On Sunday, March 24 the best of the landyachting world lined up for the 8th FISLY World Landyachting Championships which were held at Ivanpah Drylake on the Stateline between Nevada and California (approx 35 miles south-east of Las Vegas). The event, hosted by the North American Land Sailing Association (NALSA), and sponsored by the German watchmaker Junghans, finished last Friday (March 29).

 
DAY ONE: SUNDAY, MARCH 24:
We had only 3 starts because of the first day schedule and a delay because of some rain. We will be starting tomorrow at about 10am (wind God's willing) with the Manta Twins (about 38 boats) and then the Class 3 boats.
Bob Schumacher NALSA

The first day's was great - the first class was 5sq, and the Kiwi's did extremely well. Brice Petit and Xavier Faucon (France) took first and second place, however were followed closely by Darren Lauagesen, Chris Augustin, Geoff Hall (3rd ,4th ,5th) and myself (9th). Geoff was also the first Fed 5 pilot home. I guess there are about 20-25 pilots in the 5s. Next up was the big guys (Class 4s). Kiwi Colin Palmer and Dennis Bassano (US2000) had great tussle with another Kiwi Phil Augustin close behind. Colin pulled it home with 1st place. Class 2s also got a race under their belt however I'm unsure as to the placings there.
Karla Mason NZ021

DAY TWO: MONDAY, MARCH 25:
No sailing today. Not really any wind and no sign of any either. A few brave people have tried a few times to get their yachts sailing, however after watching them try and fail several times, I think I'll stick to the "don't ever sail further than you're willing to push home" tactic. Some of the USA pilots have pulled out there toys. So far we've had a remote controlled glider, a rocket, and several spud guns. One spud gun is powered by pressure, with the psi's up to 88. We got the potato flying across the desert about 250 metres. The other was powered by hairspray and reached about 180m. Last night's cookout on the playa was nice, with a live band and all, and baked beans... perhaps they knew the forecast for today, and were trying to get some "man-made" wind going. I hear Bill Hayward was the only one left at the Blackjack table... we can only guess why.
Karla Mason NZ021

DAY THREE: TUESDAY, MARCH 26:
No sailing today, no wind. A few brave people tried a few times to get their yachts sailing, however after watching them try and fail several times, I think I'll stick to the "Don't ever sail further then your willing to push home" tactic.
Karla Mason NZ021

DAY FOUR: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27:
The day started out as another one of those "sit-around-and-wait-for-the-wind-to-kick-in" days. There were a few puffs from time to time which sent all the pilots running for their yachts to get a couple of runs up and down the playa. A TV crew from LA showed up early to capture the days events. Dennis Bassano (US2000) and Colin Palmer (NZ301) were seen hogging the limelight. A remote camera was fitted to Kiwi Phil Augustin's Class 3 and good footage was able to be captured of his big rainbow coloured yacht on the playa getting the best out of the puff that was around at the time. Good work, Phil!


Kiwi Phil Augustin with his "Rainbow Warrior"

By late afternoon the wind rolled in, and the starting vehicle blasted out to the start line as daylight was fast disappearing. The Manta Twins finally got a sail followed by Class 3s. In Class 3 Colin Palmer got off to a great start with the lead swapping hands between Dennis Bassano, Nord Embroden (US2) and Colin several times. It looked like Colin had it in the bag at the finish, however the clock only read 19 and a half min, and the race was for 20, so the leading group were unflagged to go round the track again. Colin lead round the top mark, however at the bottom mast, we saw him stall, and was overtaken by the front pack. It turns out the top of his mark had broken, causing his sail to come down... a disappointing end to such an exciting race. By then it was completely dark and the SASSASS party had "kicked off". It was a real BLAST. Lots of fun and Margaritas.
Geoff Hall NZ325

DAY FIVE: THURSDAY, MARCH 28:
There was a'lil more wind in the morning than usual, and everyone crossed their fingers in hope that we'd get a full day of racing. In anticipation, the start vehicle made its way to the start line, with 25 or so Class 5 sailors. After moving the start and finish lines several times, the starter finally kicked off the race... Shortly after a dust storm hit, with winds accompanying. Gusts up to 30-40 knots played havoc with the pilots as everyone had prepared for a light wind day. Many struggled to keep their yachts on the ground, and several where seen doing complete 360 wipeouts. A few unlucky sailors were thrown completely from their yachts and some suffered minor breakages to their yachts. Classes 2, 3 and 4 also had the same sort of wind conditions throughout the day with gusts and dust storms making for some exciting races. In the second race for Class 5, Karla Mason's (NZ021) steering broke at the first top mark, and the yacht was thrown in the high winds. She was unable to complete the race. France's Brice Petit (F706) also had a bad fall when rounding the bottom mark. He was hit by a gust, and was unable to keep his yacht under control. He was tipped out losing his then first place position in the race.


Has he merely borrowed the New Zealand Team sweatshirt to hide the bruises after his ignominious spill on the playa or is he now an honorary Kiwi? Brice Petit (F706) who eventually won the Class 5 World Championship title.

In Class 2, Alan Wirtanen (US25) from USA was busy watching another pilot while racing, and ran straight into a collection of bore pumps. This split his axle into many pieces and bought his yacht crashing to the ground. He was lucky to escape unhurt, with minor bumps and bruises. He spent all night repairing his yacht so that he could continue to compete the following day.
Geoff Hall NZ325

DAY SIX and LAST: FRIDAY, MARCH 29:
Class 3 got off to a quick start fitting in a race as soon as possible. It was lucky they did as the winds turned flukey with no real consistency. Class 5 got a start, however the race was soon blackflagged due to no winds. Racing was then postponed for an hour or so. When winds finally picked up again Class 5 managed to get a race in, even with the flukey winds, followed by races in Class 4, Manta, and Class 2.
Geoff Hall NZ325

PRIZEGIVING out in the tent on FRIDAY NIGHT:
The "do" started with a GREAT feed - definitely a wide range to suit everybody's taste, and filled the tummies after a long hot day. The French pilots were a little late, as they chose to pack their yachts into the Belgian shipping container as soon as the day's racing was completed. After the prizegiving, the parties began at the three casinos (Whisky Pete's, Buffalo Bills and Primm), with all who attended getting pretty merry, only a few making it home before 2.00-3.00am.


Hamming it up for the camera during post-prizegiving celebrations back at Whisky Pete's Casino in the early hours of Saturday morning are Brice Petit (left) and Xavier Faucon.

Kiwis Alan Elliott and Bill Hayward were spied staggering in at 5.30am after they had stopped off at the gaming tables on their way home at 3.00am.
Geoff Hall NZ325

DEPARTURE DAY: SUNDAY, MARCH 31:
On Saturday we had the Columbus Line container packed by 11.45am then come Sunday, leaving the Primm Valley area on Interstate 75 heading back to Los Angeles, I looked over across the drylake towards the week's racesite - there was not a lot else left of the camp except the main white tent, the Belgian and Kiwi's containers, and the Portaloo's. It was rather sad after having so much fun over the last 10 days to be leaving, but what great memories we have and the friends we have made from all over the world made this event one that will be talked about in landyachting circles for years to come. Well done NALSA/FISLY. Land Sailing needed this event and can only prosper from it. Special thanks to Bob Dill, Bob Schumacher and Kent Hatch and all the hard working people for a well run event.
Geoff Hall NZ325
 
IMAGES by GEOFF HALL

Out among the flags. From the left, Alan Elliott (New Zealand), Bob Dill (President of NALSA), Art Lange (Class Fed 5 pilot) and Karla Mason and Geoff Hall of "Columbus Line New Zealand Team".
 
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