PDRacer Speed Over Distance Record by rowing & sailing

PDRacer Speed Over Distance Record by Rowing & Sailing
By Tim Cleary
10-20-06 record 3.5 mph over 2.13 miles

Wind today was 5-10 mph, so it was good time to do a row-sail Speed Over Distance friendly competition run. I've got the technique down to where I fill in the wind lulls with power rowing, if the wind picks up I row a little harder on the side that offsets the weather helm. If it picks up more I row only on the side that offsets the weather helm and hold the other oar out of the water. If it picks up even more I can't row the one oar hard enough to keep the boat from turning upwind, so I drag the oar not rowing as much as needed to stay on course while continuing to row with the other oar. During a wind gust, I adjust how close I sit to the side accordingly and can still row, although it's not the best rowing position to be sitting to one side. I also squeeze as close as I can get to the stern in order to keep the bow up during a wind gust.

The idea is to be able to handle the occasional gust and still stay in a rowing position, ready to fill in with power when the wind drops to 5 mph. The Puddle Duck's 4 ft wide, straight beam actually makes it a good platform to do this.

I'd guess during my 2.13 mile run I was rowing with both oars about 60 per cent of the time, meaning the wind was around 5 mph about 60 per cent of the time. I went the 2.13 miles in 36 minutes, 12 secs for a moving average speed of 3.5 mph. I guarantee you, if I'd tried to just sail that 2.13 miles I'd still be out there. I've found my PDR to barely creep along under sail in a 5 mph wind.

Sitting with my back turned to the bow hasn't been a concern to me so far, I glance around every few minutes to make sure I'm not coming up on something unexpectedly.

Tim C.

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