Mastering the Blending of Outrigger Canoe Steering Techniques

"To master the blending of steering techniques, a certain amount of inherent feeling is necessary. Knowing how the canoe will react in different conditions, feeling movements before they occur and anticipating corrections before they happen, need to be natural. Letting the canoe flow instead of fighting to remain straight, is critical. The canoe can move up 10 degrees off its mark at any time without being off course. You need to let the canoe find its way - you are only there to help it get there"

Jim Foti (Page 96) - Outrigger Canoeing: The Art and Skill of Steering.

A great little book. Many thanks to Rachel for giving me a copy. Plenty to learn from this recently revised edition.

Thought of the above quote when out in the thick of it yesterday. Some challenging conditions for all crews. We all survived and had a great time in the process. Definitely a massive learning experience for us all, me in particular.

Had a few Stall Outs - need to work on a strategy to fix this up in such big conditions. We had a lot water in the Canoe at the end. GPS to follow.

Thanks to Michelle for the fantastic photos from yesterday's Outrigger Canoe (OC6) Regatta at Five Islands/Wollongong.

Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (From Seat 1: Mark Hall, Graeme Bacon, Stuart Young, Peter McAlister, Grant Billen and Geoff Eldridge) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (From Seat 1: Mark Hall, Graeme Bacon, Stuart Young, Peter McAlister, Grant Billen and Geoff Eldridge) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Back in the Harbour - Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (Geoff Eldridge, Grant Billen, Peter McAlister and Stuart Young) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Back in the Harbour - Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (Stuart Young, Graeme Bacon and Mark Hall) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)