Canoe Trails Training Manual

E - 3
Cruising (cont.) waves. Mostly, if there's a wind, it will be against you. However, by setting a course to take the waves on your quarter, you can travel safely, and with less difficulty than if you try to head directly into them. If the waves are big enough to slop in over your bow as you quarter into them, they're too big for you to move out into any sizable body of water. The group leader must use sound judgment in this case. Find a sheltered spot to land, have a swim, snooze or go exploring or set up camp. With the wind behind you, you can really travel, but again it's wise to keep out of large open areas of water, where the waves can roll up to uncomfortable size. If you are caught in stiff wind and rough water, keep your weight low by kneeling, let the canoe roll freely under you, with your body straight up over the fore-and-aft center line of the canoe. The third man in the waist of the canoe can bail with his cup if you actually start to ship water. Otherwise he can probably help more by paddling. (This must be done with discretion otherwise the canoe could capsize.) Change your paddle to the other side at least every half hour to rest one set of muscles and use the other. It is important to feel equally at home on either side. You can spot experienced canoe crews by the way they keep in step, each paddle taking hold at the same time. The bow man should set a steady
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