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Well I got the call that my Prowler 13 was ready to be collected. So I flexed off work and went to pick it up.
The 45 knot wind gusts were a good test for the roof racks. :shock: :wink:
Got it all home and drooled over it for about an hour, then decided stuff it, I'm going to christen it. So I took it down to a bay that I thought would offer some shelter. But it was not to be, the wind was ripping through it big time. Well I've come this far, might as well give it a go. It was a bit of a bugger getting off the racks, major wind problems. :roll: Mmm things could be a bit worse when I try and get it back up there. :?
Launched it and managed to get blown around the corner in no time. Then paddled to the only spot that had any shelter. It just took off in the calm waters - nice and easy 8) . I then did a few blockies of the bay, with the wind hitting me from all angles. I'm so glad I got one with the rudder, cause the wind was playing up big time with 45 knot gusts. Thanks for that bit of advice Scott, it would have been impossible to keep it on track without the rudder. :wink: It amazed me that it was even possible to paddle into that wind, sure I wasn't making much ground, but it felt like when I paddle my canoe in 5-10 knot winds. :shock: Man I just can't wait for some calm conditions. This thing's gonna be a dream to paddle in reasonable winds.
Well the wind seemed to be getting worse, so I though I'd better call it quits. When I landed I beached the yak and put the paddle on the ground. I turned my back for a second and then heard a scraping sound. The wind had blown my paddle about 5 metres away from me and nearly off the edge into the water. A quick scramble and a dive and I managed to save it with a couple of metres to spare. :roll: It went straight into the car then. Then the yak was getting blown around on its axis. Now how the bloody hell am I going to get it back on top of the car in this wind by myself and tie it down. I commandeered a couple of young boys who could just reach to hold in on the racks to stop it blowing off. As soon as I'd lifted it above the roof line the wind hit it and it wanted to take off. But I managed to force it down. Then I got the boys to hold it on while I tied it down. 8)
Bring on the good weather :lol:
Cheers
Vert
The 45 knot wind gusts were a good test for the roof racks. :shock: :wink:
Got it all home and drooled over it for about an hour, then decided stuff it, I'm going to christen it. So I took it down to a bay that I thought would offer some shelter. But it was not to be, the wind was ripping through it big time. Well I've come this far, might as well give it a go. It was a bit of a bugger getting off the racks, major wind problems. :roll: Mmm things could be a bit worse when I try and get it back up there. :?
Launched it and managed to get blown around the corner in no time. Then paddled to the only spot that had any shelter. It just took off in the calm waters - nice and easy 8) . I then did a few blockies of the bay, with the wind hitting me from all angles. I'm so glad I got one with the rudder, cause the wind was playing up big time with 45 knot gusts. Thanks for that bit of advice Scott, it would have been impossible to keep it on track without the rudder. :wink: It amazed me that it was even possible to paddle into that wind, sure I wasn't making much ground, but it felt like when I paddle my canoe in 5-10 knot winds. :shock: Man I just can't wait for some calm conditions. This thing's gonna be a dream to paddle in reasonable winds.
Well the wind seemed to be getting worse, so I though I'd better call it quits. When I landed I beached the yak and put the paddle on the ground. I turned my back for a second and then heard a scraping sound. The wind had blown my paddle about 5 metres away from me and nearly off the edge into the water. A quick scramble and a dive and I managed to save it with a couple of metres to spare. :roll: It went straight into the car then. Then the yak was getting blown around on its axis. Now how the bloody hell am I going to get it back on top of the car in this wind by myself and tie it down. I commandeered a couple of young boys who could just reach to hold in on the racks to stop it blowing off. As soon as I'd lifted it above the roof line the wind hit it and it wanted to take off. But I managed to force it down. Then I got the boys to hold it on while I tied it down. 8)
Bring on the good weather :lol:
Cheers
Vert