OK, at Dave's suggestion (to test the software, no doubt), I'm writing this article and inviting comments

Firstly, I have checked the title for double meaning, smutty innuendos and something silly in Vulcan, and no other meaning seems possible but then Colin hasn't had a chance to comment yet!  Secondly, I am one of a few Baldock members who have had the opportunity to paddle the Legacy course (That's the 'little' sister of the new Olympic course to you and me! Ed.) and, to date, have chalked up the most swims! I hope to do the Div 3 slalom at the end of the season on the course, but, from C2 memory, no prizes are awarded for swimming to the finish.

The problem is this:-

The course has three pumps and curves round at the top- the top 4 drops are a MAELSTROM of whitewater and EVIL drops- full on grade 3. They are probably NOTHING to the likes of you, but present a significant problem to me; drop 1 nicely positioned, I take drop in the middle and paddle, drop 2, I'm now pushed off line by the curve and take drop off centre and survive; drop 3, I'm now pushed far out, struggling to get on line, take drop on extreme outside shoulder which feeds me nicely sideways into curling stopper-  capsize, pathetic attempt at roll and swim follows.

So, how to keep on line when the curve of the course is pushing me out?

1) Break out after drop 2 on outer eddy, break in and ferry glide across to take drop 3 centrally?

Well guys, if I could do all this on THAT section confidently without capsizing, I probably wouldn't have a problem in the first place.

2) Angle my boat and reverse paddle?

Hmm... I reckon my back end would catch.

3) Paddle the course backwards and keep paddling/ferry gliding upstream?

Seems a bit silly and I would have difficulty seeing where I was going (but might be a plan for the slalom as I wouldn't have to look out for other boaters)

4) Keep my paddle in the water on the inside of the curve, sculling/drawing to keep me more central?

Well that's my plan for tomorrow night unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I look forward to your considered, constructive comments- VERY witty comments also accepted. please be kind!!!!

UPDATE: Ok, for those who are hungry for an update and can't wait for the movie to come out later this year; the news is I COMPLETED THE TOP SECTION OF THE LEGACY COURSE LAST NIGHT!

The caveats being that...

A) I was, lower down on the course, subsequently taken out by a rogue paddler not in control of his craft (who lets these people on the water?) and

B) I suspect some modification to the top section from last time, to make it less fierce.

However, the important facts are that I did it, I did it positively and I was resonably calm about it. My "secret" ingredient? This is where wise heads nod sagely- I was relaxed and positive about it.  Easier said than done for me, the arch neurotic when it comes to whitewater, but it was the end of the session, the last run and a healthy fatalism to Que sera sera