Hi René,

I would like to comment on your remark about the Skim Distances and what you call it “being susceptible to being pushed sideways by waves, which means constant course corrections when in difficult waves”.

Having paddled a few months in the Skim Distance in heavy wweather and difficult waves, I would like to approach this issue from the opposite point of view:

Following my experience every kayak will be pushed aside or pushed around in difficult waves.
Normally you even do not notice this very hard because you will bring the kayak back on course without thinking. The more manoeuvrable the kayak is, the more it will work out like that.

In the Skim Distance this works out different: because the kayak is not manoeuvrable in waves, you must put (much) more effort in keeping course than in most kayaks. Especially when wind is involved as well and the kayaks starts leecocking.
I can imagine, while working hard on sweepstrokes in waves, that your back will get sore bringing over the momentum from the sweepstroke

Does this approach from the other side make some sense to you?

Regards
Safe journey
René van der Zwan

PS
Be carefull with your back. Only got one!