My first time ever yesterday. The speeds were incredible and quite addicting. I now further understand why these guys risk the dangers. I took the photos but also did some driving.
Taken across from of Cedar Point Amusement Park.
My first time ever yesterday. The speeds were incredible and quite addicting. I now further understand why these guys risk the dangers. I took the photos but also did some driving.
Taken across from of Cedar Point Amusement Park.
How fast, how dangerouse?
How fast, how dangerouse?
You lay flat on basically a board with big ice skates on it. And they're trikes. If you happen to fall off, be prepared to be run over by the giant ice skates of the guys behind you. I've seen reports from guys in Canada over on Sailing Anarchy claiming 80+ mph. The sail powered record is a land sailer (three wheeled trike that looks like an aerodynamic ice boat) that hit 126+ mph. Way cool. Way fast. If there was any ice here in Iowa, I'd have one. And if there were any bodies of water larger enough to have an ice boat for, I'd also have a foiling moth. 30-40 mph sail boat that rides on hydrofoils.
I had one of these for a while:
http://www.skimmer45.com/
There's an International class called the DN, the plans to build one was printed in the Detroit News. Easy to build, good competition because all boats are equal.
I built an open boat out of 2X6s and the jib from a 36 footer but didn't have the hair to go full power. The sailing club I belonged to had a 28 foot Hudson River Schooner up in one of the barns, built at the turn of the century. I got all excited and started to restore it but people got pissy about this thing on their lawn. Basically it's a gaff rigged boat with the "Tee" up front. In the 1920's the "Tee" or axle was moved to the back, but folks in the midwest kept the Tee up front design through the 70s. There's a story about one of these racing a train from Albany to NYC and winning, the river doesn't get that frozen anymore.
Hudson River Chrome? Paint all your blocks and pullies silver, then when it dries kiss it again with varnish. Hudson River Chrome.
One more tidbit.....
This is a Southbay Scooter, notice it has no runners. There are 1" square boards running along the bottom from front to back. They're about 4" apart and covered with steel. To steer you ease the mainsail and harden up the jib or visa versa to turn the other way. It's amphibious, meant to sail across the ice but when it his open water it's still pretty fast.
It was used for rescuing people that fell in. That transition from open water to solid ice must be a hoot [for yor kidneys]. 
Those old pics are cool.
For the modern stuff, why one skate at the front and two at the back (Reliant Robin) not Two at the front and one at the back (Morgan)??
They started out with two in front, but changed in the 1920s. Even that little Skimmer 45 I had, when you lift a runner, you're 3 ft. off a very hard unforgiving surface. I liked mine because you steered with your feet, one hand ran the sail. That left one hand for holding on.
With two in the front, the frame twists but the pilot doesn't move that much.
An physics types or Engineers have thoughts?
Dan
I guess my link is f-ed up. I will try to fix it.
As far as how fast?
i am not sure but the "speed" had more to do with feelings of being out of control rather than actual speed. Most interesting to me was the acceleration. Considering the variable like ice condition and wind speed there were a lot of changes in speed. When you encountered clear ice (with no or less inperfections) and a wind puff at the same time it just charges forward considering the little resistance.
Video of pros: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkNGVlx_k1A&feature=related
Yes, I was on a DN
stumpmj wrote: ...I'd also have a foiling moth. 30-40 mph sail boat that rides on hydrofoils.
Oh, how cool a moth would be! I would love to but I am not sure that I am athletic enough to get one going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPtQ_WOV3HY&feature=related
Just for size reference, this is a smaller class boat. FDR's boat "Icicle" was 69 feet long.
Holy Hell, that thing is massive.
I always new the name of the small boats to be DN's but I did not realize the Detroit News connection. Learn something every day!
From one extreme to the other.
Bottom one is the record holder at 125.1 mph.
There was a club that used to meet and have races here, but they haven't been back for a couple of years now. I think I'll try it when they get better brakes.
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