Go fly a kite

Go fly a kite

by A Person | Published on February 4th, 2009, 6:22 pm | Science

You may have seen parasailors with the big self inflating parachute kites performing spectacular stunts on surfboards.

Now someone has had the bright idea of adding them to cargo vessels as a supplement to their engines. Unlike a true sailing ship, extensive rigging is not required. The vessel can operate under power in the normal way but fuel requirements can be reduced by 35%. Which at 15 tonnes diesel/hr is not lightly turned down. A savings of 5,000 liters or 1200 gallons every hour

[Liv]

I've seen this before, not sure where... I say it's a great idea if it works.... but it's difficult for me to imagine....

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

While it would only work when the wind is close to following a ship, the same as with true sailing ships, the opportunity to save fuel (and cash) would be pretty regular. And the cost of adding the equipment and training for its use would be rather low, I should think.

Nifty.

[A Person]

While it would only work when the wind is close to following a ship, the same as with true sailing ships

They can sail upwind. just as square rigged ships can. Not as fine as a modern fore-and-aft Bermuda rigged boat, but within 70 degrees off the wind (cf 40 degrees for a fore-and-aft rigged).

[Liv]

Hmm... next thing you know... they'll invent a boat without motors but only sails.... they'll probably call it a "sail boat"!

[A Person]

There are very good reasons why steamships, even with limited range and burning expensive coal replaced sailing ships. And why hybrid sail/steamers weren't successful either.

I think the big advantage here is that it is a supplement that can be fitted to a ship optimized for power without sacrificing maneuverability, stability or needing masts

[Liv]

[youtubevideo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0x7naNZ0A[/youtubevideo]

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