Iceboats can sail even closer to the apparent wind. Iceboats can sail as close as 7 degrees off the apparent wind. In the 19th century iceboats evolved into a box, riding on cross-pieces, supported by runners. Iceboats can typically sail at five times the speed of the wind. Because of their speed, iceboats are used both for recreation and for racing. However, iceboats can do so, because the resistance of the surface is very small. Indeed, iceboats can make good both upwind and downwind at speeds greater than the wind.