I was wondering whether anyone has any idea if weather conditions would permit someone to "sail" across most of, or the entire, sahara, in a land-sail type of vehicle. I have looked for wind information on the area and apart from a few sandstorms i get the impression there is not much wind. Is this the case? I was also wondering if anyone has heard of someone doing this before. any information would be wonderful thanks.
fergus

Wind power in the Sahara is pretty good. The surface roughness and, therefore, friction, is very low. Also the heating contrasts, which help to amplify the existing large scale pressure gradients, are very marked.

The main problem is likely to relate to how hard/soft the surface is. Best bet is over the reg areas (harder, gravel plains).

I wonder what the bandits would make of one of those machines?

thanks a lot. I am actually seriously considering this. I am 18 and am hoping to have a go next year somewhere between may and october. I've done a bit of sailing, most recently sailing from New Caledonia to New Zealand. I know i can handle it, but are you serious about the bandits. Well I imagine they do exist but how dangerous are they? what kind of groups of them are there? would they attack a group of 4 or 5 land yachts?
anyway thanks for the reply, it is difficult getting information on the conditions in the desert.
Fergus

You not being from the desert I would advise you to get HEAPS on Info before you start to sail through the Tenere (which in fact means NOTHING) - haven't been there yet, but a big pack of respect an knowledge of such things pays off early enough!

Good luck and a bottle of water!

[This message has been edited by onlycookie (edited 23 October 2002).]

Is this some kind of joke, right? Correct me if I'm wrong by NZ to New Cal is not the same thing? Still, you should get some good speeds up during sandstorms...

CS

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New Zealand isn't New Caledonia if that's what you were saying, and I imagine i will be able to get some good speeds going during a storm. The land yachts I plan on sailing can easily reach and deal with 90kms, and wind speeds of up to 130kms ( although i don't imagine that would be fun). Anyway, just to cledar something up, I wasn't planning on heading to the sahara with only the info I got from you guys. I just wanted to know whether it is even possible but i found out that it was attempted in the seventies and that gives em some hope. Time to do some real research now. thanks everyone. If you have any information you think i might find useful please email me. thanks again
Fergus

People have crossed deserts on more bizarre modes of transport. All it really needs is pigheaded determination and a VERY serious logistical backup team. Potential sponsors like novelty, sailing the desert is new. (well almost). If you manage to get a tiny bit of TV coverage they'll flock to you. You've got to know your preparation though, Unless you're rolling in money it'll take you at least a year to prepare for such a venture; you'll have to become more of a project manager than adventurer.
Being labelled as completely insane is something I enjoy as a compliment now, I don't act up, it's just me. (I cycle to work, which involves 1000m change in altitude, off road) You are, of course, insane to even think of sailing across the Sahara . You have at least 35 years of work/career/job ahead of you; if you do something extreme at the beginning of all that you will never be able to settle into the mould of "normality". Beware also of Africa; set foot on that continent for more than a day and you will want to go back, it's hard to explain but I believe most on this forum feel that, despite the downsides.
Dream on Fergus, but it takes a lot to bring dreams to reality. One day it might happen.
Luke

No useful info, but there we go.
Did they make it in the 70s?

Not sure if its “sailing” but I’m planning on taking a kite and buggy down to Mori in a few months as a bit of an experiment and photo shoot for various sponsers …. Ok its not a land yacht by a long way but it only needs a few knots of wind to move it with a large kite, can carry 40l of water easily etc so I’ll let you know how I get on.
I recon with careful planning and reasonable back up it might just be possible to do a North / South crossing. From my own experience as far as bandits etc go they seem to appreciate “nutters” as much as everyone else (they will happily rob your support team though) – your much more likely to have problems with officials/police/boarder guards who can’t really get a grasp about what ever your up to.
Anyway, don’t be put off the idea – it sounds great and remember that reality is what happeneds when you realise your dreams.
dwair

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