I am getting started building the Guillimot single kayak and have set up the forms. I've watched all of Nick's you tube videos and read the book. I have milled all the strips with cove and bead. I am trying to put the sheer strip on and despite tapering it with a block plane from 3/4 width to only about 1/4 inch, over about 2 1/2 feet, I cannot quite get it to bend from the sheer line at form #3 up to the tip of the bow. I am using 1/4 inch thick good quality quarter sawn Western cedar. If I stress the strip any more I'm sure it will break. I clamped it in place and thought I might wet it and bend it a little more each day over the next week. The video makes it seem much easier and Nick bends it in place on the spot. Any suggestions?

Also, when stripping the bottom it seems that the strips will go around from sheer line to bottom to sheer line and this will capture some of the forms, requiring some flex in the sides of the kayak, to be able to remove the forms and strong back. Am I misinterpreting something? Thanks for your help.
Jay