The design of the hull is what determines how well the canoe will track. The amount of rocker will define the maneuverability. A marathon racing canoe is an excellent example. It is designed for speed and tracking, yet there is no keel. The amount of resistance offered by a keel against crosswinds is negligible.
Wind can make paddling difficult regardless of the canoe.
Experience, a low profile canoe and more weight in the bow are some remedies, but elimination of rocker is the best solution. The only other reason to have a keel would be to stiffen a flexible, flat bottom. A properly built canoe with a shallow arched bottom, incorporated with a minimum amount of 'V', will be more than still enough. Add a clean entry line with the appropriate rocker and you will have a canoe that is highly maneuverable and tracks well.