last year we paddled two ten mile days in a row across reservoirs, against the wind, with large portages at the end of each. The plan was to do the twenty miles in a single day, but that was NOT going to happen. It was not a pleasant experience, and we did learn a lot. We were river paddling and had to get to our car down-river. Good thing we planned for an optional day at the end. We had to cash in and forego that last day. Conversely, two years ago we had a tailwind and fast flow so effectively traveled between 9 and 11 MPH. You have to take the good days with the bad!

[@PaddleTV]

Ain't that the truth. Problems always arise when the plan is overly optimistic!

[@Cotivity]

How timely. I literally found myself in a situation, yesterday, where my return was chock-full of head, and cross-winds...for miles. Loved every minute of it!

[@PaddleTV]

awesome!

[@alangross2277]

Paddling into a head wind definitely creates a much less pleasant trip, but sometimes you have no choice but to bear down and fight to get back to where you started. My kayaking buddy and I typically paddle 8 - 10 miles a day; if you are adventurous like we are, just remember when you are out and that tail wind comes up as you are heading away from your starting point, you are going to be fighting a headwind and waves, to get back. We had an experience on a lake in an area known for very strong winds, Washoe Lake in Washoe Valley near Carson City, Nevada. We had to paddle 3 to 3.5 miles to get back to our vehicle in very strong winds that were pushing 2' waves at us. It was in March, the water was cold, with constant spray hitting us. I had no coat and no shoes and was wearing shorts, because it had started out being an idyllic, sunny and very calm day. The winds came on like somebody flipped a switch! We couldn't get a drink, take a break or rest in any way or we would be blown back faster than we could move forward paddling as hard as we could paddle. We paddled and paddled and paddled. At one point I couldn't see my friend, when he was in the low of the wave because the waves were that big! It was dangerous, it was fun and it was exhausting; wife will never go back on that lake again.

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

I appreciate your example of 15--20 mph wind has an effect on the kayak of 3 mph. This translates to "divide the wind speed by about 5 or 7 to get its effect." I find it very hard to get any sources that quote the actual proportional effect of wind. Where did you get the 1/5 to 1/7 figure? When i teach, i often quote an effect of 1/10 which is a much weaker effect than you quote. I came to my conclusion of 1/10 efect from a table of values in the SKILS book (Navigation, Sea State & Weather. A Paddler's Manual.) on sea kayaking. I never recorded their values but i do remember that they appeard to have no smooth mathematical relationship and only averaged to about a 1/10 effect. Of course, any actual effect depends on the actual windage of the boat and paddler (ie, how much sail-like surface can the wind grab). So, the effect of wind on open canoeist and stand-up paddlers is much greater than it is on kayakers. Until i hear more definitively, i'm going to revise my idea on wind effect on kayakers to be anywhere from 1/5 to 1/10, to be on the safe side.

[@PaddleTV]

Hey Martin. To be perfectly honest... the 1/5 to 1/7 figure was a very 'loose' estimation, which aired on the conservative side. As you identified, the type of kayak you're in plays a big role. But with everything kayaking, it's better to play on the conservative side, especially when dealing with wind in exposed conditions. And so, while 1/10 might be the reality of your situation with the kayak you're using, 1/5 - 1/7 leaves room for error. :)

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

Sorry to get picky: while the overlaid text is correct, ie, 1 knot = 1.15 m/h = 1.85 km/h, your dialog should have been "speed is often measured in knots, where 1 knot is 1 nautical mile per hour". Incorrect use of terminology *could* result in bad calculations/understanding.

[@PaddleTV]

Yup! I won't argue with on that one! Cheers.

[@szihn8589]

Wind fetch is important to understand. I live in the middle of Wyoming and I paddle a lot on Boysen Reservoir. Boysen is formed by a dam that holds back the WIND River. It's close to the WIND River Mountains and the WIND River flows out of it to the north through the WIND River Canyon. Anyone see a pattern here that may give a clue? The Wind River Canyon is a natural wind tunnel and it dumps right at the dam and then there is about a 20 mile long wind fetch to the south. It's a surprise to many that if the wind is going stiffly at say 25-30 MPH out of the canyon and you are paddling right near the dam, the wives are fairly small. The reason is the lack of fetch. The wind is strong but has no time to push water up into waves at the far north of the lake. But go a few mile south of the dam and you had better hold on. It often drives the power boats off the water and can be quite dangerous. My friend Bret lived in Humboldt County California and rowed a rowing shell there for a lot of years. He was very familiar with big waves and sea winds. But he told me the worst and most dangerous times he EVER dealt with from unfriendly winds were on Boysen Lake in the center of Wyoming. Because the wind sheers drop out of the mountain and you can't always see them coming, and because they descend so fast you can't get to shore before they surround you. It's quite a rodeo at times. It pays to learn about the body of water you are on, and remember high mountains make winds that are NOT likely to follow the same patters as open land or ocean winds. Not any more powerful, but often far more sudden.

[@cpt.sapperlot5160]

Great explanation!!! I always asked myself why I am pushed into the direction where the wind comes from. Now this miracle is solved.

[@itotallycare]

Here in Sweden we measure wind by m/s which is meters per second. 7 m/s is just about 15 mph wind. I try to hold myself to a 5 m/s max which is about 11 mph wind. Anything over that and the trip becomes less enjoyable I find but I suppose it depends on what kind of kayaking you are doing. Me personally I do it to get out in nature and just enjoy the stillness. But if you are looking to paddle fast and get a burn then some wind might be preferable even for extra resistance.

[@PaddleTV]

I think anyone that enjoys a headwind is crazy!! :). Can't wait to paddle Sweden one day!

[@anderssandstrom545]

Also live in Sweden and mainly paddles in the archipelago. Wind can really make it more tense but if I'm out for just a short trip I can actually enjoy battling the headwind😊. Not that I'm a particularly strong kayaker but it's something in taking that extra resistance for a while. A short while preferably. On a camping tour with SUP we encountered a STRONG headwind coming out into a lake. Daaamn we had to really focus to get to our campsite about a km into the lake.

[@emersonyang1485]

It would perhaps be helpful to invest in motor for precaution. Such motors exist for sea kayaks.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Best to carefully check the weather & wind speed on a phone app before kayaking. If it's more than 10 mph, it's probably not going to be a fun time on the water. And as mentioned, if it's over 15 it's going to be really exhausting and maybe even dangerous. Insanely windy days are best to avoid kayaking. And if your dealing with 10+ mph of wind, you might want to have a motor like a Bixpy, but you probably still shouldn't be out in 15 mph wind with it.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

First time out in NRS Pike I had to go in a 15mph head wind. It made a good first adventure.

[@PaddleTV]

Yikes!

[@JohnS-er7jh]

I was kayaking for a few years before someone taught me how to feather the paddle (angle offset) and how to do a proper paddle stroke so your paddle blades were positioned not facing directly at the wind, it made a big difference in windy conditions. Also, one of my kayaks had a Rudder with foot pedals to steer the kayak, the rudder made a big difference as well (with windy conditions) but also when I needed to make a quick turn to avoid obstructions, etc.

[@titusbc]

New Kayaker, had my first taste of sudden weather and wind out on the wrong side of a lake today. A lot of these info was coming back to me on my jaunt… especially the merit of skegs and rudders in that i was powering an AR with neither. Another well done video …

[@rozmarnowich]

In the Canadian Rockies there is a long and narrow lake (Maligne Lake) that always has a strong cross wind that picks up every day from 10:30 am. to 5:30 pm. My favorite camping spot is a 20 km. paddle so I need to deal with a cross wind. I would sometimes tack into the wind just so I can use a tail wind to help propell me down the lake. Effectlivly zig zagging a good portion of the journey. I know it's adding distance to an already long paddle but the 2-3 minute break with a tail wind every 15 minutes sure seems better then no break and constantly having to expend all my energy just to keep pointed in the same direction.

[@PaddleTV]

I totally know what you mean!

[@glennnewell2786]

Thanks for your time!!

[@siberx4]

When paddling downwind (assuming no current), also consider the hull speed of your boat; if the wind is giving you a 2mph boost and your boat's hull speed is 5mph, then it won't pay to paddle at your "normal" exertion level to try to add 3mph because you'll just be pushing a lot of water and you won't be going much faster. Take the opportunity to let the wind do the work and paddle slower to save energy for a later part of your trip where you don't have the wind helping you out!

[@PaddleTV]

Great point! Paddling smart - not hard. :)

[@mrblueskynm3968]

Excellent video! This will be the 4th year I've been kayaking in the lakes around my area. I installed a rudder after the first year couple of years and it helped immensely, but I'm still very careful if there is a chance for windy conditions.

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

I had a serious headwind 25mph add paddled hard for 15 mins. I concluded it would take two hours to reach my destination point at that rate. This was possible to sustain but was likely to be very hard. So I turned the canoe back downwind adopted a $25 taxi..

[@PaddleTV]

Well played! :)

[@JennyBroadbridge]

Very informative, thank you!

[@HeathenGeek]

Columbia Gorge? The place where Jim Pytel teaches? 😎

[@rick123zoo]

One, I find it fascinating how there seems to be more comments on this wind video than on many of your other videos. I would not have predicted that but now I see how relevant it is to so many! Two, I wondered why you didn't mention importance of feathering the paddle while I watched the video but then understood by your comment above. Good and interesting point about body and boat surface area being so much greater than paddle surface area, and the importance of just using the paddle feathering angle one is comfortable with. Lastly, a word about leaning into the wind to counteract the wind turning the boat toward it - if there are waves, and if you don't have a spray squirt on, you might get a lot of water in your boat. So just be aware of what's happening. Thanks for great videos.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Rick! Great point about leaning into the wind!

[@EckieOutdoor]

Thanks for this video Ken, it's so recognisable. Last week I made a kayak trip on the Meuse river in the Netherlands. Strong current but nothing but head wind, the waves on this river were not that big, but I got desoriented all the time because I couldn't actually see the ideal course due to the waves. I got a little seasick as well, not too bad but I felt dizzy and light headed. Wind always makes me nervous, as a windsurfer I always need wind, but once I switch to the kayak, it's a complete other ball park.

[@PaddleTV]

Nothing worse than getting sea sick in a kayak! :)

[@gferguson73]

Great video thank you

[@richardseagraves9806]

I will add... for athletes....headwind training is incredible. I actually enjoy strong wind paddling for the challenge. It certainly isnt relaxing...but it builds technical skills and is certainly necessary to improve as a paddler.

[@MartinMartin-yi9to]

Great tips Ken.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers Martin!

[@ovrobinson7780]

Good advice 👍🏼

[@mikeemmons4062]

We're whitewater kayakers with boats that don't have keels. We love to get out on a lake with about 30 to 35 mph winds.

[@kenwebster5053]

Well as a teen doing slalom. I used to go for a lake paddle every Sunday in summer while the rest of the family was sailing. Typical summer day was a 20-30 knot sea breeze & the lake had a little over 5 mile fetch. It was fun & good training too. It was hard to judge speed though as the only reference miles form shore is the waves. So upwind felt fast & downwind slow as, but it wasn't true of course. It taught me persistence, as just plugging away made significant ground even against 30 kts of wind. That was the 70s though, many things were different then. Ha ha! To hold heading, you can just shift to one side of your seat, that way you don't have to constantly hold an edge with your abbs & thighs.

[@boatman222345]

As a one time sea kayaking guide and as a professional boat captain with more than 65 years on the ocean I always chuckle when I hear novice boaters talking about 6' seas or 30 mph winds. But then it occurs to me that less experienced boaters may actually take these inflated estimates seriously and figure, "Well they did it so I probably can too!" Thirty mph winds in a kayak…you damn well better be an expert paddler! And you better have paid up that months life insurance premium!

[@kenwebster5053]

I am not a novice paddler but was compedative in White warer slalom in those days. There were several members of the national & Olympic team in my canoe club, whom I paddled & trained with occasionally. The national slalom champian Gary Nelson was a school friend of my brother & the examiner who awarded my kayak profeciency under the national scheme that existed at that time. My brother & sailed dinghies together, we got runner up in several state champianships & a 4th place in the national laser II champianships. My wind speed assessment is typical for Lake Illawara NSW Australia in summer. @@boatman222345​

[@carlholm2765]

Will you be addressing the paddle and how different designs and implementation affect your progress in windy situations in a future video?

[@PaddleTV]

A good point... I didn't get into the topic of paddles in the wind.

[@Eparker09]

Thanks for the info sir

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@slighwentwalking2024]

I was caught in the wind a few days ago. It was compounded by traveling against the tide. I worked very hard to keep moving forward..stop paddling and you instantly start to go backwards. Thanks for the tips I always pick up something useful in your videos.

[@PaddleTV]

I'll bet you slept well that night! :) Strong winds are exhausting...

[@ubroc]

I live near Lake Michigan. When it gets windy with high waves it's fun to just play in the waves and not go anywhere. While being a blast it gets me comfortable paddling in the chop.

[@PaddleTV]

Park 'n Play! It's hard to beat! :)

[@stanhry]

I did that once , 1 meter chop. Felt like a rollercoaster. Fun until I got a double peak wave that filled the kayak. Didn’t have a spray skirt yet.

[@ubroc]

@@stanhry I have a sit on top so not a problem

[@ktownc936]

Kenny boy good to see you back and on an important subject. Almost lost it due to wind in Killarney PP last year on a 7 day solo. Your wisdom is appreciated.

[@PaddleTV]

Killarney! That's where I had one of my most impactful wind experiences, about 15 years ago. The crossing from the Chick to the Island almost became a serious issue!

[@slowridephotographyadventu6850]

​@@PaddleTV I had nasty tailwinds and following seas crossing back to the Chick. A good wind forecast is essential out there. I use Windfinder.

[@Simon_W74]

When my Daughter and myself went out on a trip down a river on out Sit on Top, and the wind was up. we where getting blown into the bank every now and then on the way to our destination. On the way back we were heading into the wind and at times the wind would just stop us dead in our tracks and it took a lot of digging in and getting my Daughter to paddle as well to make very slight gains, I am lucky enough to be very strong and it was really hard going but when we got through that section of river it was a real sense of satisfaction and most importantly a relief as it was back to normal paddling as it was much less strain and energy used to move a very small distance, I did think a few times that we would have to get out. Would have been a different kettle of fish on the sea. This year I will be joining a Club as I want to learn how to use new skill with my New Sea Kayak, As I refer being in the Sea as opposed to being on a river of a lake. As I loved learning to kind of Surf on my Sit on Top last Summer with a Friend, I got dunked more than stayed on top but loved it all. Came back with a boat covered in sea weed and sea week inside my wet suit which was pretty tight I though nothing could have ever have gotten past the arms and legs.

[@PaddleTV]

Nerve racking paddle with your daughter! I know that feeling... Great to hear you're taking the steps to learn how to use the Sea Kayak. Have fun with it this summer!

[@user-il9hc3uc2u]

What a good video 😊

[@BoomVang]

I liked how your demo and implied message didn't insist on feathered paddles when going up strong winds, which I think copes with chaotic ocean waves-upon-waves more safely. It's funny where my modern inflatables defy some old guidelines; they reverse weathercock, which can be scary when offshore winds turn you back. Pedal power can muscle upwind without paddle air resistance, altho with legs up in air the bow can get blown downwind. My pointy inflato yaks can bury bow and broach sideways with big following waves. My whitewater inflatable just laughs at strong winds because too blunt to broach and towering ocean whitecaps actually shield half the wind.

[@PaddleTV]

One of these days I NEED to paddle in Hawaii! But not for the wind... :)

[@matthewbeckwith663]

"Headwinds suck" ....well said!! Kidding aside, great informative video

[@GeorgiaPaddler]

Hi Ken, Apologies ahead for long comment. I was talking with a certain outfitter in upper New York the other day telling him you were down here at the Okeefenokee. We started discussing why you never try a Prijon Tourboat or Sea Kayak in your reviews. I own an Enduro 450. I wish I could have brought it to the swamp and let you paddle it to tell me what you think. I know Pete did a review of it but I really like your opinions of boats as well. Don’t really know any other way to communicate with with you other than here. Just wondered if you disliked the Prijon boats for some particular reason.

[@truesimplicity]

Okay you've convinced me... I driving to the off-ramp 🌬️🛶🥵... Very informative thank you for sharing your insight👍🏼

[@PaddleTV]

:). Enjoy!

[@jakebrakebill]

I'd add wind chill, if you get wet and weren't planning on it

[@PaddleDogC5]

Went out in warm summer water at 35 mph with gusting a bit higher. Was not fun it was hard to turn my rudder Current Designs Solstice. Fast period 2' bay chop. I can turn better now than then but it's still tough. Usually don't start out if it's more than 20 mph. In cold waters 55-37° F I'm a bit more conservative on wind and location. Hard to make progress in 30 mph winds even in my 21" wind CD Extreme.

[@PaddleTV]

Yikes! That's a hard day of paddling! Sporty for sure. :)

[@maricallo6143]

As a total beginner, I had only one small trip on a lake, and I'm yet do experience head wind and head waves this summer at the sea (a regular occurrence on return trips in the area). What can I expect from a 10.5 ft sit-in (a Delsyk Tuktu) in these conditions compared to a longer kayak, say a 12 ft? Any additional advice or is it "just don't do it"? 😞

[@chrislavigne1212]

Seems like when im out paddling the ocean the wind kicks up. Usually not a big deal for me but very hard to determine what boat to take prior to getting there. As today i went out and hit 22mph winds. Wasnt bad in head winds but when waves hitting the boat on cross waves was difficult even with the rudder. Great video as always. Thanks

[@PaddleTV]

Cross waves can be a beat down, can't they? Cheers Chris!

[@myshihtzudontstink]

Last year I went for a camping trip at an island that was 500 feet away from the launch. It took me 30 minutes in the wind to get there and at some points I thought I was going to be blown down wind and be blown out into the Chesapeake bay. I had never paddled into a wind like that to where I could barely move. I take the wind seriously now.

[@PaddleTV]

It only takes once paddling in strong winds to develop a real appreciation for it!

[@myshihtzudontstink]

@@PaddleTV I dropped the whole “I’m a strong paddler” attitude real quick.

[@joaotoscano]

Great video! Any wind forecast apps you can recommend?

[@PaddleTV]

Windy! I use that app a lot.

[@alecnull]

If my kayak has a bow keel but turns away from the wind, could that mean I am putting too much weight in the rear?

[@Ramcharger2Travel]

New to touring/sea kyaks.I noticed there are "storm" Greenland paddles. I purchased a Gearlab for myself and Aquabound low angles for my wife and my 11 year old. I was wondering if I should get a storm paddle for me and high angles for them as backup paddles? Years ago I got stuck in a storm by myself in a canoe, I know what high winds feel like, it took everything I had to get back to shore.

[@PaddleTV]

People will have strong opinions on this, but my feeling is that low angle paddles are enough, if that's what you/they are most comfortable using. Your boat and body present a lot more surface than your paddle to catch wind, and so reducing your blade shape isn't going to have a huge impact. FYI: I still use 0 degree feather in the toughest winds, because using what I'm comfortable and confident with is most important to me.

[@gsopaddler]

Great topic and info to learn as a paddler, Ken. Thanks for sharing. I second the windy app is fantastic for a weather app, we used it this past weekend kayaking on the NC coast.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

One more thing to consider with wind is that any wind other that the following quarter to third is effectively a head wind and will slow you down. Also an increase of 30% of effort will likely only give you a 15% increase in speed over your boats 'natural' speed. Way down under in Canterbury, NZ the prevailing wind is an Easterly of around 30lm/h (20mph) gusting to 45-50km/h. At that point I take to a sheltered lake near home rather than the open harbour. In a 12' rec/touring kayak I average 6.5km/h on flat water. Hopefully I'll buy a good touring kayak tonight.

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Happy shopping!

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@PaddleTV Purchase successful. It's not Kiwi made, but at least a Kiwi behind the design.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@PaddleTV kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap-XhoqPftiLnqc

[@PaddleTV]

Nice boat for sure! Congrats on the new member of the family! :)

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@PaddleTV I went for their old blow molded PE version. A fair bit heavier but with the volcanic rock where we launch in the harbour I thing it will stand up to it much longer. Now, do you think that putting a few pot plants in it will make the Mrs think I haven't bought yet another kayak? Up to 10 yakd and a project surfski.

[@jamaicanjoe]

How good is a kayak sail in those conditions?

[@boatman222345]

Lots of good tips and advice but I was a little uncomfortable with the section on following winds and seas. While surfing a 1 foot chop on a pond or lake can be fun, surfing a 4-6’ sea on the ocean can be quite another. Sea kayaks tend to have far less buoyant bows than white water boats and rocketing down the face of a steep wave the "average" sea kayaker can wind up broaching or, worse yet, pitchpoling. In the many thousands of miles I've sea kayaked and the more than 100,000 miles I've boated as a professional captain I'd have to say the most challenging conditions I've ever faced have mainly been with following winds and seas.

[@PaddleTV]

You're right... I wasn't really looking at this from the perspective of expert sea kayaking. Following seas in big conditions can indeed be extremely challenging!

[@VictorElGreco]

Feel free to laugh at me but, when I’m at sea on one of my inflatable ‘yaks, I attach myself to the vessel by a rope with carabiners on each end. Otherwise, if I ever fall in the water, that boat will get away from me faster than I can ever swim. 😆

[@PaddleTV]

It's a good idea to have your kayak connected to you in open water with a quick release system like you have. On the flip side, it would be a BAD idea to do this on flowing rivers, where the rope can get snagged on things. Thanks for sharing!

[@VictorElGreco]

@@PaddleTV Thank you kindly for your reply. Yes, you are absolutely right. I paddle either in the placid lakes of Pennsylvania (no tethering needed) or in Greece, where the sea is not terribly rough but often windy, and where a tether with clips is a sensible precaution. I never paddle on rivers, where of course your warning makes perfect sense. Thanks again.

[@jm-bv1wh]

I always carry a length of rope with me that I can tie to the kayak's front handle if the wind is so strong that I can't make any headway paddling against it. Of course, this is only of value if you can get close enough to shore, to walk the kayak back in water that is not too deep.. The rope needs to be long enough to comfortably tow the kayak. I've also used the rope to tie the kayak to a tree branch until the wind subsided.

[@goaro2007]

Min 1:50. Fetch

[@lordenoch0]

As an older and recreational kayaker, I like to have a backup means of propulsion in case the wind becomes too contrary, and this would be some type of electric motor available to employ. Or maybe a hook and rope to toss onto the next unsuspecting motorboat that passes by. Sorry purists!

[@PaddleTV]

It's true! Wind is a good argument for kayak motors.

[@flushot6513]

Wind that's all it does anymore but I kayak on about 1800 acres and it can get rough with boaters stirring up and I do enjoy some of the rough stuff just not relaxing and fighting the wind off shore is just as hard 😅

[@Wings_of_foam]

I don't mind a headwind. It's just a part of being on the water. If I want comfort I would buy a boat with a motor.

[@timomomomo969]

When it’s really hot, a headwind can be better than a tailwind. But I like paddling in active conditions regardless. Where I live, that also means wind.