Flip side
Paddling a Tarpon 160, I came in 13 out of 20 in my class (Masters [40+]Sea kayaks under 19ft) in a 13 miler. I was the only SOT allowed in the race. Next boat in was a Seda Glider and the next half dozen were SINKs much narrower and a bit longer then the Tarpon. I’d only been paddling it about 7 months.
A year later, that Glider paddler easily smoked me - with us both in Q700s. He trained, I didn’t. He continues to train and is even faster now.
YMMV
I think,
I know who that Glider paddler was,L
HEX