• @rtbravo
    link
    32 years ago

    This fascinates me, but I’ve got stupid questions:

    1. Is it just the friction between the tires and land that plays the role of keel or centerboard in this case?
    2. How close to the wind can you go?
    • swopeOP
      link
      fedilink
      32 years ago

      Not stupid questions.

      Yes, the tires act like a keel providing sideforce. The front wheel also acts like a rudder, controlled by foot pedals. The left/right is inverse of an airplane rudder.

      I don’t know the angle in degrees, but it felt like it could be very close to the wind. The wheels resist sideways from zero speed, unlike a keel that needs some flow moving to be effective. Also the carts have very little mass compared to a boat. Those things together make the acceleration really exciting.

      And sitting so low to the ground amps up the feeling of speed.

      I was sailing in the Mojave Desert when it was about 40-45°C. The lakebed dust gets into everything and never really washes out. So it’s a thrill to sail, but not as pleasant as being on the water.