The Return Of The Sail?

[Speed]

Well, sort of. They have modernized the sail, and applied it to ships, to help reduce fuel costs. Cool idea they obviously got from the kitesurfers. I like it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788488...8287?gt1=10832

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Now that is something!

[retroactiv]

I hope it works, then I hope it catches on. Go green or get out, because this isn't about you and I talking on this forum but it's about our children, and there children. I do hope the words Coal, and Oil are erased from the vocabulary by the time I have grandchildren. (all of this coming from a hard line right wing conservative too).

[photophorous]

Great idea. Just goes to show how many simple little things would could be doing to improve effeciency.

[gahspidy]

Yes, a great idea. I hope more simple and yet effective solutions like these can catch on. I always felt the rising fuel costs are actually a good thing in disguise. Money is and has always been the huge motivator.

[another view]

Occam's Razor; the simplest solution is (usually) the best one...

Excellent idea. The initial costs might be a little steep but I'm sure it pays for itself quickly. Wind energy is blowing right by them as they burn a bunch of fuel oil, might as well grab some of it for free. What's the downside of it? Can't really see one... Sure it won't work all the time (wind would have to be coming from a pretty narrow angle, and at enough speed) but I'll bet it more than earns it's keep.

[OldSchool]

Being an avid windsurfer, it's been nice seeing the whole kiting technology develop from water skis and a diamond kite to the parasail shapes we have today. I big kite on a big boat is just great!

The photos in the article, however, are not that impressive. It looks like the ship is in full reverse to help fill the kite (and the caption reads "The 'Beluga SkySails' is seen Tuesday with its kite helping pull it along".). I'd like to see that thing in a 30 kt blow!

Cheers,
Tim

[another view]

I'd like to see that thing in a 30 kt blow!

Planing freighter? That'd give FedEx a run for their money!

[OldSchool]

Planing freighter? That'd give FedEx a run for their money!

:^)

A different kite shot with a planing boarder (Columbia River Gorge).
Cheers,
Tim

[mikeb380]

Well, sort of. They have modernized the sail, and applied it to ships, to help reduce fuel costs. Cool idea they obviously got from the kitesurfers. I like it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788488...8287?gt1=10832

Actually sail has been used for many years for small ships plying local ports with small cargo. In most cases the sail cargo carrier can charge less then the larger lines. I had been toying with the idea about 35 years ago of getting a small ship and wandering the Carrib and islands of Jamaica, etc. These small ships don't need large crews to man them what with motorized sail controls and proper rigging. Only fuel needed is perhaps to move into a dock although in many cases a good skipper can use sail to manuever into dockage.

Michael

[Speed]

Yes it is. It also makes you go "Duh! Why didn't someone think of this before?"

[Speed]

We live in the computer age. It's time may have arrived.

Most business are more concerned with their bottom line than they are about being green. Simple economics. But this could help enhance their bottom line, and improve their image at the same time. Maybe it'll catch on...

[Speed]

In this day and age, it is indeed a little thing. And I've always been for improving efficiency.

[Speed]

" I hope more simple and yet effective solutions like these can catch on."

I'm with you there buddy!

"I always felt the rising fuel costs are actually a good thing in disguise."

Oooh. That one I respectfully disagree with. I work for Carteret County, and the pay is not that great. Not to mention I haven't had a pay raise in three years. The rising prices are killing me!

Ultimately, they SHOULD help make changes for the better. I hope so.

"Money is and has always been the huge motivator."

Absolutely!

[MJS]

I like the slow down 10 per cent and save more in fuel comment. Someday we'll get it.

[Speed]

Indeed it is!

"Excellent idea. The initial costs might be a little steep but I'm sure it pays for itself quickly. Wind energy is blowing right by them as they burn a bunch of fuel oil, might as well grab some of it for free. What's the downside of it? Can't really see one... Sure it won't work all the time (wind would have to be coming from a pretty narrow angle, and at enough speed) but I'll bet it more than earns it's keep."

With computers, the kite can be adjusted in seconds to take full advantage of the wind, from practically any direction on the sides or behind. Maybe this will be the next big thing in trans-oceanic transportation.

[Speed]

"and save more in fuel comment. Someday we'll get it."

That's something we've known for years with automobiles. Yet everyone's in a hurry to get where they are going.

It still amazes me that our cars don't get better mileage than they do.

It also amazes me that all our cars don't have much more streamlined bodies like jets. When the Ford Probe was a prototype, it had the same ballistic coeffiemt as the F-15 fighter. They lost some of that when it became a production vehicle. But when was the last time you saw a concept car go into production and drive down the street?

[Speed]

"it's been nice seeing the whole kiting technology develop from water skis and a diamond kite to the parasail shapes we have today. I big kite on a big boat is just great!"

"The photos in the article, however, are not that impressive. It looks like the ship is in full reverse to help fill the kite (and the caption reads "The 'Beluga SkySails' is seen Tuesday with its kite helping pull it along".). I'd like to see that thing in a 30 kt blow!"

Cheers,
Tim"

I agree that it is great seeing this technology take hold in a practical way.

And it would be great to see it in a 30kt wind. That's a lot of pulling power!

[Speed]

"That'd give FedEx a run for their money!"

Now that would be something to see! But who knows, freighters may start looking like some of the new fangled ships, with streamlined bows, catamarans, and who knows what else?

[Speed]

"for small ships plying local ports with small cargo."

And sail is still used extensively in some parts of the world.

"Only fuel needed is perhaps to move into a dock although in many cases a good skipper can use sail to manuever into dockage."

Now that's a GOOD skipper!

Thanks for the comments Michael.

[Speed]

Cool shot Tim!

I've shot some photo's of kite surfers. If they're close enough, you can get some great shots.