It might sound like a daring new concept, but the idea of sailing on land has been in existence for hundreds of years. There have been accounts going as far back as 552AD of ancient Chinese civilisations have massive vehicles mounted with sails capable of carrying thirty people. In the present day, land-sailing is quite common as a competitive sport and is a popular activity in areas such as the Middle East. There’s many a family hotel Abu Dhabi has to offer such as Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara where guests can try their hand at some casual land-sailing.
The vehicles used for land sailing are generally referred to as sail-wagons, but can be alternatively called sand or land yachts. Traditionally they will have three wheels with one at the front and two at the back, but some variants can feature the opposite formation. There are also modern yachts with four-wheeled sail-wagons. Their handling mechanisms are similar to a sail-boat but are handled from a sitting position with the use of hand-levers and/or pedals.
There are various settings that are ideal for land-sailing, but flat/windy places are the most suitable. One can discover land-sailing competitions taking places in venues such as beaches, airfields and dry lake-beds. When it comes to professional competitions, there are various classes land-yachts fall into. The largest of these is class 2 where yachts contain masts as high as twenty-six feet. The most popular class however is class 3 where the specifications are very similar except the yachts are much smaller enabling them to possess more capabilities in terms of speed. Class 7 yachts are the smallest of the entire lot and resemble a skate-board with a sail, which makes riding one similar to wind-surfing.
Whether you take part in professionally or casually, land-sailing is bound to be some great adrenaline-fuelled fun that is sure to result in an unforgettable experience.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.