Wouter,
Another land based design is at this site http://www.doomwheels.com/

I think I'll pass though on that one... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But I did try a low aspect ratio kite powered snowboard on the St. Lawrence River outside Quebec City. I almost bought one. The guys using the kites with skiis (high aspect ratio kites) were going pretty fast <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

The design on the web for the Iceflyer shows how to put wheels on it also. I have the wheels and plan to try it that way also. Provided I survive the ice version <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alan,

I live at 63deg north 1deg west in a typical coastal climate. If we are very lucky, we have sailable ice for 14 days during winter. But we do have hard snow quite often, so runners with skis should work.

http://www.isabella-iceboat.com/mvc-007f.jpg
http://www.isabella-iceboat.com/mvc-004f.jpg

More like this :




http://www.rsyc.be/index.html

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/landyachting+day/pid/2534917

Wouter

Acceleration on these things (from close reach to broad reach) is insane...The apparent wind builds up in seconds...They'll probably beat many sportscars from 0 to 50 mph.
When on the beach with landyachters, keep your dog on the leash...I've known a few decapitated... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I always found it hard to quantify as you are laying down in the **** and ground is just so close. At top speed it'll feel like your doing over 200 km/h when you are actually "only" doing 90 km/h.

But it your sailtrim is right and a gust hits then you'll know about it. It will accellerate quickly and you can stay in that single gust for very long stretches of beach. That is a truly excellerating feeling. First time it scares you, second time you'll learn to appreciate it, third time you are loving it and want more.

It has been to long since I took my landyacht (a class 5 as in the picture) from my shed. It definately is a great complement to cat sailing in the summer.




You got that right !

We have a few of those stories as well. Problem with dogs is that they actively try to intercept you, so steering clear of them is almost impossible. Class 5's don't go quick enough to kill them, you can often lower speed in time. Class 3 yachts however (120-130 km/h) just slice them in two. This is also because of the way class 3 are build. They have a long plank acting as rear axis/suspension. This acts much like a helicopters blades, they cut everthing that they hit at speed.

Wouter

Amazing that you are about 950 km / 570 miles north of me and it is so warm. Love that Gulf Stream!

People have tried skis but I am not aware of any success stories. Friction is so high and so variable plus the uneven surface.

In the summer? I always found our North Sea beaches too crowded in the summer...The good landyachting season starts in October with the fall Atlantic depressions passing through! And then on to nice cold winter days where your fingers freeze around the mainsheet till you can open them any more...That's landyachting at its best!
Agree that it's complementary to catsailing, especially because you can do one in the summer and the other in the winter...

That was what I was trying to say.

Wouter