Awesome Test Run 07 07 24

Design Kayaks Awesome trial paddle - Its been a while since I got the chance to paddle a new kayak and I have been looking forward to this one for a some time. It looked good in the photos and the spec seemed cool too but it is always hard to be sure until you get into the driving seat and onto the water, it did not disappoint.
Details like the flush skeg slider and the foredeck cutaways were nice, the triple layer construction makes for a very rigid hull. I wasn't sure how wet launching would be with such a low profile deck but sitting on the deck behind the cockpit it was well balanced and my legs had no problems slithering into position when afloat, likewise when landing I paddled the last 20 or so metres sitting on the back deck and it was fine.
The Awesome is a combination of playful and rock steady, it tracks brilliantly even with minimal skeg and has a kind of eager feel. On the open water outside of the breakwater the sea was probably about right for paddling a new kayak safely solo and it just kept motoring on without being thrown around or fighting the sea and any angle direct into it or broadside on. I wasn't aware of having to do any corrective edging or bracing it just took it all on and I was hungry for steeper and bigger waves to see what it was really capable of. It seemed fairly fast too which surprised me given the amount of rocker. Having perfectly timed the trip to paddle out against the flood and in against the ebb it was hard to tell! I know...this is sounding too good to be true but anyone who knows me will know I am picky and critical 😂
It was comfortable and felt predictable and precise around rocks but there wasn't much going on to really get to grips with that side of things. Hopefully some evening paddles along my home coastline this week will give me a chance to test it out and if weather is good maybe a short camping trip next weekend to see how it paddles loaded.