• swope@kbin.socialOP
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    1 year ago

    Not stupid questions.

    Yes, the tires act like a keel providing sideforce. The front wheel also acts like a rudder, controlled by foot pedals. The left/right is inverse of an airplane rudder.

    I don’t know the angle in degrees, but it felt like it could be very close to the wind. The wheels resist sideways from zero speed, unlike a keel that needs some flow moving to be effective. Also the carts have very little mass compared to a boat. Those things together make the acceleration really exciting.

    And sitting so low to the ground amps up the feeling of speed.

    I was sailing in the Mojave Desert when it was about 40-45°C. The lakebed dust gets into everything and never really washes out. So it’s a thrill to sail, but not as pleasant as being on the water.