Tall ship

[ewx]

New twist on sailing ships. (But have they actually had one work in practice yet?)

Comments

[naath.livejournal.com]

I don't see the point. If you wanted wind powered ships surely you'd build sailing ships?

[pm215]

wind-optimised route management

...ie don't try to sail upwind?

[gareth-rees.livejournal.com]

It's a scaled up version of kitesurfing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitesurfing).

[mikewd]

A more plausible form of high tech wind propulsion for ships is the Walker wingsail which although it has had an unfortunate commercial history is technically proven. (An early unit was successfully used on a cargo vessel nearly 20 years ago and one of the yachts using the technology sailed undamaged through a class 3 hurricane whilst crossing the Atlantic).

Hopefully recent rises in oil prices may finally mean that this technology gets the development it deserves.

[armb.livejournal.com]

There hasn't been anything on that scale, as far as I know, but there are things larger than kitesurfers.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

For the first time SkySails utilises wind energy as a strong and reliable propulsion power. Using this new form of energy [...]

I think Jack Aubrey might have something to say about that rather sweeping statement!