Seasalter Sailing Club

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Land Yachting – An experience by Martin Searle

First I should perhaps explain what these machines look like. They have three wheels, two fixed wheels at the back extending out from the sides by about 2m either side and sticking out at the front is the third one, arranged basically on a tubular steel frame. Onto this is bolted the fibreglass seat. The seat allows you to recline with just your head elevated so you can see where you are going. Immediately in front of the seat lies the mast step into which the mast is inserted. The sail is between 3.5m and 5.5m square in size which is comparitively small compared to sailing boats (my Dart 15’s main sail is 10.5 square metres in size).

You steer the yacht by means of turning the front wheel using your feet whilst your hands control the ‘throttle’ (or sail). You pull in the sail as you go faster and faster, this is because the wind comes more and more from the front of the yacht, which is totally unlike proper sailing on the sea. The approximate top speed of the yachts is 4 times the speed of the wind a sailing boat can go at 1.5 times the windspeed. The yachts unlike cars will accelerate immediately and with no lag between applying accelerator and increasing speed. This instant acceleration can be felt in the form of G-force and on a windy day its quite exhilerating.

(see http://www.landyachting.co.uk/kirrawee/index.htm for pictures of the yachts and further info.)

The Time : 09.00 a Sat. in May 2000

The Place : Greatstone Beach nr. Dungeness, Kent

Wind : Force 5-6 (that’s 25-35 mph or so!)

After having missed the turn to Littlestone (thence onto Greatstone) I had taken a mystery tour via the radioactive beauty that’s Dungeness nuclear power station and had then followed the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch (RHDR) railway back along the coast I had eventually found myself sitting in the car park opposite the RHDR station at Greatstone. I was early ! despite the extra 10 miles I had driven. The guys who were going to run the course were busily setting up the yachts, now this was the first time I had actually seen one of these beasties in the flesh and I spent a few minutes examining them. In the meantime my fellow coursemates had arrived including two fellow Seasalter Sailing club members (Jeff Kiddle (and son) and Steve Willis).

With an air of anticipation and not to mention the slight unease about the wind strength (I wouldn’t even think of letting a beginner loose in a sailing boat in those conditions!) we all put on our windproofs, Gloves, and Crashhats, those in the know had brought goggles to keep all that sand out of their eyes (not me !). Next was the in-famous form you have to sign saying that in the event of death the course instructors were not liable etc etc.

Formalities out of the way we all traipsed down to the beach. Here we gathered around the instructor (Roger) and one of the yachts. I found myself in a position where I couldn’t hear anything that was being said (my hearing aids were just filled with crackling from the wind !) so I moved closer to the instructor just at the wrong moment !, too late I realised I had just volunteered to be the first to try the yacht !!!. Muttering ever so slightly to myself I got into the machine and was strapped into it. It transpired I was supposed to sail to a traffic cone about 300 yards up the beach turn around it and then sail back to the cone near the group and to sail a figure of eight course.

With a Push I was sent on my way I decided that I would get the feeling for the yacht before I started pushing the speed up, but instructors being instructors were yelling to pull the sail in. So this I duly did, WOW the speed instantly shot up and I had only pulled the sail in half way. All too soon the first mark was upon me, I rammed the front wheel over and instantly found myself in a full power slide with sand being thrown all over me and off the wheels. Surprisingly I had got round the first turn and duly aimed the yacht at the next turning point, this time I decided to see what happens when you pull the sail in fully !. WOW again ! the speed shot up to about 50mph in about 2 seconds and what’s more the windward wheel left the ground, I panicked at this point and let the sail out. Partially out of control I had arrived at the group end of the course and fought the yacht and managed to get it turned around, the group had all taken a collective leap backwards to avoid being run over !. I now proceeded to repeat the course gradually getting better and better at steering. Although I found if I pushed the wheel too hard over I would push my weight backwards in the yacht causing the front wheel to leave the ground and hence loose my steering, not good !. After about 4 laps I was told to stop and so that everyone else could have a go. I did notice however the yacht that I had been sailing was moved over to one side and a yacht with a much smaller sail was put in its place, the instructor had apparently decided that a full size sail was unsuited to the conditions. After everyone had had their turn we paired up and started to sail around one of the four courses that had been laid out, doing figure of eights around traffic cones. Whilst I myself didn’t capsize virtually everyone else did, but this didn’t seem to be too much of a drama thanks to the seat belt, the yacht when over turned rests on two wheels and the mast so you can put you feet down.

We finished our day buzzing with adrenalin and raving about the acceleration. My poor little eyes had taken a bit of sandblasting and were a bit sore, note to self wear plastic safety goggles !.

The Time : 09.00 Sat. 27^th January 2001

The Place : Greatstone Beach nr. Dungeness, Kent

Wind : Force 2 gusting 3.

The day had dawned bright and sunny which was in stark contrast with the previous nights constant rain. The wind was sadly a bit lacking in strength, however, being a force 2 but it was enough to give the sport of Landyachting a go for the second time. We were there to trial sail a new yacht that was being marketed by Kirrawee Landyachts with the possibility that we’ll fork out some cash for one !.

The gang from Seasalter Sailing Club had promptly assembled. Their number included myself, Jeff Kiddle , Chris Stafford, Steve and Joan Willis. The three of us who had been before (me, Jeff and Steve) were all eager to get going and to zoom about the beach causing chaos in our wake (or should that be dust trails!). Guess what for the second time I got ‘volunteered’ to be first in the yacht !, I really must be careful where I stand.

This time with the wind much lighter I found control was much improved and all that I had learned the year before instantly returned and I proficiently made the turn about quarter a mile down the beach. After doing a figure of eight I decided to try gybing round and sail a proper sausage shape course, all went smoothly with everything happening as it should. Despite the light winds speed was still pretty good about 15-20mph in the gusts.

I was sailing one of the yachts we had used the year before that was being offered for sale at 550 quid ready to go. Jeff was sailing a mini yacht that was designed to break down into parts small enough to put into a boot of a car, the seat was a much more conventional affair with a very upright position. This yacht had a much narrower wheel base and was able to lift one of the wheels of the ground in the gusts, Roger, our instructor from the year before, was saying that it was a real handful in strong winds despite the tiny looking sail (a 3.5m squared one). We had a sort of mini race with me trying to catch Jeff which I duly did with the much larger sail that I had. The various other club members had a try in the two yachts comparing them and deciding which one would be most suitable on the mud at Seasalter. The grin factor was definitely with the smaller yacht with its feisty performance, I myself preferred the bigger yacht but sadly lacking both storage capacity and the necessary reddies I didn’t purchase. However both Jeff and Steve both ordered mini yachts and so we eagerly await the inaugural Seasalter Mud Yachting match racing regatta ! we’ll call it the SMUDY I think.

Martin Searle

RYA Club Racing Coach & Novice land yachter.

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