: Yes , our swell here in Sydney usually comes from SE and storms from the
: south or typical Summer NE. I don't go out in a storm but in the summer we
: always paddle in the Ne breeze. Hits about 11 am. So head north and catch
: the waves back is the plan most weekends.
: Just good to have a kayak your not fighting in those conditions.
: I watched an expert paddler out in an old Valley Nordkapp out in about 25 kn
: and he was having trouble with it. That was supposed to be THE boat??
: Handled like crap from our point of view. Like a cork. It was empty
: though.
: Tim

Hi Tim,
It must be handy having a predictable wind pattern like that.
Is it a shore breeze or is it more generalised like a tradewind?
Here the trend is waves from the west, wind from anywhere but mostly southwest.

The Nordkapp would probably have handled much better with a load, I usually stick between 6 and 12kg lead ballast in my baidarka, I'm only 65kg ish so the extra weight steadies it. Even empty, it handles waves nicely, but it's skittish on calm water.
Mind you, 25kn wind isn't what I'd go out in, unless it's for fishing.

Mike Savage
South West Cork