Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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competitive pyrosailing

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This is racing sailing boats, large or small, with the enhancement of mirror-finish sails so that the skilled helm can use the action of the wind, the natural curvature of the sail and the position of the boats relative to one another and to the position of the sun and the direction of the wind to focus the sun's rays on their opponents' boats and set fire to them.
hippo, Jan 22 2021

[link]






       <Street vendor>   

       "Sunglasses ... burn cream ... fire extinguishers ... asbestos suits ... "   

       </Street vendor>   

       [+]
8th of 7, Jan 22 2021
  

       + I think this would be visually awesome like a sailboat Art performance! Burning Man on the water.
xandram, Jan 22 2021
  

       Yes, or perhaps a sailing-themed remake of 'Rollerball' in which, to keep the viewing figures up, the usually polite and uneventful world of sailing introduces ever more deadly innovations to spice things up.
hippo, Jan 22 2021
  

       there has not been a better idea on the halfbakery for *checks notes* 21 years
calum, Jan 22 2021
  

       Use to heat up this croissant +
xenzag, Jan 22 2021
  

       This could be combined with sand-yacht racing in Death Valley or the Bonneville salt flats to create a voluntary mass casualty incident (including spectators) ...   

       Doubleplusgood {++]
8th of 7, Jan 22 2021
  

       More and more I see this as ripe for having a classic Hollywood "underdog sports movie" like Cool Runnings or Dodgeball based on it, where the plucky no- hopers with a dream in their hearts make their own boat in a garage to enter the big annual pyrosailing competition where they'll be up against the money-no-object boats of their obnoxious rivals. It will have photogenic action sequences, boats racing under a clear blue sky through beautiful water, the mounting tension created by the image of spray being thrown up into the air and instantly turning to steam as it passes through the focused light coming from the sail of a rival boat, and finally, the sail and mast of the big-money boat erupting in a sheet of flame.
hippo, Jan 22 2021
  

       big bun
po, Jan 23 2021
  

       Wasteful burning, no but flammable/charged hit points tagged on and around the boat would be thrilling.
wjt, Jan 23 2021
  

       "Well we had a mast there when the race started but then the wind died down and now most of it's mizzen."   

       An overcast day pack could include two frequency specific torches and ten, five red, five blue, dye packs containing wash-away paint.The large sunny day reflective disc comes standard.
wjt, Jan 23 2021
  

       // now most of it's mizzen." //   

       <Silence/>   

       .
.
.
.
  

       <Very slow handclaps/>
8th of 7, Jan 23 2021
  

       Yawl regret that pun. You've scuppered the idea.
pocmloc, Jan 23 2021
  

       No sheet, Sherlock. And aweigh with the boating puns, we anchor after something that's knot so ding(h)y...
8th of 7, Jan 23 2021
  

       <notes childish pun-fest - gives stern look>
hippo, Jan 24 2021
  

       <bows/>
8th of 7, Jan 24 2021
  

       What a pile of poop
pocmloc, Jan 24 2021
  

       <notes childish pun-fest - nods in approval>
Voice, Jan 24 2021
  

       I'm now wondering if pyrosailing teams should also include an airborne parasailer, hang glider or hot-air balloon whose job it is to cast shade on their opponent's boat. Giving the parasailer or hang glider reflective, focusable surfaces would make the competition even more interesting.
hippo, Jan 27 2021
  

       The only way to improve this would be to require pirate apparel and roleplay.
RayfordSteele, Jan 27 2021
  
      
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