Test pilot 1 said...
Hand steering on class 5 is too complicated

its easy!!!! .... I have used a hand steer on a Class 5 "Wildfire" but it was tiller style like DN class yachts and many other classes of ice yachts.
Many people couldn't get the idea of a yacht having tiller steering, the advantages / disadvantages were,
1. aerodynamically better... you could get your body flatter as you didn't need to have the knees slightly bent like in foot steering.
2. Run starts were possible as the yacht could be pushed to get some apparent wind working on the sail. (run race starts are no longer used in Australia)
3. You could walk beside the yacht and still and have control of it if the wind drops a long way from home.

The disadvantages were....
1. In an accident you would be more prone to injury.
2. The feet were not being used and you tended to slip around in the seat more than feet steering
3. Your hands got very busy in fast tight races.

Before people totally dismiss the tiller steering idea, tens of thousands of water sailors around the world use it all the time.
Would I build another yacht with it... no..... except if you were designing a land yacht for long distance expedition sailing, a dual steering system (feet & hand) would be the way to go.

You are not going to do push starts are you Paul ???? [}:)]
I thought that was unaustralian so I was told

Hiko said...

You are not going to do push starts are you Paul ???? [}:)]
I thought that was unaustralian so I was told

i thought I would break the mold on this occasion,use my spare courage of conviction and buid a yacht that has sliding foot steering for fine weight control over the front wheel,hand steering for those crazy starts out of the soft sand, raised up sheeting so I can dive into the yacht!!!!!!!
nothing as silly as watching an Aussie trying to do a duck waddle start on a European of NZ beach. if your to old to push, build a zimmer.
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I will probably regret that statement in years to come

Paul package arrived today BIG THANKS

Here is one for the Kiwis (push it to make it go) I would love one of these yachts

Nice footage.. I know 90mile beach. The motor on my VW Beach buggy got wet in heavy rain and died on an incoming tide and it was panic stations getting it going again Yup managed to get off the beach in time. Bailey's Beach would be another good venue as well.
Ron