Longer strokes, with more pommel pressure and aft power ( such as the huti roa and huti pa'ari ), make the canoe more stable, whereas front-powered, shorter strokes ( huti pe'e ) tend to induce more rocking of the canoe, as the nose digs in at each catch. This front-to-back rocking motion not only induces drag, but shortens the waterline, as well, thus reducing 'hull speed' along with glide. This is especially true in calm water. For bumpy open water downwinds, however, the extra bow pressure from short front-powered strokes helps to drop in, besides providing needed acceleration bursts.
More blade time in the water = more 'huti' ( i.e. more pulling ), as Tahitians would say. This is why long strokes ( e.g. the huti roa and huti pa'ari ) work: the blade is essentially still locked in the water mass, even as it glides past the front edge of the seat, and top-hand pressure increases on the pommel, bringing the latter down-and-aft toward the gunnel in a wide arcing motion, thus continuing to pull the canoe forward-much like poling a boat ( or pole vaulting )! Conceptualizing paddling as pushing packets of water is indeed the wrong way to think about it. Rather, when done properly, one is pulling oneself-and the canoe- _to_ ( and for long strokes, _past_ ) the blade's anchored position, as John rightly indicates ( the blade remaining locked-in even as it passes the seat, as I mentioned ). ....Long strokes-past the front edge of the seat, into so-called 'negative angle' territory-have their place, and should be a part of any well-rounded paddler's arsenal, particularly in situations where endurance is key.
I have found that the maika'i paddle combined with the Volare has conditioned me well to understand this concept of load a lot better. Nowadays I tend to underrate the cadence compared to my colleagues at my club at cruising speeds now and they all think I am just "naturally" gifted. That's a good laugh. They don't know how much conscious work I've had to do in the last year to undo the unconscious high-cadence paddling that I've done in the last 6 years.
keep it up. Even paddling aside, there is a lot of "theory" based on heartrate training and controlling your effort which comes into play a lot when we try to drop our stroke rates. How can we go faster with slower stroke rates?
