Hi guys

Finally had a chance last weekend to get the LLFM land yacht out for the second time since build completion about 4 months ago, with some beautiful northerlies coming into Dundowran beach (north facing).
OK NOW I AM HOOKED!
Managed 30kph with the GPS onboard, and at times managed maybe up to 40 (no GPS on board) in relatively light wind.
Sailed up and down the beach for about 2.5 hours, but had two problems: wife and kids so we had to come home before 5pm.
Now the issue is of course is that we usually cop easterlies most of the year here, is it possible for me to sail into the wind with a landyacht, the same way that sail boats do? Is the concept the same, I should be able to sail "into" the wind, at approx 40-45 degrees?
I don't want to go blasting up the beach with the wind behind me, then have to drag it back!
Cheers,
Brett

Thanks for that.
And with that I might just take her out this arvo. Nice 25-35kph ESE's today.
Low tide about 4.30pm.

Might go for a drive very soon for a look.

cheers,
Brett

Hey Brett,
I didn't realise you were so close to me. I am in Bundaberg. I plan on being in Maryborough in three weeks time. We should get together. Cheers Peter.

Sorry Brett, I forgot about the Fallshaw wheel thing. Sure thing mate, I will definitely let you know when I am coming down next.

They do a really mean $10 steak sandwich on Turkish bread with chips at the Grannville pub. Awesome. Cheers Peter.

Hi Brett,
If they are proper easterlies, ie more east than south, Coonarr Beach is a ripper when there is better than a 1.7 metre tide.

I have tried the flats at Burrum Heads (south side) but the sand is so rippley it rattles the fillings out of your teeth. I imagine Toogoom would be similar.

If you can get there, the stretch between North Shore Point and Burrum Point should be ideal in Soueasters from a directional point of view. I have never been there as I believe a 4wd is necessary. From your side a tinnie ride across the river might do the trick.

There is also a sailable sand bar at the mouth of Theodolite Creek at the northern end of Woodgate Beach.

My most reliable sailing area here is the park opposite the airport. It is on the mostly downwind side of the airport so I don't get windshadows and the council mows it regularly. As it is a wide open area, it gives more scope with wind direction which you don't get with a beach, being a long narrow strip.

You should look for something similar in your area and the airport is a good place to start.

The ultimate place in Queensland is Farnborough Beach Yeppoon. With a good East or ESE breeze, it is possible to get 30-40 klm run each way and it is rare for the tide to be so far in to make the beach unsailable.

Oh!! If 40 kmh is knocking your socks off, do you think you will handle 60-80 kmh. It might start you looking for a house up there like it did to me.

For the next 3 or 4 months the conditions up there will be perfect nearly all the time. Would you be interested in a few camping/sailing weekends up there??? I am sure Wayneo up there would welcome the company.

Give me a yell if you want to do it. I have three tents, large tarp, camp stove, Engel Fridge and trailer.

The Council caravan/camping park is right on the beach and has big undercover BBQ areas and kids playground right next to it. I am sure your wife and kids would love it too.

Cheers Cisco.

Hi Brett,

Those pressed steel bearings that come with the Fallshaw wheels can take a fair bit of load but sand intrusion will certainly bugger them up fairly quickly. They are noisy as hell too.

I haven't done it myself yet but if large diameter 1" washers are placed on the axle either side of the wheel, I believe they would be effective sheilds against grit entering the bearings. Something to try.

Good thing about the pressed steel bearings is that you can buy them from BSC for about $4 each. Gizmo suggests that because of their sloppiness they are a good option for a land yacht because they allow a measure of self aligning. He also says that because of their low price, having a couple of spare sets on hand for a weekend away or a race meeting is quite practical. Further, through a process of washing in kerosene or other solvent and cooking them in a pot of grease it is possible to get a lot of life out of them.

I tend to agree with all of that.

On my yacht I fitted precision sealed bearings. Due to the drag of the seals and the grease in them they do not run as free as the cheapies. Drag in the bearings does affect performance.

The precision bearings cost about $20 each so for the cost of one bearing + $4 you can buy a full set of the pressed steel bearings.

For the above reasons and a couple of others, I will be soon making a new set of axles to suit the pressed steel bearings. I will post pics of the conversion when I do it. Could be a while away though. Cheers Cisco.