It’s not always easy to know how to handle different kayaking situations. Especially when there are heavy wind, which can make the experience very different than what you’re used to.
Although kayaking is considered a relatively calm and peaceful sport, paddling your kayak in high winds can be a completely different experience. In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to do kayaking in 20 mph wind and make the most of your outing despite the challenging conditions.
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How To Do Kayaking In 20 mph Wind?
The simple answer is that if you’re paddling in wind speeds of 20 mph, it’s definitely time to try again another day. If the wind is gusting up to that speed, you’ll probably want to consider rescheduling your trip or choosing another destination other than the place where you would normally kayak.
How To Kayak In The Wind?
If you’re really committed and know it’s going to be a calm day on the body of water, there are some things you can do to make sure your kayak is more stable in windy conditions.
Try to Adding Weight
One thing you can try is adding weight to the back of your kayak (or situating yourself near the center of gravity) to make your kayak more balanced. This will ensure that you’re less likely to tip over a good thing if the wind picks up and you’re not expecting it.
Using Spray Skirt
You can also try using a spray skirt or adding a spay deck to help reduce water from coming into your kayak. These modifications can be added to any type of kayak, but are especially important in windy conditions. That way you won’t have to worry about flipping over and taking on water.
Paddling Upwind
If you’re already committed to your trip and the weather conditions don’t seem likely to change anytime soon, try paddling upwind or against the current so that you’re going against the wind and then let it carry you back downwind.
Attach a Rudder
Another option is to attach a rudder to your kayak so that you can direct your kayak without needing to paddle as much. This will help reduce the amount of energy you need and ultimately minimize your arms fatigue.
Of course, there are plenty of other options for how to kayak in 20 mph wind. These are just a few of the more common strategies for dealing with high winds on the water.
Safety First While Kayaking In High Winds
Kayaking in windy conditions can be dangerous if you’re not well prepared. In addition to the tips provided above for how to do kayaking in 20 mph winds, here are some other safety precautions you should take before going out on a kayak trip:
- Make sure someone else knows where you’re going and when you expect to be back
- Take the appropriate safety equipment with you, such as a personal flotation device, waterproof flashlight, and whistle.
- Get up-to-date weather reports so you know what to expect for wind speeds throughout the day.
- Park your car in a well-lit area or have a buddy stand watch as you’re paddling.
- Wear brightly colored clothing and/or use a kayak flag to make sure another boater can see you easily.
- Remove any loose items from your kayak or attach them securely before leaving the shoreline.
How To Get In And Out Of The Kayak When It Is Windy?
Getting in and out of a kayak can be particularly difficult when it’s windy, so you’ll want to choose an appropriate place on the shoreline from which to launch your kayak. If possible, try to get into your boat near some trees or shrubbery that will provide a bit of cover from the wind. You can then head into the wind to get into your kayak and then use it as a shield as you’re getting yourself situated.
When you’re ready to leave, do so with the wind at your back, and be prepared for it to push against your kayak as soon as you hit open water. This can make it a bit harder to paddle straight initially, but you’ll be able to compensate for the wind fairly quickly.
If conditions become too challenging or dangerous, don’t hesitate to call off your trip and head back to shore. Kayaking is a relaxing activity that almost anyone can participate in no matter what level of experience they have with paddling.
What If The Wind Is Too Strong For Kayaking?
It’s very simple. Just paddle kayak as hard as you can going with the wind. The faster you go, the faster the wind will push you, so it increases your speed by a lot!
However, there is a problem. Your arms might get too tired from paddling against such strong winds. When that happens, just drift away for about an hour or two and then keep kayaking again until your arms become too tired again(if they don’t before that long). After this, paddle as fast as possible towards land because once your arms lose their strength completely, you’ll end up drifting away to sea and no one knows what might happen to you.
Conclusion
At the end of this article, be careful on the water, if the wind is too strong just don’t do it or at least be really prepared for that wind.
This article will provide you with knowledge about kayaking in 20 mph winds and hopefully will be helpful to you.
FAQs
Q1.What is the maximum speed that I can go at?
You will be able to do kayaking in 20 mph wind, even if it gets stronger than that you should let go of kayaking and find a way to pull out yourself from the water.
Q2. What if I can’t go with the wind?
You can just paddle as hard as you can going against it and that will be fine, you’ll have to do it for a short period of time only.
Q3. What if my arms get tired?
Just drift away for a short time and then you can paddle again for as long as your arms can do it.