Forums > Land Yacht Sailing General

Sailing the Birdsville track

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Created by lachlan3556 > 9 months ago, 22 Sep 2013
lachlan3556
VIC, 1066 posts
22 Sep 2013 8:27PM
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www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-18/land-yacht-docks-in-birdsville/4964938?section=qld

Someone just sent me to this out of the blue, looks like they had a bit of fun!

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
22 Sep 2013 10:14PM
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Hi guys,
there were three of us, we left the monument at the start of the Birdsville track, Marree, around 1 pm Friday 13th Sept and with a southwester beam reach, got 80klms up the track by 5pm. Next day we got to Mungarannie. We camped there for a day as a northerly was blowing straight down the track. On monday we did 230 klms in about 8 hrs. Southwester again, moderate to fresh. Four hours of that ride with a reef in the main. Next day into Birdsville, the last 20 klms took forever or at least 4-5 hrs. Top speed 55+klms hr. Cruising at 30-45. Mainsail rig changed from a laser sail to a moth sail, jib from an mg. Rear wheels are spacesaver spare wheels. Front wheel, chinese electric scooter wheel. One motor scooter hydraulic brake onthe port rear wheel. Quick release on the clew of the mainsail foot. One seat belt and a small semi pumped up inner tube to protect the goollies. Rear suspension pivot arm with 8 wraps 12ml shock cord.
Planning on being at Kingston in January. Apologies for lack of photos, failed in the uploading department. Will post photo's and some video when sorted.

DuneSailor
1 posts
22 Sep 2013 8:15PM
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500km at 78years of age... that man still has life in him, excellent. That's what I call adventure.
May that be encouragement to many a younger soul who thinks they've passed their sell-by-date.

gibberjoe
SA, 956 posts
23 Sep 2013 1:29AM
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sailing looks interesting again to me, i now seem to have some complitition

not the only silly old bugger around

Great job salty and max and ?

lachlan3556
VIC, 1066 posts
23 Sep 2013 9:30AM
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Thanks for telling some of your story Salty, I'm glad we got some more.

Any chance you will be bringing your landyacht down to Kingston 2014? We would love to have a look at it in person!

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
23 Sep 2013 11:32AM
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Just a couple of pics. I'll get something on to youtube when I can get a bit more sorted
Three drivers were myself, Theo and Max. Max is the instigator. We will be bringing the landyacht to Kingston along with a couple of other creations which are just as rugged.
In the pic outside the pub, the boom is at an angle due to a severe rip in the lower panel, requiring some adjustment.






gibberjoe
SA, 956 posts
23 Sep 2013 11:20AM
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Thanks Salty, did you weigh the beast, has a heavy look about it, with operator i recon about 3 LLM's+.

also your second shot , on the road demonstrates [to me] the disadvantage of the 3 wheel system,

that when off bitumen the steer wheel has to run in the rough, any comments.

All in all a top road trip ....congratulations

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
23 Sep 2013 1:46PM
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We built it strong. Cart weight is around 80kg plus. Operator between 80kg and 110kg. Its not a light set up, around 10 knts of wind to get her going. At speed over gravel its stable.
We did discuss the steer wheel running in the rough around the camp, nothing came of it, I think it is only an issue if the vehicle is travelling slow.
On the second pic, the mainsail is reefed, headsail furled and would be doing at least 40klms hr. Its pretty flat country.
The birdsville track runs South to North with a bit of northeast about two thirds along. Wind direction seems to change daily, you could sail the track in either direction. Just be patient.

wokelliott
WA, 179 posts
24 Sep 2013 8:50AM
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Well done Saltylips and the crew, particularly after your hiccups earlier, I'm more than glad to see you made it in style and in such a small time. You make my proposed trip up in Shark Bay area seem pale in comparison, I'm still trying to get organised after a few hiccups of my own. Have you thought of writing an article for inclusion in "Dirt Boats" when you can. I haven't seen any more from them for a while so hope they are still able to publish now and then. Looking forward to more photos and description of your venture.

Hope the coming long weekend at Kambalda goes well for the LL fellows too, weather my way would be more suited to a high freeboard boat with large anchors and furled sails. I guess it can only get better if the rain stops. Man am I over this winter weather....wok

beachball57
SA, 538 posts
26 Sep 2013 5:07PM
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Lachlan you'll see them in January, I have already been in conversation with them,,

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
1 Oct 2013 9:18PM
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Wok, thanks for your kind thoughts. I have some of our sailing video to edit and currently getting a computer built to handle the edit, the current computer is really old. In the meantime something to look at,


I really hope you make your trip, if you weren't four million miles away we would be there!

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
9 Oct 2013 2:31PM
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Desert expedition sailing, heres one for the blowkarts!
www.multihullbooks.com/news/

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
12 Mar 2014 1:24AM
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A link to some video of our trip back in September last year

.be

gibberjoe
SA, 956 posts
12 Mar 2014 9:06AM
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Well you blokes have made my day, ...I wakeup and that latest tape is on my whatsee,

congratulations to all , what a challenge. Great to see and experience.

I am very close, May 1 for my departure but not letting the cat out of the bag yet

everything coming together well, but i wont have a film / support crew only still, pity

I notice with the 3 wheel version that you looked a lot for clear ground but with your

robust build stood the test that many cars can fail. Some good corrugation too .

what gets a lot of people is the ability to climb inclines and even small hills, you

demonstrated this well, So Congratulations Blokes you are officially " LANDYACHT LEGENDS "

OH dear, I recon we had better have a post for just that, so admin what ya say eh?

you get all the Kudos

Saltylips
NSW, 52 posts
12 Mar 2014 10:29AM
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Thanks gibberjoe, good luck with your adventure.



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"Sailing the Birdsville track" started by lachlan3556