CALL them blokarts, land yachts or wind-sport chariots these crazy karts can sail faster than the wind reaching speeds of up to 100km/h given the right conditions.
Found all over the world including Australia which boasts seven to eight clubs, dozens of blokarts descended on Waratah Bay over the weekend for the four day 2025 Australian Open Blokart Championships.
Eighty to one hundred land sailors compete regularly in State Championships and once every two years the National Championships are held in rotation at a selected location in Victoria, West Australia, Queensland or South Australia.
Waratah Bay was chosen by the North-East Windsport Club based at Springhurst near Wangaratta because of South Gippsland’s reliable and consistent winds and the wide stretch of clear, flat beach offered at low tide along Waratah Bay.
Four days of racing attracted forty of the world’s best land sailors including a lone New Zealand competitor culminating with a presentation dinner and the announcement of the 2025 Australian Champions at the Fish Creek Hotel.
Spectators enjoyed lively racing in perfect, albeit slightly chilly conditions for Queensland competitors on all four days of the competition.
Skilled Blokart pilots literally flew up and down the quiet beach at Waratah supported by the Australian Blokart Association, South Gippsland Shire Council and Victorian State Government with prizes donated by Blokart International.
Blokarting is an all-inclusive sport with men and women of all ages competing against each other in two classes and four weight categories.
The Australian Blokart Association claims 200 members across Australia with the biggest fleet in Queensland which has four clubs.
Competing in both performance and production class the blokarts at Waratah Bay reached speeds of up to 50km/h assisted by strong south-westerly winds.
Commodore of the North-East Windsport Club Ken Horne could not have been more pleased with the conditions at Waratah Bay.
“It is really hard to find a wide, flat beach exposed at low tide with no rocks,” said Mr Horne.
“Waratah Bay is a beautiful place to visit with the Waratah Bay Caravan Park very popular.”
The State Championships at Casey Fields near Cranbourne in 2022 were dogged by flukey, changing winds but at Waratah Bay light early morning breezes picked up by mid-afternoon each day well before racing finished for the incoming tide.
President of the Central Queensland Blokart Club Tony Francis proved to be a stand-out competitor winning two races in the first two days of competition.
Blokart clubs offer casual group sailing days, local competitions, and social events.
The production class uses a basic Blokart design straight from the factory while performance class karts allow for additional approved upgrades such as stiffer carbon masts, an aerodynamic pod and bigger front wheels and fork.
Blokarts have a unique hand steering system so racers with lower body disabilities compete equally alongside able-bodied sailors.
Karts fold down for easy transport to events around the world.
There are no gender-specific classes with racers sailing together.
The only divisions are by body weight to ensure larger sailors are not disadvantaged.
Blokarts have four different-sized sails making them ideal for juniors who can start as young as 12 or 14 years of age. Ken Horne said his seven-year-old grandson is already sailing.
Buoyed by the success of the 2025 Australian Open Blokart Championships Waratah Bay is now well placed to possibly attract the next world championship series after the World Championships are held at Llanbedr Airfield in northwest Wales in 2026.
The previous Blokart World Championships were hosted by the United States on Lake Ivanpah near Las Vegas in 2024.
For more information about blokart land sailing go to blokart.com/ride/racing. The North-East Windsport Club can be found on Facebook or at newc.com.au.
2025 Australian Open Blokart Championships Results
Challenging racing in light conditions and wet sand patches.
Performance:
Dan Bennett Heavy 63, Matthew O’Brien Heavy 43, Ross Webster Heavy 42, Ross Porz S/Heavy 22, Ron McDonald S/Heavy 22, Greg Devine S/Heavy 17, Jack Lamont Middle 17, Allan Phillips Middle 15, Miles Wood Middle 14, Robert Edwards Light 12, Garry Percy Light 8
Production:
Bob Cove S/Heavy 20, Greg Devine S/Heavy 10, Luke Dynes S/Heavy 8, Jeffrey Payne Heavy 39, Dan Bennett Heavy 37, Peter Nelson Heavy 30, Nyarie Butterfield Middle 35, Ken Horne Middle 31, Werner Oswald Middle 28, Kate Francis Light 33, Kristine Deveny Light 22, Tina Coutts Light 17
Full results available at newc.com.au/news/2025-australian-open-blokart-championships-progress.