Blokart - 10 years blowing in the wind

The world’s ‘ultimate sailing experience’ turned 10 this week - and Kiwi inventor Paul Beckett is quietly confident that his blokart will last the distance.

The wind-powered hair-raising ‘toy’ - which looks like a tricycle attached to a flexible triangle-shaped sail, more commonly known as a land yacht - has soared in popularity since its inception 10 years ago. The blokart is now sold in Europe, Britain, Middle East, South Africa, US, and Australia, as well as New Zealand.

Bay of Plenty inventor Paul Beckett completed the first prototype for the blokart in 1999, and took over an old airport hangar in Tauranga to begin making them commercially.

Beckett debuted the blokart at the New Zealand Boat Show in 2000, and sold all 17 - receiving orders for 750 more within the year. Blokart International hasn’t looked back since.

"It did inspire the imagination of people, and it has become a way of life for the blokart enthusiasts here and overseas," said Beckett.

Adrenalin junkie
The blokart has received huge international attention and even created a whole new sport - blokart racing. Portability and speed are big factors in its popularity, especially with adrenalin junkies looking for new thrills.

The tiny land yacht, which can be folded down into a lightweight, suitcase-sized bag, can reach speeds of up to 100km/h during a race.

Beckett realised that the market for blokart would be quite different than for traditional ‘big boys toys’.

"After a while, we realised we couldn’t fill the K-Marts or surf shops with the blokarts. They had a market of their own. They attracted certain types of people who have some mongrel in them - yachties, windsurfers and guys coming out of motorcycling, motor racing and extreme sports who could no longer get any insurance," he said.

90-Mile Beach Blast
Blokart expeditions have crossed the Gobi Desert, and racing is popular both down under and overseas.

The 90-Mile Beach Blast is held on New Zealand’s most northern stretch of coastline. International events include the Australian Open, US Ivanpah Blokart Open and Rally, and the Ice Blokart Championships in Lithuania.

The 2010 Blokart World Championships, only the second time the event has run, will be held in Belgium from 13 - 17 October, and there are plans to stream the race live on the internet.

Made in NZ
While his business has expanded over the past decade, Beckett and his small but dedicated team are still a very hands-on business.

All the blokarts are assembled in New Zealand at his original Parton Rd workshop at Papamoa Beach, in the western Bay of Plenty.

The steel chassis for the blokart is made in Taiwan, but all other parts originate from around New Zealand - the masts and fibreglass fittings come from Rotorua and the wheels are sent from Wanganui and Hamilton.

Beckett has also developed different versions of the blokart to suit climates in other countries.

Blokart International is working on a redesign on a version of the blokart, made with skates instead of wheels, that was introduced to the Eastern European markets for use in ice sailing - a popular national sport in the Eastern bloc.

"We have to stiffen them up and make them appear deeper so the racers aren’t as close to the blades," Beckett said.

Beckett also recently developed a new ‘water’ version of the blokart called Katalyst, which can hit speeds of up to 18 knots. The first 70 water blokarts were sent to Europe and the Middle East.

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