new speed record for a blokart on Lake Lefroy on 27.09.1014. Winds 35 knots gusting 42 at times. More details in the Landsailing forum under Blokarts section.
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WOW!

What a great effort, and no doubt a huge set of brass balls to match...

Macroscien said..
Great stuff but
I am not really we should call this driving not sailing rather (?)

It's all part of the sailing continuum Macro.

At one end of the spectrum we're sailing in very deep water but here, at the other end of the spectrum, the sailing is done in a thin film of oil that is cleverly carried along with the device. AKA wheel bearings. There's a serious ground effect to be had in wheel bearings which gives a great advantage in reducing drag. Skiffle boards are the next step, but we haven't worked out how to get the lateral resistance essential to sailing in a few mm of water. Maybe one day multiple short finlets will be able to scavenge enough water to throw sideways to generate lateral resistance.

Shallow water speed sailing with bottom-raking delta fins is the next step and then, when water depth >> hull width, where ground effect finally disappears, you're at the traditional end of the sailing spectrum.

Are we surfing or sailing on wind boards and kites ?

This is called semantics.

cisco said..

Are we surfing or sailing on wind boards and kites ?

This is called semantics.

Whats seman got to do with it

way off topic

Macroscien said..
Great stuff but
I am not really we should call this driving not sailing rather (?)

yep they were sailing .
set off on a series of really tight tacks a few kms to windward then bravely broad reach down at 100kph + towards a 1m high bank of rocks,with large lumps of wet salt being hurled at your face . you cant see out of your goggles, or breath through your mouth, its also bumpy as the wind is pushing the wet surface salt into little ridges that are getting bigger due to evaporation. the little ridges are trapping water (brine0 behind them to make puddles.
your minlandyacht is 1.55m wide x1.7m long and 25kg and the balance between going forward and losing control is a forward and backward body motion of about 100mm or less,which you achieve by flexing your knees and fine tune by moving your head fore and aft. you are working a sheetrope with 1 hand and the steering with the other.
that causeway is still coming up and you have a turning circle of about 100m, and yes that white colour on your tyres is CANVAS that lives under the rubber . the 35knts isnt enough to maintain the 100 so you are out sailing hoping for that 40+ gust which will push you over.
I should mention that the salt they were sailing on was a new crust that formed over mud this year. the side load from the wheels can crack the crust and force a sheet to slide away(bad), also the wind can get UNDER the crust and in big winds the crust can flip over like big sheets of glass . ive been caught once in those conditions whilst on foot and all you can do is lay down low on the salt till the gust passes. you can also punch the front wheel through the crust which stops the yacht in its own length, and spits you out through the carbon boom/sail /pod.
of course the boys had no idea of all these little things which is why little ol me with my more aged bits was watching ,not sailing
kn oath its sailing
when you stand

landyacht said..

Macroscien said..
Great stuff but
I am not really we should call this driving not sailing rather (?)

yep they were sailing .
set off on a series of really tight tacks a few kms to windward then bravely broad reach down at 100kph + towards a 1m high bank of rocks,with large lumps of wet salt being hurled at your face . you cant see out of your goggles, or breath through your mouth, its also bumpy as the wind is pushing the wet surface salt into little ridges that are getting bigger due to evaporation. the little ridges are trapping water (brine0 behind them to make puddles.
your minlandyacht is 1.55m wide x1.7m long and 25kg and the balance between going forward and losing control is a forward and backward body motion of about 100mm or less,which you achieve by flexing your knees and fine tune by moving your head fore and aft. you are working a sheetrope with 1 hand and the steering with the other.
that causeway is still coming up and you have a turning circle of about 100m, and yes that white colour on your tyres is CANVAS that lives under the rubber . the 35knts isnt enough to maintain the 100 so you are out sailing hoping for that 40+ gust which will push you over.
I should mention that the salt they were sailing on was a new crust that formed over mud this year. the side load from the wheels can crack the crust and force a sheet to slide away(bad), also the wind can get UNDER the crust and in big winds the crust can flip over like big sheets of glass . ive been caught once in those conditions whilst on foot and all you can do is lay down low on the salt till the gust passes. you can also punch the front wheel through the crust which stops the yacht in its own length, and spits you out through the carbon boom/sail /pod.
of course the boys had no idea of all these little things which is why little ol me with my more aged bits was watching ,not sailing
kn oath its sailing
when you stand

Sailing, driving, whatever you call it, it would be exciting and take some balls to do at that level.
Good to see folks having good clean fun and doing it with passion. Thanks for sharing...