An international event is slated for the last week in March at Ivanpah
dry lake bed near Las Vegas. The Pacific Rim consists of Australia,
New Zealand and the US. There is a strong possibility that European
and South American Landsailers will join in the competition. The last
PacRim in 2000 that was held on US soil went very well. These events
are particularly interesting and fun. Seeing new boats ,technology and
making new friends from around the world is worth showing up for.
Racing against different pilots and their sailing craft is an eye
opener as well.
There will be a half dozen different classes sailed. Some class
boats may be rented for the week. NALSA is allowing limited
sponsorship to conform with existing rules used in other parts of the
landsailing world.
The biggest class change will be to class 2 . NALSA is adopting FISLY
rules . Basically FISLY class 2 rules level the playing field for
class 2 . They do this by limiting minimum hull and axle (plank)
width . They also limit sail area maximum 121.6 sq. ft. and minimum
86.1 sq. ft.( sail area included roach mast and boom areas combined).
For more detail see link-
www.fisly. org/rules/ isarr/isarr- a02.pdf
In the past at Ivanpah the race committee ran reachy triangle
courses which where hard on some of the class 2 boats when the wind
started blowing in the high 20's because they had so much sail area.
The smaller boats would put on their small sails and have a distinct
advantage. Class 2 in the US started to die off. Now the race
committee only runs windward lee ward race courses.
Most A,B and C skeeters as well as M 80's would meet the class 2
requirements . Several Mid Westerners have participated in the past at
the annual America's Cup. Some like Bill Dale are regular fixtures.
Quite a few Montana iceboaters are regulars now as well. We have
figured out ways to mount wheels on iceboats without disturbing the
chock alignment. If anyone is interested in participating or wants
more info about the event accommodations and directions go to links.
sports. groups.yahoo. com/group/ 2nalsa/
http://www.nalsa. org/
Questions about converting to wheels can be posted here.
sports. groups.yahoo. com/group/ 2nalsa/
John Eisenlohr
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