drafting
The more “professional” or respected (lack of better words) for example(s) Texas Water Safari, Ausable Marathon, U.S National, Olympics, Tour De France, Indy-500 etc////// Drafting IS part of all race stratagy. Its a means to improve your time(s) not much different than a certain high tech ski wax used in nordic ski racing, graphite bike tires in bike races, even ones very own diet…to which helps improve your time (i.e. High carbs Vs Macdonald Big Macs)
Its also standard to take your TURN to draft. In cases where there is LESS expeienced paddlers or racers, well, they just dont know the etiquette such as slowing down and lettting the next person “pull” you along somewhat equally. The results of a less experienced paddler would be to try and stay in the lead for 90% and then complain that the guy behind sprinted to the finish. Of course!!! Thats part of the techinue. If he was smart they would (though time and learning the ettiqutte) have equally pulled a turn and drafted etc. Two boats move faster thru the water than one solo. Neither boat is stupid…you should take advantage of it. Usually in races that are “better”(lack of a better word) the person who is doing the pulling "knows this and thus would intentionally drop back for the other to pull forward OR if they dont want to draft they would pull ahead/sprint to move into their current stadegy. Sometimes when there is multiple boats, one rides the tail, the others on either side on the forward wake and if there is a 5th boat…then off to the side of the other side boats wake. They can ALL move and ONE object in the water and reduce the stress and tiredness of each paddler.
Heres some photos of racers in either sprint or drafting position. Note: as mentioned before with the more pretegious races wether a kayak, canoe or auto race…drafting IS part of the stategy.
This photo of 2005 finish sprint of the Ausable Canoe Marahon. The two canoes drafted throughout the 14 hours/120 miles and relyed on the energy they saved by drafting to be used in the final 100 yards. The stern paddler on the right is Serge Corbin the winningest athlete is all sports history with over 500 international and national wins, who has dominated the sport for 20+ year)
http://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/bialek19.jpg
This photo is several paddlers, side drafting and also tail drafing in the futher back of photos. Sorry this are not the best i can find, there are better ones but i think they help
http://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/porter2.jpg
