Beach sailing

Beach sailors in France

Beach sailing (or land sailing ) is the movement of a vehicle on wheels (sailing wagon) that is driven exclusively by wind energy and controlled by a driver ( pilot ). Beach sailing is preferred on wide beaches or dry salt lakes .

General

Sand sailing has a long tradition that goes back to 1600 in Europe. If the beach sailors were originally four-wheeled commercial vehicles or transport vehicles, today's beach sailors are used almost exclusively as sports equipment. See also sailing car around 1600 .

Shape and design of the sand yachts

As a rule, a modern beach sailor is like a three-wheel kayak with one sail . Simpler models also only consist of a bare tubular frame. The sand yacht is controlled by a driver via a steerable front wheel. On some models, the wheels can be exchanged for runners in winter, see ice sailing .

A special form of beach sailing is kite buggy driving, in which a stunt kite is used instead of a sail.

Classification and regulations

The sand yachts are divided into classes. The distinguishing features of the classes are essentially the construction, the defined dimensions and masses as well as sail areas.

The rules for beach sailing are drawn up and published by FISLY (Federation International de Sand et Landyachting), the world association of beach and land sailors. This set of rules is binding for everyone who practices sailing on the beach or on land and is divided into three sections:

Sailing Rules (sailing regulations)
Racing Rules (competition regulations)
Annex - the specifications of the individual sailing classes deserve special mention here.

Basically, these rules apply to everything that is a beach sailor by definition (see Art. 3 (1) of this set of rules).

In Germany, as in other countries, a sailing license (also called a pilot's license) is required. This is a special driving license for land and sand yachtsmen. Furthermore, a special liability insurance is required in Germany, which expressly covers the risk of sand sailing.

Exercise

High-performance beach sailors today reach speeds of up to 130 km / h, but the amateur or recreational athlete will drive well below these speeds.

Territories

Beach sailors on Norderney, summer 1949

One of the strongholds of sand yachting in Germany is Sankt Peter-Ording , although membership of the St. Peter-Ording yacht club is mandatory on the precisely defined beach section there. Sand sailing is also practiced on the East Frisian islands of Borkum , Juist , Norderney and Langeoog . Another well-suited area with a designated beach for sand sailing and a local club is located in the south of the island of Rømø in Denmark on the Sønderstrand. Also on the Danish North Sea island of Fanø, about 30 km further north, there is a 3 km long section on Rindby beach that is designated for surfers, sand yachts and kite buggies.

Far away from the coast, sand yachting is also practiced on larger, flat meadows, fields, parking lots or other suitable areas, with the wind as the driving force usually blowing less or less steadily than on the coast.

Competitions

National and international championships in beach sailing are held.

World record

The world record was held until 2009 by the Americans Bob Schumacher (pilot) and Bob Dill (designer), who in 1999 achieved a speed of 175.5 km / h with their Iron Duck in winds between 25 and 30 knots and thus the previous record of the Frenchman outbid Bertrand from 152.7 km / h. In March 2009 Richard Jenkins from England set a new land sailing record on Lake Ivanpah salt lake in Nevada with 202.9 km / h.