If Lake Washington ever freezes, I’m crossing it this way! Mark Harris says, I was lucky to take it out on a day with smoothly varying winds from 20-40mph (10-20m/s), and although slightly overpowered, I could cruise comfortably at 15mph (20kph), with bursts over 20mph (30kph). This top speed was definitely not limted by the sail, but by my survival instincts. In fact I didn’t dare reach or run, and limited myself to tacking about 20 degrees upwind to limited my speed, and skated home under my own power with the sail folded up like an umbrella. On smoother ice and with more experience I would expect to get up to 30mph. – Link
4 thoughts on “Ice Skating Sail”
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I’ve seen guys use a ‘bat wing’ (professional version)
here’s a link to more wind powered ice fun
http://www.instructables.com/id/EDJPANRPKFEV2ZBBLQ/?ALLSTEPS
This was a bit of a flashback for me… Back in the 80’s I got a book called “Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials: Great Aliens from Science Fiction Literature” (available on amazon). I loved the detailed drawings and the “facts” behind the creatures. One of my favorites from that book was called a “tran” and he had a sort of webbed arm to create a sail like this with claws like ice skates. Thanks for posting this one.