• rtbravo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This fascinates me, but I’ve got stupid questions:

    1. Is it just the friction between the tires and land that plays the role of keel or centerboard in this case?
    2. How close to the wind can you go?
    • swope@kbin.socialOP
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      1 year ago

      Not stupid questions.

      Yes, the tires act like a keel providing sideforce. The front wheel also acts like a rudder, controlled by foot pedals. The left/right is inverse of an airplane rudder.

      I don’t know the angle in degrees, but it felt like it could be very close to the wind. The wheels resist sideways from zero speed, unlike a keel that needs some flow moving to be effective. Also the carts have very little mass compared to a boat. Those things together make the acceleration really exciting.

      And sitting so low to the ground amps up the feeling of speed.

      I was sailing in the Mojave Desert when it was about 40-45°C. The lakebed dust gets into everything and never really washes out. So it’s a thrill to sail, but not as pleasant as being on the water.

    • swope@kbin.socialOP
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      1 year ago

      Not stupid questions.

      Yes, the tires act like a keel providing sideforce. The front wheel also acts like a rudder, controlled by foot pedals. The left/right is inverse of an airplane rudder.

      I don’t know the angle in degrees, but it felt like it could be very close to the wind. The wheels resist sideways from zero speed, unlike a keel that needs some flow moving to be effective. Also the carts have very little mass compared to a boat. Those things together make the acceleration really exciting.

      And sitting so low to the ground amps up the feeling of speed.

      I was sailing in the Mojave Desert when it was about 40-45°C. The lakebed dust gets into everything and never really washes out. So it’s a thrill to sail, but not as pleasant as being on the water.