I have been giving this a bit of thought today, lsrgely as a result of the "sad news from NZ". A few emails with a couple of other members of the forum have got me thinking, and doing a bit of "market research" and soul searching. I would welcome input.
It seems to me, as an old fogey, that things are not what they were, or could be, but I have mixed feelings. The sport in world numbers (apart from Blokart) is in decline, this is a fact if you do a bit of research in participant numbers. So why? We all seem to love to talk about it, and some actually go out sailing! Some do it without others knowing about it, some only in organised events. I think (hopefully) that most of us would like to see more people enjoy the thrill.
So the question is what can we do?
Paul (Landyacht) has evolved the LLM. Is this the answer? Seems to me that most people want to change this and do it differently, so therefore most don't want to have a one design, at least the same as Paul.
Next question, why not more people doing it, or is this forum just "preaching to the converted". Another person with whom I have been communicating has suggested that what is needed is a kitset yacht value about $1k less than a Blokart, professionalin concept, manufacture and performance.
Another says "cheap and cheerful" probably with the smaller wheels and maybe a set of plans to follow.
I personally like the idea of the mini, the reasons why seem sound, but I suspect that in a very short time the original reason has passed by. Already the performance envelope is being chased, will newcomers be discouraged by what they see and maybe try?
Blokart has shown us what their market/target group wanted becuase they have sold literally truckloads. I am sure that they have the upper hand, they don't need us, so why would they buckle to what we want. They have "critical mass"! The more I think about it, the more I believe that "landsailing" can not access these guys and girls, we are different. Yes I know that people spend $2k or so on kayaks, SUP etc, does this really mean that these are the "landsailors" they are probably the IWIN who buy Blokarts (sorry, I Want It Now).
I suspect that most of us are people with families, not a lot of disposable income and some level of DIY or am I completely wrong?

strangely , I have found the the blokart in a bag has become the latest thing to have in the shed. with all the yachts that have been sold, and all the effort WE have gone to to encourage them in the club you rarely see them .
this is the second "wave " of blowies Ive seen , , But I have been told by more than 1 dealer that the market is actually in retirees and Grey Gypsies rather than the racing crowd .
This website has evolved to be most effective as a way to help , on an international level those who want to have a go themselves.
Im certainly happy with that
to be honest all the "developments " really dont give you a yacht in which you can afford to make even the simplest tactical mistake, and not lose your lead on reasonable race course.
the cost of even the fanciest Mini is no more than simplest, its just the effort you put into its creation that is different
If a Blokart cant keep up with a mini, then thats just the price you pay for not having to do it the hard way at the salvage yard
Im actually very happy with the pace of the LLM development and the way this site is developing
In fact Im very , very happy
certainly over my 30 years in Landyachting things go up and down , especially in the southern hemisphere, and I feel that we are helping to build a knowledge and advice base to help smooth those bumps out.
I hope that over time we are able to focus on that side of the equation rather than trying to be backyard lawyers and politicians.

All good comments, but can I make a request that we limit the talk about associations. Talking about associations causes Laurie a lot of grief behind the scenes.

Cheers

Is not the future of the Sport in Blokarting, with sooooooo many people rideing the wave.

Rocket Ship said...

Is not the future of the Sport in Blokarting, with sooooooo many people rideing the wave.

Perhaps for those who like to pay their money and own it NOW, but it's not for everybody, in the same way that a Laser is not the only small yacht on the water.
The designer of Blokart comes from a long background tinkering with homebuilt landyachts too!

But I think the main thing is public exposure, lets face it sailing on land will always be a minority sport no matter what you do.
If the blowcarts can do it for the sport then go for it guys.....
(mind you it's taken me many years to come across a blokart in SA and then only after arranging a meet up with some SA guys.. thanks) I would have thought that with the claimed number of blowkarts sold in Aust. they would be on most beaches most weekends.

Any type of yacht with 3 wheels and a sail portrayed in a positive light to the public is a step forward, lets face it it would be a wonderful sponsorship platform for some national business.
How about an Australia wide "Bunnings Wind [Buggy] Challange" using their carparks or the "Westfield Wind Wizard Racing Team"
A small race circuit with TV coverage for replay on Pay TV.

Think 18ft Skiff racing at the lunch break of the cricket on TV, or the Red Bull air Race.
Have a look at the X sail game and think a TV coverage thats similar to it
www.x-sail.com/

port said...

Wow a class 5 that folds up into a suitcase and fits in the boot of an average sedan,now thats a challenge for Mr Beckett or maybe its already out there with R n D now!

Yes that is the challenge. A high performance class 5 that packs down to two carry bags each weighing less than 25kg suitable for international airline travel luggage. It could also be a "one class" design and use carbon components to keep the weight down. The price may end up close to $10,000 but still a lot less than some "toys" on the market.

So what do think is the cause of huge volumes of Blokarts appearing.
Good marketing or life style changes or both.i personally sailed in the UK saw huge land yachts up at Lythem Beachs n/w coast but nether had the desire to operate a Land Yacht until i saw a Blokart on the beach in Aus,admittedly my life has changed kids have grown up but still never enough time play with my Blokart.

I would actually be interested to know how many Blokarts are actively used. My guess is that it's a fairly small %age of those sold. The rest are possibly stored for the odd time user. (kiwi s quote)

Dont think you would ever find out as the odd time user would not be lurking around landyachting forums to give a response.The National event attracted in the region of 60 Blokarts from four states plus the travelling Kiwis to give an idea of active racing users,The State of Origin event planned for mid Nov is approaching around 50 entrants so go figure the sums.

Years gone by, on this side of the ditch we had to have a register available to police and councils for venue abusers. Thank whoever the need for that has gone!
50 entrants for the state of origin from how many Blokarts sold in Aus? Now take away the ones that don't want to travel, I still suspect the %age is small. I applaud blokart, even the designer does not consider them as Landyachts, they are an item of their own. gokarts are not racing cars same sort of thing.

hi all, funny enough i have been giving this very topic some thought as well, being a relative new comer to the sport, i had seen it on tv doco's and stuff but didn't really know anyone who sailed,,,,it's not very well published in any of the media,,,now that i know where to look and to some extent who to talk to it's a bit easier to find out information. a lot of people who i talk to these days don't know what land sailing is all about...it's all well and good to have a register of this ora register of that, but what good is that if you're not already into sailing in the first place and are looking like i was to get into it....also, not everyone wants to race and just getting out and having a sail suits some people more than others, but still you never see it advertised much anywhere, and i think that for it to get back to what it was once was i think the profile of the sport needs to be raised and put into the public arena so that more people get to see what we are doing and can have a go if that is their want...1 class or many classes what does it matter as long as we are out sailing,,, i have seen on this site many people talking up 1 class of yacht over another class and bagging the crap out of anyone who doesn't think along the same lines as they do, again what doesit matter as long as we get out and have a sail....if we want to increase the numbers getting out there is firstly to put the profile of land sailing out in the public domain and stop fighting amongst ourselves,, after all aren't we here to sail...

Gizmo said...

If the blokart main sales point is its ability to pack up into a bag, I would also assume that if some one was to buy a bicycle, sail board, canoe, fishing rod, fishing dinghy or off the beach sail boat they would also buy one that also folds, inflates or packs neatly away... but they don't why?

Hands up blokarters do you ALL pack up your yacht into its bag EVERY time or just if you need to?
One of the blokarts I saw the other day was housed in a neat little trailer with racks for sails, pockets for mast / axle bits etc, the other was fully packed up.
If I was going on a long weekend camping trip in a Nissan Patrol the last thing I would want in the back is a yacht I wouldnt have the room.... the roof yes.... so why would i need a folding yacht?
So the question is the blokarts main selling feature its "a yacht in a bag" or is it because it's avaliable NOW, off the shelf?

what do you think

niaychi said...
what do you think

If you are refering to my thoughts.... well many years ago the blokart would have been ideal as I was living in an upstairs unit (that I carried a fully assembled Free Flight Manta up stairs, through the kitchen and lounge to be stored on the balcony), and this was why the "Sandpiper" yacht was designed and built... but these days I have a yard, trailer,car roof racks and a good workshop so in my mind a DIY yacht is the way to go for me.
I actually think a VERY well designed yacht that may not fully fold would work and sell well.
If you have a look at car, canoe, bicycle, caravan, or yacht design, how its changed in 20 years, very radically!!! has landyacht changed at the same rate? no.
Yes the steering changed and some yachts use a torsional chassis but have a look at pics from 20 years ago there is actually not much change to the layperson.
A way to compete directly with the blokart is design /make an ULTRA modern yacht (like the BMW, Merc, or Audi postings on seabreeze)
Get some uni design students do it as a project and see what a new set of eyes comes up with.
Materials that would be ideal would be roto moulded plastic or fibre glass.
Its actually a pitty that the new Mini rules won't allow wire stayed masts, if it did allow them a lesser grade of tube could be used for the mast and the chassis strength of the yacht could be reduced in fact you might be possible to produce a 1 piece F/G yacht with minimal of engineering work very easily.
A good design in F/G would probably enable 2 yachts a day to be produced by a couple of guys with good skills cutting costs down a lot.

niaychi said...
I agree with you 100%particularly with a stayed mast whether it is glass or alli so shift the rules to get it right

The powers to be in Australia changed to rules to match the USA... their choice and we are forced to live with it.
But I still think the old rules would have promoted better, modern and futuristic yachts with clever design.

PS. niaychi this is probably the first time I have actually agreed with you !!!

I know how to get around it but it's far more costly than it needs to be, and then they change the rule, just because you've found away round it

Very well put Cisco
The dictionary description of sport as amusement ,diversion, fun, is a good one
When its fun we get out and do it when its not we just get out
regards Hiko