Závod není v podstatě nijak zvlášť důležitý. Řekl bych, že mnohem zajímavější je pozorovat jakým způsobem se momentálně směry v seakayakingu rozvíjí. Pokud připustíme, že touring můžeme volně přeložit jako turistiku, tak stojí za povšimnutí jak moc se momentálně evropské pojetí mění. Převážně ovlivněné australským stylem.
Mark Sundin ze Sydney docela trefně popsal v jedné diskusi jak dnes má turistický kajak vypadat.
"I reckon there are a few things a good modern fast tourer has to be.
First off, they have to have a terminal hull speed over 9.5kmh, that is, be able to sustain that kind of speed in calm conditions. Not so much because you ever really push that hard, more that if they do have those sorts of hydrostatics, they're probably going to be quite a bit faster than average at the 'touring' output levels most of us work at on the sea.
Second, they have to be stable. I'm a very poor judge of what others consider stable, but my test is to see just how much micro stuff I can get done on my own in rough water, without having to raft up with someone else. As a minimum, fetch a helmet from the day hatch, change over a water bladder below deck, without getting the wobbles.
And finally, they have to be able to go downwind. All the biggest days on the sea are done in following seas, and if the boat misbehaves, buries, squirrels around in fast 'hooter' conditions, then it will be just miserable. That might also sound pretty simple, after all they've all got a rudder, but the subtlties in how they perform downwind is what separates them, in my opnion. If on the other hand it's a ball tearer, then like me you'll probably find yourself retiring from headwinds altogether & working out the shortest car shuffles for the longest downwinder.
It goes without saying that as a tourer, they also need to able to carry gear with little or no influence on the performance of the hull.
Brit style maneuvrability is a bonus, but not a necessary element, considering the job these boats are designed to do. If you have a decent set of skills learnt in a gear-shift boat, you won't have too many problems adapting them to the automatic. The only skill you might have to hone is your ability to paddle aggressively downwind, if you really want to find out what a good modern fast tourer can do. That's as difficult, and as simple as banning the stern rudder.
It's great to see so many in a rush, In my opinion it has the potential to braoden the sport, lower the average age, and chip away at the perception that sea kayaking is for grumpy old buggers with crook knees!
Mark."