BTW.... it looks as though FBecigneul is right and I am wrong regarding iceboats. I was not aware that an iceboat could swap tacks that efficiently but here in this link that claim is made and stated as possible. So I'll stand corrected. I still don't believe a boat can ever be made to catch a balloon but perhaps an iceboat can.
This link, paragraph 7 3rd line
http://dwfttw.blogspot.com/#2
This link, paragraph 7 3rd line
http://dwfttw.blogspot.com/#2