Blokart
A blokart is a type of compact land yacht manufactured by the New Zealand-based company Blokart International Ltd.
Due to their small size and maneuverability, blokarts are able to be sailed in small urban areas. They can be quickly disassembled and packed into a carry-bag giving them a high degree of portability.
Blokarts have hand steering (unlike most other land yachts) and require few sail adjustments which make them particularly easy to learn to sail. They are used for leisure sailing on beaches in many parts of the world.
Blokart racing is developing as a competitive international sport, with organised racing including National Blokart Championships now being held in many countries around the world.
The blokart design was developed in 1999 by inventor Paul "Guru" Beckett in Papamoa, NZ.
An initial 10 blokarts built in early 2000 were later recalled from the market due to improvements made to the design.
The first commercial blokarts were manufactured by Blokart International Ltd in a purpose built factory in Papamoa, NZ in 2000. Since then the fundamental blokart design has remained virtually unchanged. By 2017, the total number of karts produced exceeded 14,000 with almost half the blokarts sold in Europe. Other countries where blokarting is becoming popular are NZ, Australia, USA and South Africa.
The basic blokart including wheels, mast and sail weighs only 29 kg and can be dismantled in a few minutes without tools, and all parts packed into a carry-case. The high degree of portability allows the blokart to be transported by car, or carried as luggage on a plane. Unlike many other landyachts the blokart is steered using the hands via a centrally mounted bar directly coupled to the front wheel. This, along with its compact size, makes the blokart highly maneuverable and able to be used in small urban areas such as carparks or tennis courts.
Wheels can be replaced with ice blades to allow the blokart to sail on ice. The first Blokart Ice World Championships were staged in Lithuania in 2010.
A side-car accessory or "Shadow" can be added to allow the blokart to carry a passenger. Blokarts can be joined head-to-tail together using a "Deuce" bar. Multiple blokarts can be joined in this way to create long trains.
Blokarts have four standard sail sizes, 2.0m, 3.0m, 4.0m and 5.5m, with sail size choice being dependent on wind strength and weight of the sailor, with heavier sailors requiring larger sails, and smaller sails being more efficient in stronger winds.
Speeds of more than 100 km/hr have been attained on land and up to 130 km/hr on ice. The current blokart land speed record of 104 km/hr (65 mph) was set by Scott Young at Ivanpah, California on 22 September 2016.
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