Land sailing

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Land sailing on the beaches of Quend, bay of Somme, France

Land sailing is motion across land in a wheeled vehicle powered by wind through the use of a sail. The term comes from analogy with (water) sailing. It has a variety of names in addition to land sailing, Most commonly Sand Yachting or Land Yachting. A vehicle used in land sailing is often called a land yacht. Historically, land sailing has been used by some cultures as a mode of transportation; in modern times, land sailing is primarily a sport. Modern land sailors, generally referred to as "Pilots" can go three to four times faster than the wind speed. A gust of wind is considered more beneficial in a land sailing race than a favorable windshift.

Land sailing works best in windy, flat areas - taking place mainly on beaches, air fields, and dry lakebeds (playas) in desert regions.

Land yachts are three wheeled vehicles which work mainly like usual water boats in the way they are sailed, except they are steered by pedals or hand levers. They are sailed from a lying down position.

Excluding Ice yachting, there are a number of basic types, or "classes" of Sand or Land Yacht. Because of the very different nature of each class, they compete separately in races.

The Largest is the Class 2, which can bear an 8 Metre mast. The massive sail area can provide more power than any other yacht, although their speed can sometimes be limited by their large size. These are sailed mainly in Europe, and not sailed at all in some countries such as the United Kingdom.

The Class 3 is probably the most popular yacht design, almost Identical to the Class 2 in appearance, but significantly smaller. They are generally made from fibreglass, sometimes with other 'high-tech' lightweight materials, such as Carbon Fibre, Kevlar and various composites, with a wooden rear axle. They are fully capable of reaching 70mph.

The class 5 is much smaller than the 3 and 2, and is a very different shape. The pilot still sails the yacht lying down, but unlike the 3 and 2 he lies in a seat, depending on the design, suspended or cantilevered from/off the chassis, rather than inside the body. The chassis are usually steel and aluminium with a fibreglass, or Carbon/Kelar 'seat' The widely claimed attainable speed in this class is 60mph. But some have been faster, 70ish.

The Standart Class is unique in that a requirement is that all yachts are identical. They are much like class 5 in design, although unlike any other class where design specifications are flexible to an extent, these are one-design supplied by french manufacturer, Seagull. This class is popular because it means the outcome of a competition is entirely with the pilot, as the yachts cannot give an advantage or disadvantage.

Parakarting, or kite buggying is classified as Class 8. Class 7 is similar to a skateboard with a sail like a landborne windsurfer. These are often not permitted as part of sand yacht clubs, and feature as more of a hobby than a full sporting aspect of land sailing.

Land sailing is featured in Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novel, Sahara.