Brian Nystrom wrote in message
...
Mike Hackett wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote in message
...

You're overthinking the subject. A boat that stays on the course you
want to paddle will be the most efficient. Just use as much skeg as the
situation requires and forget about the rest.



So what would you have me think about while I'm in the office with my
head
still out in the river? Something to do with my job?

It is possible to stay on course with the boat pointing at least close
to
the direction you are going (skeg all the way down), or stay on course
with
it pointing further away from the direction you are going (less skeg).
That's the issue.

If you've got a beam wind, you're going to need to ferry into it in
order to maintain the desired course, so pointing slightly upwind is
preferable. Pointing straight or downwind will cause you to travel a
longer, parabolic course.


Of course. But again, the upwind angle to achieve a straight course is going
to vary depending on how much skeg is sticking down.

Mike