Road sailing is one thing and there is a fair bit of info out there about it, but cross desert sailing would be a LOT harder to do.
www.pterosail.com/
www.whike.com/nl/

ThundaUp, It would help if you could put up some photos of the terrain you are planning to cross. And what are the wind conditions there. Not may of us would have been there.

OK. I dont think many are getting the idea.
Lets forget about calling it a wind sailer.
I'll call it a dune buggy, with a sail, and use it when conditions are favorable and that could be only once a week, sometimes light, other times west nor west and strong enough to call it quits for the day and camp up.
Low scrub, spinifex, lots of sand, some big dunes and no end of sky.
Entertainment is peace and quiet, and knocking foxes and feral cats off the face of the earth.

Thanks Gismo,
That puts a different light on the whole deal, maybe I'm better off looking at electrics with back up petrol.
Thats the sort of numbers i was looking for, sounds like you know your stuff.
Thanks again.

another thought you could also have what is known as a traction kite or power kite,, a big kite will provide a lot of pulling power,, and they can be made as big as you want,, i have been flying kites for over 20 years and have sn traction kites tied to a land cruiser and saw it movered along the beach,,,,and the beauty of these are that they are sorf and fold up into almost nothing,, the down side is that you have to have the wind blowing in the direction that you want to go....just a thought though.....

well i have to say as far fetched as it sounds it is an interesting idea,,,,would you get a great deal of interest from this forum for people to join you on this adventure,,i suspect not, I'm sure the wright brothers had the same issues before they finally got "off the ground" and now look apparently we're heading to the moon again in a few years time so i guess the spirit of adventure is there, just have a look at the sydney to hobart yacht race every year....yep sure there must be some adventurers out there but i think most of us, and before anyone says anything, i include myself in this group unfortunatly, are just to wrapped up in their comfortable life to go beyond our front doors into what is an "unknown" adventure....perhaps there are more "arm chair" adventurers than actual ones....We will always find a reason to poo poo someones ideas and reasons why we couldn't possibly do it or why the idea won't work, as well labeling them as crazy or misinformed or dangerous,,,I have just had an experience with "big brother" telling me what i can and can't do and I have to agree whole heartedly with you that,, that this is our country, black or white, we all live here so we should be able to travel where we want without having to get big brother's permission,, having said that I say "to hell with the nay sayers and go and do it" I for one will be wanting to be kept in the loop as to progress becasue I may just be walking/sailing/kiting right along side you, because I'm sick of being told what i can and can't do,,,, Sorry mate that turned into a bit of a rant there ,,,,,,

don't think there was any mention of bitumen, brian but good thought anyway,,,,

Yes I know Thundaup was talking 'cross country' maybe you might need to get a copy of the National Geographic November 1967..... Across the Sahara in land yachts.
www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-November-1967-Volume/dp/B000M9EBWC

Bonjour,
A Swiss adventurer tried to cross in 2003 Australia with a pedal/sail yacht.
Unfortunately web site is down.Only found:

www.walkaboutjoe.com/swiss.pdf

This is the only cross country land yacht I have seen that works. It gets itself and pilot across country but anymore payload than a couple of sandwiches and a six pack, it probably won't cut it.

Interesting video... most of the shots were of the yacht coming down hills with only a few going up short hills.

But when you've got more than 25 kn and a solid yacht you can climb everywhere. This is my old Seagull Miniclub (or MC2), a very good starting point for an hybrid electric/sail project, taking advantage of its separate stainless steel chassis.

Maybe this is what your after?


http://forums.thecarlounge.com/showthread.php?6021051-A-poors-mans-land-yacht-Concept./page43

Interesting... is it my end or are those pic's cut in half ? Can you send them to me and do you know who the bloke is?

Gizmo said..

Yes I know Thundaup was talking 'cross country' maybe you might need to get a copy of the National Geographic November 1967..... Across the Sahara in land yachts.
www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-November-1967-Volume/dp/B000M9EBWC

My copy just arrived in the mail today.... Haven't time to read it yet but love some of the pics.