The Blokart is a popular one-design class of small compact land yacht, manufactured by the New Zealand-based company Blokart International Ltd.[1]
They can be quickly disassembled and packed into a carry-bag giving them a high degree of portability and are designed to be particularly easy to learn to sail and safe to use. Leisure sailing is common on beaches, gravel, grass and other flat surface in many parts of the world - but Blokart racing is also developing as a competitive international sport, with organised racing including national championships in several countries and a biennial world championship. Since 2015, the America's Cup community sailing initiative, Endeavour, has used Blokarts to begin training sailors as young as 8 years old.[2] Blokarting programs and academies also train parapalegic and other disabled sailors that have lower body limitations, as Blokarting relies on upper body muscular ability similar to a wheelchair. During downtime of the 2023–24_SailGP_championship, international SailGP teams competed in Blokart saililng at Volicity Karts in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Blokart design was developed in 1999 by Paul Beckett, Tauranga, NZ.[3] [4] The first commercial models made in a purpose built factory were produced in Papamoa, NZ in 2000 and since then the fundamental blokart design has remained virtually unchanged. By 2017, the total number of karts produced exceeded 14,000 with almost half of these sold in Europe.
The basic model, 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 them to be transported by car, or carried as luggage on a plane.
Unlike many other land yachts, 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 it 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 - with the first Blokart Ice World Championships staged in Lithuania in 2010.
A side-car accessory or "Shadow" can be added to carry a passenger and a specialized seatbelt enables a quadrapalegic passenger to safely ride with an experienced sailor. Blokarts can also be joined head-to-tail together using a "Deuce" bar and multiple 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. Heavier sailors require larger sails, and smaller sails are more efficient in stronger winds.
Blokarts can be safely operated in urban settings and by children as young as 8 years old and at speeds similar to a wheelchair. Professionals on closed circuits have reached speeds of more than 100 km/h on land and up to 130 km/h on ice. The current Blokart land speed record of 125 km/h (77.7 mph) was set by Scott Young and Dave Lussier at Lake Ivanpah in Eastern California on Wednesday, 11 April 2018.[5] The record was set on the 2nd lap of the final race of the 2018 North Americans when a Haboob (desert wind storm) came across the racing area.
In 2007 a group of 11 international adventurers crossed the Gobi Desert on Blokarts in a journey planned by French enthusiast Chrisophe Gombert of France, and Mongol guide and friend Batzorig.
In 2022, 71 year old BB Hredocik sailed a new record of 366.1 miles or 589.18 km within a 24hr period starting in the early morning of May 13th and ending with the morning breeze at around 3AM on May 14th at Loring Air Force Base. During his run, other Blokarts would sail near him and supply water bottles and sandwiches while he sailed.[6]
Although Blokarts meet the qualification standard for mini-yachts under the FISLY regulations, they are generally sailed in separate regattas organised under the IBRA rules. The "one design" standard has helped Blokart racing spread rapidly throughout the world - with national and regional championships now being contested annually in numerous countries including: USA, Australia, NZ, Britain, Spain, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
Blokart World Championships have been held biennially since 2008 as follows;
| Year | Location | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Papamoa | New Zealand | |
| 2010 | Ostend | Belgium | |
| 2012 | Ivanpah | USA | |
| 2014 | Perth | Australia | |
| 2016 | Ivanpah | USA | |
| 2018 | Majorca | Spain | |
| 2022 | Manawatu | New Zealand | |
| 2024 | Ivanpah | USA |
Blokart Racingis administered by the International Blokart Racing Association (IBRA) who sanction events and set the international racing rules.[7]
Racing differs to other land yacht racing - which typically has stationary starts and race across the wind on beaches. It actually has more in common with water based sailing, with 2-3 minute dial-up starts and windward/leeward courses. Racing is held on purpose built tracks, airport runways, parking areas as well as beaches and dry lake beds. Races are between 5 minutes and 8 minutes in duration.
The hand steering allows people with lower-limb disabilities to compete with able-bodied pilots.
Sail selection for racing is dependent on pilot weight and the sailing course. Heavier pilots require larger sails; tighter courses generally require a larger sail - and for straighter and more open courses a smaller sail provides less drag and therefore greater maximum speed.
Blokarts are raced in two classes – production and performance. The production class is based on the basic design; while in the performance class additional parts from the manufacturer are allowed such as carbon fibre mast sections and an aerodynamic shell, adjustable downhaul and modification of the sail battens to alter the shape of the sail. New components must sanctioned by IBRA before they can be used in racing.
Depending on number of entries at events, Blokart classes are further broken down into weight divisions determined by the body-weight of the racer. For the Blokart world championships the 4 following divisions have been defined:
There is generally no differentiation of racers on the basis of age or gender.
Blokarting can be done on virtually any open area larger than the size of a tennis court.Beaches provide an ideal venue subject to tides, wind direction and density of people. Windy days naturally have fewer people at these locations.
On March 26, 2015 following a public process that included public meetings in Ilwaco and Ocean Shores, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the use of wind-powered vehicles on portions of Parks-managed ocean beaches.[8]
Some of the most well used areas for Blokarting are listed below.
Vortex Wind Karting Track and Rabbit Island near Nelson
Australia:
Queensland:
New South Wales:
Victoria:
Western Australia:
South Australia:
New Zealand:
Spain:
United Kingdom:
United States: