Ferry

[edit] Ferry in Current

In whitewater kayaking and sea kayaking a ferry is where a kayaker uses a current to move, perpendicular to the current, from one spot to another (usually the width of the area of fast current) without losing too much ground.

To perform an upstream ferry, a kayaker turns the nose of the kayak into the current and, at about a 45° angle, proceeds to cross against the current. Because the kayaker is paddling (like mad) upstream less ground is lost, because the nose of the kayak is pointing at an angle to the current, the current pushes the kayak across the river or area of strong current.

This is a basic skill that will make negotiating swift water much easier. It is also used when crossing eddy lines and requires strong paddling to keep up momentum and to not allow the boat to lose the 45° angle to the current. You'll find the actual angle to the current varies with the speed of the current- More current, less angle- Less current, more angle.

And watch out behind you.

[edit] Wind Ferry

In Sea Kayaking, a wind ferry can be used. If the wind is blowing at an angle to the direction that you are paddling, pointing your bow slightly into the wind will prevent downwind drift and also allow some of the wind's energy to push you roughly in the direction you wish to go. There are folks that claim that the wind ferry is not efficient, so experiment and see how you like it. This writer once did a wind ferry across a small lake with little effort - the wind was strong and almost directly on the beam. By turning well up into the wind, I only had to paddle enough to keep the kayak from blowing downwind and the wind force blew me across the lake.