Saturday, March 4, 2006

Escape Pod Arrives



SpaceShipOne

Spaceship One

Monday afternoon I took Miss Moskito on a short paddle in a lazy swell. I was able to enjoy the delicate balance act while still paddling agressively. When doing a stroke in one side I tilt the kayak ever so slightly to the other side. It might just be my imagination, but I think I'm able to feel a tiny resistance at one point. This is the Miss' way of telling me that from here on I'm on my own. If I keep tilting her I'll either have to convert my forward stroke into a brace and lose speed(bad) or take a swim(exceedingly bad in march). At just the right moment I must finish the stroke and slightly shift my weight to other site. This tilting/swaying motion in the forward stroke is a thing of beauty. This is when paddling the Moskito is at it's best.



Tuesday I bought a new kayak...



Truth is my balance for paddling the Moskito in real waves isn't there yet. Way too often I'm restricted to staying inside the harbour doing lanes which is getting on my nerves. It has become a running joke in my kayak club, that we've had onshore winds ever since I got my Moskito.



Now I could switch to my cheerfull little Inuk for wave paddling and that would be fine. But I've become somewhat spoiled by Miss M. I'm addicted to the speed , acceleration and balance game. Sure in nasty conditions or going ofshore I'll be back the Inuk in a second. But for regular fitness paddling I don't want a 4WD.



Introducing the Escape. Two years ago I got to test paddle an Escape. It's a K1-Trainer designed by Danish Bjørn Johansen and is currently build by German Neumann for the Scandinavian market. At that time I thought it was both highly unstable and one of the most beautyful kayaks I'd seen yet. I started fantasizing about an Escape which could be rolled.

Tuesday I found a second hand kevlar Escape for sale and I didn't hesitate for long.


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Spaceship Two - Escape - 12kg - 520x51cm



While the Moskito is a sharp and mean looking kayak which barely accepts anyone rides her in waves - the Escape is a softer and more rounded K1-Trainer designed for waves. I love the shape, which looks like it was out of some Sci-Fi flick. It's my Escape Pod that'll take me out of the harbour. This thing is going to take some poundings in the waves!

I had three trips already and found it super stable compared to Miss M. Much easier to turn. Build in an ocean sized cockpit and I'm ready to take it to the open sea. For now I'll just be tracking the coast. As for speed I still have to do some trials. The Moskito should be faster(it better be!).

At any rate - my goal to be able to master Miss M in real waves haven't changed. If anything the Escape is going to accelerate that process.
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Escape Pod with passenger in icy water








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View at the futuristic bow design


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Inside view at the tillerbar rudder control












3 comments:

  1. Hai Peter My friend Sjef who lives in Gammelry brought to my attention that you have an Escape for sale. So I read this story on your website with an amusing feeling. I can "see" your love for paddling.
    I gave up paddling the more fast and therefor unstable K1 already a long time ago. I found a good alternative kayak in the Sift made by Plastex. I live in Holland in a small village west of Amsterdam. I came to live here 2 years ago. I live in a boat so it takes me one step to get in to my kayak and to go out for a paddle. But my club and my friends are in my home town were I lived before. So my Swift should stay there and that is why I need another Kayak for my backyard traingwater. I"m intrested in your Escape which I know is a very beautifull designed kayak. It is perfect for the kind of water I paddle on where big ships pass by which produce big waves.
    Can you tell me teh price you want for it. If we can come to an agreement I can pick it up next week when I come to Danmark to race in the Tour de Gudena.
    Ton

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  2. Hi Peter
    So how fast is the Escape and are you able to roll it with the standard cockpit?

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  3. Hi Olaf

    The Escape is super fast if you put Eirik Larsen in it. No seriously the Escape is 'K1 trainer' fast. That is in the upper end of the 'touring'-class range of kayaks.

    I only tried rolling my Escape once - in anger even - and pulled myself out of the cockpit.
    If I really wanted to I guess I could roll it - though it would only be a flatwater circus trick.
    No way rolling an unmodified K1 is ever going to be a serious safety measure.

    Best regards Peter

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