Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Experience is not solely based on the time you spend doing somthing - it is also based on your level of skill. You could do something for decades, but never become very skilled at it. For example, if you have skiied for 20 years, but never advanced beyond the beginner's slopes, most other skiiers would not consider you to be an experienced skiier - you would still be a beginner in their eyes. Yet someone who wins downhill races is considered to be a very experiened skiier, no matter how long they have been skiing.
And there's a huge difference beween paddling 800 miles under your own power and putting 800 miles sitting on the padded seat of a powerboat, where a motor does all the work. I've operated a powerboat, so I know that it takes a lot more skill to paddle a sea kayak, or to sail a racing boat successfully - expecially in some of the conditions that I have experienced.
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I agree about most of your explanation of experience above, but if you are very good at something but have not been doing it long I do not think that qualifies as experienced. I am an experienced skier, pretty good but not pro and I have been doing it for 20 years. One of my employees just started this year and being that he is very athletic (triathalons, etc) he got pretty good very quickly. His skill is good, but lack of time does not qualify him to be experienced in my opinion.
I found a pretty good site about the dynamics of kayaks and speed, here is a quote from it:
"Most recreational paddling speeds are about 2 - 3.5 knots. Energetic cruising speeds are largely in the 3.5 - 5.5 knots range. Speeds higher than 6 knots are in the realm of long distance racing and sprinting. Olympic sprint speeds average 9.98 knots (off the chart )."
Figuring that claim to have done 800 miles last year and are probably in the 3-5 knot range on average usually being athletic, that puts you on the water for between 160-260 hours per year in a kayak at absolute minimum figuring that you are not always at those speeds. I have to say that seems a bit much to comprehend when you are so active with sailing, etc.... ???? Sorry, gotta question you on that one... Don't you have a job???