Have you always wanted your own playa windsurfer? I've got the stuff if you've got the know how. I have: aluminum mast, sail (5.0), boom, and a 9' board. I need someone who can mount some wheels, or mount the rig on some other platform...a recumbant bike perhaps, bed with wheels?
I would love to collaborate on this and share useage. I can also transport it to BRC.
f.p.
come on, fukitsnukin'
Windsurfing rig for playa sailing
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frogprincess
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:56 am
- Location: Berkeley, CA
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frogprincess
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:56 am
- Location: Berkeley, CA
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burnerboy33
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:46 am
- Location: concord, CA
I can help!!!!
I just need to know where you are located. If your close we can build something that everyone would be proud of.
Hi F.P.,
I think it is great that you plan to windsurf the playa. I have been sailing the BM Playa for 7 years now. However, there was a time when all wind powered vehicles were banned by BM. Someone crashed a bus-sized landyacht into the Opera sculpture. As a result we worked with BM to draft some guidelines for windpowered vehicles that senior BM staff felt would be safe. The below guidelines are less restrictive than they have been because we have been so careful to avoid accidents.
http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/playa_vehicles/
"Certain Wind-Powered Vehicles
Wind-powered vehicles that are allowed to operate within Black Rock City must meet certain criteria. They must have a pivoting mast, must operate while the sailor is in a standing position, and must weigh no more than 50 pounds. "
I look forward to seeing your craft on the Playa. We generally try to have a parade on Friday about 2pm (provided there is wind). We usually meet halfway between the Man and Center Camp. Just look for the sails. I will be camping with camp LiteBrite if you want to look me up.
Cheers,
Dave-O
I think it is great that you plan to windsurf the playa. I have been sailing the BM Playa for 7 years now. However, there was a time when all wind powered vehicles were banned by BM. Someone crashed a bus-sized landyacht into the Opera sculpture. As a result we worked with BM to draft some guidelines for windpowered vehicles that senior BM staff felt would be safe. The below guidelines are less restrictive than they have been because we have been so careful to avoid accidents.
http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/playa_vehicles/
"Certain Wind-Powered Vehicles
Wind-powered vehicles that are allowed to operate within Black Rock City must meet certain criteria. They must have a pivoting mast, must operate while the sailor is in a standing position, and must weigh no more than 50 pounds. "
I look forward to seeing your craft on the Playa. We generally try to have a parade on Friday about 2pm (provided there is wind). We usually meet halfway between the Man and Center Camp. Just look for the sails. I will be camping with camp LiteBrite if you want to look me up.
Cheers,
Dave-O
Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...
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Jungle Joe
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 3:37 pm
Wind conditions on the playa
I need any and all advice about wind conditions on the playa, and by that I don't just mean "it gets as strong as...( such and such)". I have read the BM page on wind-powered vehicles
What I mean is: Is there a prevailing wind? Does it usually start at a certain time of day? How often are wind powered vehicles becalmed. Is there usually no breeze at all? Do people only get out when there's a storm coming? That kind of stuff. Talk to me like a sailor--me hearties--and shiver me timbers
What I mean is: Is there a prevailing wind? Does it usually start at a certain time of day? How often are wind powered vehicles becalmed. Is there usually no breeze at all? Do people only get out when there's a storm coming? That kind of stuff. Talk to me like a sailor--me hearties--and shiver me timbers
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frogprincess
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:56 am
- Location: Berkeley, CA
Good questions slime....
To which there are no good answers...by nature the playa is unpredictable and whimsical, especially the weather.
I'm sure there's another sailor who can get more technical, but here's my take, as a half-ass sailor, based on the previous 3 years.
There really aren't any patterns, you can't even count on an afternoon wind that happens in so many mountain/desert areas. Winds are just as likely or unlikey to wake you up in the morning or happen in the middle of the night. It can go from dead-calm to knukin' white-out in minutes with the only warning an approaching dust cloud. While these winds would tell me to rig up at home on the bay, they're not really safe for playa sailing...can't see where you're going and it's a hard, hard landing when you eat shit. Alot of time it's calm...seen many a craft abandoned waiting for wind. Most people choose large sails, (5.0-6.0 on a windsurfer) so they can go when the winds are more mellow, like 10-15 mph. And this will occur at least daily for a bit.
That said, when it is blowing, it tends to be mostly consistent, steady and in one direction (from whatever direction it is that day). In general, I think it blows from Centercamp towards the Man most often.
I've enjoyed several good sailing sessions each year when the breeze was just right, but I would not count on using wind as my primary vehicle's primary power.
Hope that helps,
f.p.
To which there are no good answers...by nature the playa is unpredictable and whimsical, especially the weather.
I'm sure there's another sailor who can get more technical, but here's my take, as a half-ass sailor, based on the previous 3 years.
There really aren't any patterns, you can't even count on an afternoon wind that happens in so many mountain/desert areas. Winds are just as likely or unlikey to wake you up in the morning or happen in the middle of the night. It can go from dead-calm to knukin' white-out in minutes with the only warning an approaching dust cloud. While these winds would tell me to rig up at home on the bay, they're not really safe for playa sailing...can't see where you're going and it's a hard, hard landing when you eat shit. Alot of time it's calm...seen many a craft abandoned waiting for wind. Most people choose large sails, (5.0-6.0 on a windsurfer) so they can go when the winds are more mellow, like 10-15 mph. And this will occur at least daily for a bit.
That said, when it is blowing, it tends to be mostly consistent, steady and in one direction (from whatever direction it is that day). In general, I think it blows from Centercamp towards the Man most often.
I've enjoyed several good sailing sessions each year when the breeze was just right, but I would not count on using wind as my primary vehicle's primary power.
Hope that helps,
f.p.