[quote=davefarmer]The rig uses a carbon windsurf mast with an alum stiffener in the bottom 3', and the sail(s) are the same construction as windsurf sails, but much flatter. Less power needed to get her going(far less drag than thru water), and it needs to be flatter for less drag at speed, which for this boat is in the 50s or 60s, if you've got the cojones! Windsurf sails can be recut pretty simply to use in this application, the leading edge is modified for less draft, and some of the lower section is cut off to use this boom configuration. There's a landsailing site called Seabreeze out of Australia that gives very good directions on how to do it. My smallest sail, 2.5 mtr (the Handkercheif!), is a cut down windsurf sail, works great in 25 plus! Bruce Peterson at Sailworks has designed sails, 5.5 and 4.0, specifically for this boat, and they're blazingly fast. EP and North also have experience with sails of this type. I have a 5.5, 4.0, 3.0 and the 2.5, so I can sail powered up in anything under 35 kts of breeze. With good ice and some experience, you can have a good time in 4 or 5 kts of wind. And generally, the smaller the sail, the faster the top end the boat will see, less total aerodynamic drag, coupled with the increased power available in bigger winds.
Where in MT? We work out of the Flathead Valley when we have favorable conditions, and travel to the iceboat Mecca of the west, Canyon Ferry, east of Helena, where there's a large contingent of iceboaters, with a long history of sailing that venue. Big lake, east of the divide, so colder temps than NW Montana, and the mts stop a lot of moisture, so better chances of clear ice. Plus, westerly flow descending the east face of the divide often produces big breeze, we also watch the lakes east of Glacier for the same reasons. This sport is even more fickle than soft water sailing, so you need to be willing to chase the requisite conditions, but the return is huge. The acceleration in the puffs is breathtaking! PM me and we can exchange emails.
Dave[/quote]
