Landsailing

LANDSAILING

by James Hart

Published: December 2000

Whatever you call them - landyachts, landsailers, sandyachts or dirtboats - they are all sail or wing powered vehicles driven only by the wind. They can be found on dry lakes, beaches and even parking lots all over the world.

It's hard to describe the feeling one gets while landsailing. It can range from near silent ghosting along in complete relaxation to an 'over the edge,' eyes-wide-open adrenaline rush. Whatever style you prefer, once you've tried it, you'll not forget it. Few sports offer such relaxation. Few sports offer such excitement! And all from the same vehicle. Yet for all the thrills, it's proven to be a safe sport, and it's also environmentally sound. Landsailing is a very low impact sport. No gas, oil, spinning wheels or loud exhausts!

Wind requirements for landsailing begin at about 5 mph. Most yachts will head back to camp in wind over 35 mph. Small landyachts in the right conditions can sail two to three times as fast as the wind, or as fast as 50 to 60 mph in about 25 or 30 mph winds. Larger, more efficient (and stable!) yachts routinely sail five times wind speed for over 70 mph. The current record as of March 1999 is 116.7 mph in 25 mph wind. That's much faster than the usual 35-60 mph on the average weekend out on the drylakes.

The typical modern landyacht is a three-wheeled vehicle with a single, fully battened sail. Steering is accomplished with a single front wheel controlled by the pilot's feet on a steering bar, and the pilot sits over or behind the rear axle. Sail control is usually with a hand-controlled sheetline through a ratchet block and several pulleys or 'blocks.' The sail starts out in a full rounded shape for power. Then, as speed picks up, the pilot 'sheets in' tighter making the sail assume a flatter shape with less drag.

Letting the sheet line out does slowing down or de-powering. Braking is by 'tennis shoes' on the light, open yachts. Heavier or enclosed yachts use front wheel brakes, or a 'drag' brake on beaches. Note that brakes are not used to stop a yacht from high speed. Simply turning up into the wind will usually be enough to bring a yacht down to a reasonable speed, and the brakes will then be used to stop or hold it in place.

In the U.S., landyachts currently compete in standard 'manufacturers' and 'open' sail area classes. Recognized manufacturers classes include the Manta single (45 sq. feet), Manta Twin (59 sq. ft.) and Fed 5 (5-sq. meter). Standard sail areas govern the rest of the classes and are Class 5 (49 sq. ft.), Class 4 (59 sq. ft.), Class 3 (79.1 sq. ft.) and Class 2 (121.6 sq. ft.). This may not seem like a lot to a water sailor, but the drag of a wheel rolling across an alkali dry lake is much less than dragging a hull through water! A landyacht is so fast that a jib sail like that on a water boat will only create more drag.

Although history has seen attempts to use wind-powered land vehicles since several thousand years ago, it has only been the last few hundred years that vehicles were designed for the sheer thrill of it. And only since the 1960's have there been enough participants in the U.S. to form landsailing clubs for the purpose of actively competing as a sport. Today there are perhaps a dozen landsailing clubs and organizations. Some of the larger southern California clubs of the 70's and 80's boasted memberships approaching 200. Somewhat fewer people participate at this time. Landsailing is also popular in Europe. The European beaches draw people from Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, etc. Australia and New Zealand also have several active clubs.

For more information on landyacht clubs and dealers (click here).