New Gunther Sturmvogel (Stormbird) Sailboat
21” long x 26.5” tall
This is the second largest sailboat in the Gunther line and is a very good all-weather craft. Its durable rigging and deep “V” hull are designed to tackle strong winds and rough seas. Its substantial size makes it large enough to freesail on large ponds or lakes, or you can line sail it on most any body of water, even the ocean. Like all Gunther boats, the Sturmvogel's hull is watertight and with its weighted keel it’s self righting so it’ll never sink, even in the worst conditions.
The last photos shows all the Gunther boats we currently sell. The Sturmvogel, or Stormbird, is on the far right.
Specs
About Gunther GmbH. And Co.- This German company has been in business for over 50 years and still builds the same high-quality boats people have come to expect from this company. They are a true representation of old-world craftsmanship and are considered by many to be the most durable and well designed model sailboats in the world. All our Gunther boats come with a 100% guarantee.
About us- By Land, Sea or Air is an online store that has been an official dealer of the Gunther line for nearly 20 years. We've sold hundreds of these boats and are huge fans of both their sailboats and airplanes.
Sailing instructions
Freesailing: This is the perfect way to sail on ponds or small lakes. There's something thrilling about setting your boat loose and watching it head off under its own steam; it's 50% physics, 50% leap of faith, and 100% fun.
To freesail you simply set the sheeting of the jib and mainsail, adjust the rudder (if your boat has one) and then set the boat loose. Depending how you have it rigged, it will either cruise across the lake or tack back and forth upwind. On small ponds or lakes you can walk around to meet it, or you can give chase via canoe, kayak or what-have-you.
On light wind days your boat will cruise along nicely in winds you can't even feel. On blustery days it'll heal over and really take off (I'm always a bit shocked how fast they actually go). Since the keel is weighted, you’ll never have to worry about capsizing, and the hull construction and rigging is very well done, so the boat is virtually indestructible. In 20+ years of freesailing, I’ve never had a boat break.
Line sailing: I've line sailed a fair amount, and for larger bodies of water, it really is the way to go. All you need to do is attach some monofilament to the eyelet on the bow, set the sails and then let 'er go. You can control the line with a boat reel (we sell them), you can use a kite spool, or even a fishing rod and reel will do. When you set the boat loose it's a good idea to have the line positioned on the windward side of the boat, which keeps the boat on course better and prevents an accidental "jibe". Once she's gone out a way you simply tug on the line and the boat will tack and head back to shore.
Over the years I've free or line-sailed on pretty much everything from ponds you could spit across all the way up to big bodies of water like Lake Tahoe, and the boats have done just great (despite my skippering). Wherever I go folks are always coming up and commenting on the beauty of the boats, and constantly comment on how relaxing and fun it looks. You'll meet more nice people than you ever thought possible on a sunny day pond sailing.