Welcome!

An invitation to 'Come Sailing', by Mike Hampton

Welcome to our information page which rolls up much of what is repeated on the rest of the website. This should provide you with all the help and advice needed to get you started in the wonderful sport of land sailing. Land sailing is not just fast and exciting but is suitable for men and women, boys and girls of all ages. It is environmentally friendly and surprisingly safe with an excellent accident record. All clubs follow our 'Code of Practice for the Protection of the Environment and the Safety of Others'.

Land sailing has many forms from light and simple craft ideal for all ages through to near hundred mile an hour speed-record machines. In between are the mainstream class 3 and 5 racing yachts, wind surfer style craft and the newest and fastest growing type, the kite-powered buggies called parakarts. More detailed descriptions are given later in this guide under 'Yacht Types and Classes'. There are lots of images in the Gallery too.

Britain has comparatively few people participating in land sailing but nevertheless we lead the world for excellence both in our yacht development and for the skill of our pilots, as our success in international competitions prove. The BFSLYC has growth as one of its major objectives with sponsorship and other sources of funding we hope that we can offer you sufficient help and support for you to be able to take up land sailing. One of problems is that our clubs are widely spaced around the country, and it may therefore require some special effort from you to access our support. Nevertheless we hope you will make the effort to go to a club and have a go, perhaps obtain further training and then, if the club is not sufficiently close for your regular use, you may be able to find a site nearer your home. At this stage we can again help you by using our database to link you with people from the same area to form a nucleus to get a new club off the ground; and then by supporting the club with advice, practical assistance, equipment, liaison with local authorities and training support, etc.

The British Federation of Sand & Land Yacht Clubs (The BFSLYC is more often just referred to as 'The Fed') is the body that promotes and governs all types of land sailing in Britain. We provide legal liability insurance for all our members, organise a programme of racing throughout the country, provide training for Instructors and Coaches, run the National Log Book and Achievement Certificate Awards scheme, liaise internationally and enter teams for European and World Championships. The Fed is a member of the International Federation of Sand & Land Yachts (FISLY). We also provide practical support to clubs with yachts and manpower for training and special racing; by assisting with promotional events, 'Have a Go' days, 'Wind & Wheels' Festivals, and with PR support to publicise club activities.

The Fed tries to be a very democratic body and all club members have a right to make their views heard to make proposals for improving the sport. At two main meetings each year the clubs vote according to the instructions from their members. At other times the elected officers carry our the day to day management. Most of the larger clubs have Fed officers amongst their members and all of these are willing to listen to your ideas and help wherever they can.

We hope you find these web pages useful and enjoyable and that it helps bring you into the international fraternity of Sand and Land Yachting.

Getting started

We hope that you are reading this primarily because you are interested in land sailing, in one of its various forms. If you are interested is something fast, green, a little different, that is easy to learn but presents a challenge that can take a lifetime to master then we know you will enjoy land sailing. However there are drawbacks to anything that relies on the wind, which is bound to let you down occasionally, so if you are the impatient type you might get frustrated from time to time.

Strength is not vitally important to be a successful land sailor (pilot) and so it is equally suitable for men and women who can compete on equal terms. For the same reasons land sailing is also ideal for older or younger sports people and some with physical disabilities. Many women become involved in land sailing and female British pilots regularly win medals in international competitions, yet only a few women take it up seriously. We don't know why for sure; perhaps it is the cold, wet and less than glamorous conditions or perhaps the reasons are more sociological. If therefore, you the reader are a woman, you may see this as a challenge and if you want to succeed at the highest level then land sailing offers opportunities that are hard to match in other sports.

The BFSLYC and all our clubs are trying very hard to attract new members and we promise to do our best to make it as easy as possible for you to break into land sailing.

Getting started - a step by step guide: Your first job is to arrange to have a trial go.

Look up the secretary's addresses and phone number of the club nearest to you (don't forget that club secretary's addresses may be some way from the actual club). You can also contact most of them via email (see the web page above). Say that you want to arrange a trial session. Some clubs hold regular formal taster sessions, but others are more adhoc. Whichever is the case you should receive a warm and helpful response.

Go along for your first sail. Expect to pay a modest fee which will include training, insurance and temporary membership. Helmets are usually available but if you have your own and old gloves then take them along. Depending on the weather, waterproof clothing may be advisable. At your first session you should be able to achieve a level 1 certificate standard if all goes well. If the weather or other circumstances prevent you reaching level 1 most clubs give you a free second session to reach this point. Talk to the Coach and Club Members. You will find that if you ask questions then people will be pleased to help and advise you. Ask about what the club has to offer e.g. further training, hire of yachts, the best yacht type for you, club membership, etc.

If you enjoyed your first sail then you will definitely want to come again but even if the weather spoilt your first go, don’t give up. The temporary membership that cost only a few pounds at your first sail covers you for three months so take advantage of it, and return for more training either on an organised course that might take you right through to level 3 or by personal coaching from a recognised instructor or coach.

Think about your future in land sailing. Only once you have had several sailing sessions should you consider where you want to take the big plunge. Don't give up because of one bad day and don't rush into buying the first yacht you see. Choosing the type of yacht that suits you and your pocket is very important. The amount and standard of equipment varies from club to club but our programme aims at providing more and better yachts of all types at larger clubs so it may be that you can enjoy a good standard of sailing before you have to purchase your own yacht.

If you can't get to a club then it is not too difficult to teach yourself. Of course you need a yacht so the advice about waiting before you decide cannot apply. People who cannot get to clubs are unlikely to want to race, so your choice of yacht is likely to be a new starter, a Parakart (class 8) or Dragonfly-type yachts or an old second hand yacht past its racing best. These yachts are easier to sail than a highly tuned racer, especially the Dragonfly which comes with an instruction book that tells you how to teach yourself. Another useful booklet is The Anglia Club Instruction Manual. Please be careful if you are teaching yourself, keep well clear of other people and don't sail alone.

Yacht types and classes

At some stage most people want to buy their own yacht and making the right decision can make or break your future enjoyment of land sailing. If you are sure that you never want to race then your choice is likely to be influenced by factors such as convenience, ease of transport, storage, who else will be sailing it etc. High performance will not be important to you and many cheap second hand yachts from £200 to £600 in any class may fill the bill. On the other hand most people start off thinking that they only want something for recreational sailing, but soon decide that they want to be enjoying a better standard, so it is always a good guide to spend as much as you can afford.

If you are likely to want to race, even if only at club level, then your choice can be affected by many factors including your size and weight and what is the most popular class in your area. For instance a heavy person usually needs a large yacht, like a class 3, to be seriously competitive at International level, but if he or she is going to be sailing at a club where most people user smaller Class 5 yachts then he or she may accept the penalty of sailing a small yacht so that there will be someone to race with. On the other hand many people, regardless of their weight, may prefer something like a Parakart because of its ease of transport and its ability to sail in small areas.

The best thing is to find out about all the types of yacht and then make your choice carefully. Here is a description of the major yacht designs currently in popular use. You can find more information and photos in the Yachts section of the website.

Classes 2 & 3

Classes 2 & 3 are very similar in construction and design although Class 2 is the biggest but this does not always mean fastest. Class 2 is popular on the continent (especially in Belgium), but in Britain most big yacht sailors prefer the Class 3. A yacht built to Class 3 specifications, though somewhat special, holds the World speed record of 95 m.p.h. so Class 3 is the one to choose if speed is your thing. Class 3 is primarily an 'open' or 'development' class with relatively little restrictions on the design except for width, length, sail size and its weight but within the category of Class 3 there is a sub-class called Class 3R. The 'R' stands for restricted and as the name implies there are more limitations on things like mast height, wheel size, etc.

Anyone can sail a Class 3 regardless of their size, weight, age or sex, but because of their speed and size there is a lower age limit of 14 for British and International Championship racing. Class three yachts are commonly constructed of composite materials such as fibreglass and many also use carbon fibre and kevlar. Most have wooden axles made of ash and have a wing mast supported by a forestay and side shrouds. Although these are the most expensive class of land yacht costing up to and even over £4000 they have the advantage of lasting many years and can be readily upgraded to keep pace with new technology. Second-hand Class 3 yachts often make good buys, with competitive craft being available from under £1000.

Class 5

These are the most numerous and although slower than Class 3 can still achieve speeds of 70 m.p.h in the right conditions. It is important to remember when racing, that efficiently navigating the course is more important that flat-out speeds. A top British Class 5 racing yacht costs around £1500 and those for pleasure or club racing several hundred pounds less. The specification for Class 5 is rarely detailed but designer ingenuity has meant that individual yachts can vary widely and this class is constantly in a state of development. This means that top sailors change their yacht every two to four years which reduces the price advantage over the more expensive Class 3 but on the other hand creates a good choice of second hand craft ideal for intermediate and novice sailors.

Class 6 & mini-yacht

At the time of writing there is officially no Class 6 yachts which are a new style of yacht aimed at the leisure and family pilot. However, any type of land yacht can be raced and the identical nature of these yachts make them ideal fun racers. This style of yacht uses a wind surfer rig but supported so that the pilot is able to sit in a conventional way and control the sail with a simple main sheet. These are the smallest and lightest yachts available and are tremendously safe and easy to sail. They can be carried in the back of most hatchback cars. They can be sailed equally well by small children and large adults and have the added advantage of going on grass as well as sand or concrete. These yachts are not as fast as the other classes, and top speeds are unlikely to exceed 45 m.p.h.

Class 7

This class is for any design of yacht that is sailed standing up with the pilot holding a rig that is attached to the body by a flexible joint. In other words these are land-based windsurfers. A popular design is the French 'Speedsail' and in a similar manner to vacuum cleaners being called 'Hoovers', this class of yacht is usually called 'The Speedsail'. Many more land boards are kite-powered, 'and these also fall into the class 7 category. These are steered by shifting of the pilot's weight on the 'board, in a similar manner to a skateboard.

Class 7 yachts are popular in France but a rare sight in Britain. Nonetheless they are an officially recognised racing class and Britain is happy to welcome these sailors into our clubs.

Class 8

These are the newest and most rapidly growing part of our sport. They are ultra-light kite-powered craft and one design even packs into a suitcase. As with the Dragonfly yachts parakarts can also sail on grass and other smaller areas. Speeds in excess of 50mph are achievable in the correct wind conditions. The skills needed for parakarting are quite different to other forms of land yachting, mainly due to the fact that the kite provides the motive power.

Class 8 yachts have enjoyed massive popularity in recent years and they are widely used all over Europe, the US and New Zealand. Britain has already hosted a European Championship and there are well organised racing programmes. There are many kinds of kite used; two-line rigid, stacks, and four-line parafoils. Whilst each have their enthusiastic followers the four-line parafoils proved the best all-around performance.

Buying or building

If you are a member of a club with good training equipment you may not need to own your own yacht at all, but for most people there comes a time, sooner or later, when they want their own land yacht. The previous section may have helped you decide what type of yacht which will suit you best but should you buy, new or second hand, or should you build your own?

Buying new

Buying a new yacht is the easiest and, if you can afford it, the most satisfactory solution. The choice is fairly limited as there are only a few manufacturers. If you are looking for a Class 3 yacht then you will probably have to go to France or Belgium, but for a parakart or a Class 5 racer there are many suppliers in the UK. Talk to your local club members and get plenty of advice before you decide. Contact the manufacturers and ask for information about their range. If you are buying a yacht for racing, ask the manufacturer to give you several names and telephone numbers of people who race their yachts.

Buying second-hand

It is more risky buying used equipment but as long as you are careful this method can have the advantage that you can buy a yacht that has a proven record. Seek lots of advice from as many people as you can and when you find a potential yacht ask about its race record, especially if it is being sold 'as raced' or will the vendor be keeping or changing some parts.

Although there are no British commercial manufacturers of Class 3 yachts there are several very capable amateur engineers that build for themselves, and these yachts can come on to the second-hand market. Some of these yachts are first class in quality and performance and worthy of serious consideration.

There is more choice in buying class 5 second hand but the variety can make your decision harder not easier. If you can afford around two thirds of the price of a new yacht you should be able to get something around two years old that could carry you into top level competition. If you only want to spend two to three hundred pounds then again your decision may be quite easy as you will only be expecting something pretty basic. It is in the middle of the price range that you may be very lucky, or unlucky. Sometimes a battered yacht in this price range will be a real race winner but on the other hand a lovingly looked after but poorly tuned yacht may be a complete disappointment. The good news is that in a small sport like ours most yachts are well known and people will give you an honest opinion if you ask around.

Building your own

Building your own class 3 or parakart is only recommended for the experienccd sailor or kite flyer but for a beginner, building a class 5 racer or any small fun yacht is quite feasible. The BFSLYC commissioned the design of a Class 5 racer called the 'Fed-5'. This has proved to be extremely successful around the world especially in New Zealand, America and Australia where it has become the favourite design for top Class 5 racers. In America the design has been fitted with a wing mast to give near class 3 performance and one has been equipped with skates for ice-boating at over 100 m.p.h. In Britain ironically the Fed-5 is mostly used by beginners or as a club racer and has therefore not featured in major competition. Nevertheless it is a very easy-to-make design that has real race potential and can be built with a very modest budget.The 'Fed-5' is offered either as a set of plans and detailed instructions, or as a 'Kit Pack'. The latter includes the same plans and instructions but has additional information and a set of vouchers which can be used to buy ready-made parts. The 'Fed-5' can be fully home-built or treated as a kit, buying all the part from the list provided. Using the latter option you can build a yacht for as little as £600 using minimum specification parts or you can spend as much as you want to obtain the latest race sail, fully faired seat, hand built wheels, etc. Many schools build land yachts as projects and these are usually based on modified versions of the Fed-5.

BFSLYC membership

The first time you sail a land yacht it is essential that you are covered with third party legal liability insurance. You will have to pay a small fee. However once you have done this you will be covered for a period of three months during which time you will be entitled to all the benefits of National Membership. You will receive a 'Personal Log Book', a membership and a copy of our magazine, Landsailor, will be mailed to you. Temporary Membership can be taken out the first time you visit a club or by contacting the BFSLYC.

At this stage, however, you have not yet joined a specific club and we hope that you will use the three months period to choose and join a club and convert your temporary membership into full membership.

If however, you live a long way from any club then you may like to become a Full National Member of the BFSLYC but not join any specific club. The drawback is that you will have to pay a daily fee to any club where you may go to sail and you will not be able to gain a Pilot's Licence to enter major regattas, but all the benefits of National Membership and Insurance will be yours and if you get other people in your area or we hear of a possible sailing site suitable for you we will let you know; who knows, you may be able to start a new club!

Insurance

The cover is for up to £5,000,000 of legal liability (third party) cover. The cover applies to all members and every aspect of land yachting. It is valid at recognised UK club sites or overseas regattas, which means that you will not be covered if you just fancy going and finding a beach and having a sail. It gives pilot to pilot cover, particularly for protection against personal injury but including equipment where legal liability can be proven.

Personal log book

As stated above you will receive a personal Log Book as soon as you become a Temporary or Full Member. This gives you useful information about learning to sail land yachts and includes six levels of achievement that you can work for. Level 1 is quite easy and most people will achieve this during their first day. Levels 2 and 3 can be obtained in fairly short order and lead up to a standard at which you can appy for your Pilot's Racing Licence, should you wish to. Level 4 is more advanced and requires at least one full season of sailing, augmented with personal coaching, self-development and/or attendance on an advanced training course. Levels 5 and 6 are goals to aim for over a longer period in your quest for mastery and excellence.

As well as providing a series of challenging steps for everyone, the Log Book is especially useful for people who find that they have to teach themselves. The log book helps you to avoid attempting to rush your training and provides support if you become disheartened. However, it is not intended as a teaching manual. There is no ideal substitute for personal tuition but if this is impossible the 'Anglia Club Training Guide' is helpful and if you buy a Dragonfly yacht, the 'Owners Handbook' gives good instructions for novices.

Helping others is important and land yachting is fortunate to have many volunteers who have worked to gain a coaching qualification. These are also detailed in the Log Book and start at a simple 'Leaders Award' for teaching the basics on all the safest types of yachts, through an 'Instructors' qualification for teaching beginners on mainstream yachts and 'Coaching Qualifications' for helping pilots up to the highest level of skill.