Date: Tue, 7 Nov 1995 00:18:42 -1000 From: hpeeters@vub.ac.be (Herman Peeters) Message-Id: Organization: Brussels Free University Computer Centre Subject: Re: Buggy Speed records etc. In article , lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) wrote: > highest speeds will be attained with foils. If one were just after a speed > record then a high aspect rigid wing could be used but it would suffer >From an > astounding amount of inconvience in transport and launch without damage as > well as landing without damage. > Dave Lord Right, but for a speed record, these inconveniences might be tollerated. Another idea on the trade off soft/rigid: extreme differences actually exist in para&deltagliding sports: a soft paraglider is capable of attaining 50 km/h, whereas its rigid brother deltaglider (with upper and lower skin profile) goes way over 100 km/h. In finesse max, the difference is not factor 2 but nevertheless also remarkably more. Polyester gliders are even better. And Dave Culp: > Whoa there! Are we talking about SPEEDSAILING?? Gosh, I have a coupla > thoughts... Dave, what do you exactly mean by speedsailing? Here in Europe, speedsailing is the term which stands for a giant skate board with oversize wheels and a windsurf rigg. The other one is sailcar racing. Speedsailing (our version that is) was very popular on the beaches up to a few years ago. Back in 1985 or so, a Belgian guy (Yannick Boussemard) made it into the Guinness book doing around 100 km/h on an airport track in Oostduinkerke at the Belgian coast. He used ... a rigid sail. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 7 Nov 1995 08:47:24 -1000 From: daveculp@bdt.com (Dave Culp) Message-Id: Organization: Beckemeyer Development, Oakland CA Subject: Re: Buggy Speed records etc. In article , hpeeters@vub.ac.be (Herman Peeters) wrote: > And Dave Culp: > > Whoa there! Are we talking about SPEEDSAILING?? Gosh, I have a coupla > > thoughts... > > Dave, what do you exactly mean by speedsailing? Here in Europe, > speedsailing is the term which stands for a giant skate board with > oversize wheels and a windsurf rigg. The other one is sailcar racing. > Speedsailing (our version that is) was very popular on the beaches up to a > few years ago. Back in 1985 or so, a Belgian guy (Yannick Boussemard) made > it into the Guinness book doing around 100 km/h on an airport track in > Oostduinkerke at the Belgian coast. He used ... a rigid sail. Speedsailing, as I'm accustomed to the term (US and Europe, England) refers to high speed sailing--on water. It's my first love and avocation (all right, all right--it's what I do. All that other stuff I do at the office is my avocation). I occasionally post bits about speedsailing on this newsgroup. More generically, Speedsailing is simply sailing fast, on land, water, or ice (or air-air, water-water interfaces; see my recent thread on "wild" kite ideas), often trying to break or establish records. Generally, the challanges are similar on any surface; minimize drag, maximize lift, retain control (tricky bit, that last), and have fun. Check out my web site for examples of high speed kite powered sailboats. http://www.bdt.com/home/daveculp/speedsail.html -- Dave Culp Speedsailing daveculp@bdt.com 312 Flaming Oak Drive http://www.bdt.com:80/home/ Pleasant Hill, CA 94596 daveculp/speedsail.html USA (NEW Website) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =