ENGLISH INFO

SkiSail NASA

Most of the beginners will be able to sail with these delta-shape SkiSails after 15 minutes of try and fail. Developed by NASA, and rigged by SkiSeil A/S. Delivered in the following  sizes:

Model: 4m2 6m2 8m2 11m2

Weight compl. 1,3kg 1,4kg 1,6 kg  1,8 kg

Price NOK.    4000,- 4500,- 5000.- 6000.-

 

The 32 m2 is ideal for more advanced expeditions, and have, among other places, been used over the South Pole. It is however also a fantastic light wind sail.

 

The smallest sail of 4 m2 has two main uses. It may be used as a storm-jib in a gale wind, but it is also a fun sail for kids learning skisailing.

 

We advice you to have the combination of a 11m2 and a 4m2 in your back pack. The weight for this combination is only 3,0 kg. and gives you sail for wind forces from 2,5 m/s till gale!

 

All Nasa sails are delivered complete in a bag with a climbing harness,  control bar and easy-to-understand instruction-manual.

 

Climbing harness and controll bar can be bought separately

 

 

 

 

Manual for SkiSail NASA by Lars Ebbesen

 

Here are some guidelines for the use of SkiSeil Nasa 22 square/meter. It is a

very advanced and high performance sail that should be ideal for all lightwind

situations. It is also very suitable and takes out very little energy of you so that

you can sail for a very long time. BUT! It is important that you learn it and find

a good balance. It is the time you loose when you fall, mess up the sail, and stop

to eat that prevent you from doing long distances. You must learn to have a drink

bottle and food inside your jacket so that you can eat and drink while you sail.

 

On Greenland in August, where I crossed the icecap with a group, we did 62 km one

day from 08.30 to 13.30, and 2 days later we did 103,5 km in one day. And all was

without pushing hard. So you have to take this very seriously. Borge Ousland's was

not that he was a very good sailor, but he never fell and was able to sail for very

 long periods of time.

 

Then to the manual:

The lines are fine. But they have to be. Because if they are heavy, you will have

problems getting it up in soft wind. They are strong. But it is important that you do not

 ski over the lines with your steel edges.

 

A lot of things you know, so I will go through the easiest parts quickly:

Always check the equipment carefully.

Be sure to do the same and correct procedure every time, even if the wind is light.

Always go through in your head the safety procedure for quickly stop and how to loosen yourself from the sail if an emergency situation occurs (like if you fall, and the sail is pulling hard.)

Always have the sledge attached before putting on and opening the sail!

Never take of the sledge till after you have taken off the sail and secured it.

Be sure to go through the sail indoor first time and learn how the lines work so that you can dismantle the lines if necessary.

Do always have the best tools for operating the sails/carabines etc in your pocket. You know how to take on the harness. You know how to fasten the sail and adjust it so that maximum pullingpower is going through the harness and the stick, and not through your arms. You know how to sow the lines together after sailing.

 

HOW TO START:

Have your back towards the wind.

Put the sail on the ground in front of you with the yellow line up.

Let the sail be sown (tied) together till you have fasten the sail to your harness (and the sledge).

When the lines are stretched out, you must be sure to keep the top of the stick as forward and away from you as possible.

When you are ready, and the lines are straight: Carefully pull the top of the stick up and towards you so that the top of the sail slowly fills with wind. (If there is very little wind, you have to pull hard to force the sail up.)

Pull the stick slowly towards you till the sail is filled, and you then find a good balance. It is important that you at all time let all the pull go through the harness at your waist, and use the arms just to steer and adjust. It is a mistake to use too much force to hold on to the stick.

 

Let all the power go through the carabine, and adjust the rope through it to get the sail upwards or downwards.

 

It is important that you do not let the triangular sail go too high, because then it will collapse. When the sail is stable a few meters above the ground, it is time to sail. Always try NOT to go totally with the wind. Go at an angle with the wind from the side or from the side-back. This makes the sail more stable, it gives you more speed, and if the sail collapses, you are not so likely to go over the lines.

Move the stick to the left (or right). The SkiSail will then get lower to the ground. When you have the left side/tip one meter above the snow you will go to the left. You can go quite hard into the wind, but when you see it starting to get nervous, you should pull it slightly back so that it stays stable. Edge the steel edges of your skis to push very hard into the wind while at the same time keeping the sail stable with good pullingpower.

 

STOPPING:

When you want to stop, pull the sail upwards till it collapses down. When it does that, you must quickly grab the yellow line and pull the sail all the way in towards your body! This way you kill the pulling. IF you want to take a break, you must take the webbing band, that the yellow line is connected to and put it over the top of the stick. This is important, because it prevents the lines to be tangled up in a mess!!!! If you just let the sail dance in the wind it can easily cause a mess that takes a long time to clear.

 

DO AT ALL TIME WATCH THE SAIL WHEN IT IS ON THE GROUND. IF THE stopping procedure do not work, and you have a serious problem, you must pull the red knotted line in the carabine. That is an emergency procedure and will free you from the SkiSail.