Project Green Jet - a vision of the future of sailing

And at the bleeding edge of this automated design, imagine the Formula One sailing races, with perhaps a weight and dimensions limit and the need to use the wind for motive power. What types of cleverness could be brought to bear on such craft, and how different would they be to the Wot Rocket?

And with the availability of a new array of maritime control mechanisms and electrically powered retractable motors, large transport and cruise ships can and should be cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. Wind is free. We know it works. Surely we should employ it immediately so we can minimize the damage we are doing to our marine environment.

The promise of Kite Sails

Indeed, with modern technology, it may indeed be possible to extract the energy from far more wind than we thought was out there. One fascinating area of development with enormous potential is in the area of high-tech kite sails that generate even propulsion power than conventional sails.

The Kite For Sail project in Hawaii that utilizes kite-sail technology to harness higher atmospheric winds than afforded to conventional sail configurations. They initially fitted a kite-system to a Hobie Catamaran test boat, and developed many prototypes culminating in the current F24 Corsair trimaran. The 18-meter kite system provides the power most of the time, but the trimaran’s engine is still used in light winds and to manoeuvre the vessel into launch and docking position. A recent trial saw the vessel achieve between 7 to 10 knot boat speed without the use of the engine in 4 to 8 foot wind swell and winds of between 15 and 20 knots with four crew aboard and trolling two lines.

Quite clearly such a system could be retrofitted to and significantly supplement the propulsion systems of all kinds of cargo vessels and in the process generate economic benefit, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce emissions in a sector that has become one of the world’s biggest polluters.

In Europe, Hamburg-based SkySails has already begun testing its towing kite propulsion system with a view to integrating it to regular shipping operations. The 132m long Multi Purpose Heavy Lift Carrier MS "Beluga SkySails" sailed from Bremen to Venezuela in January equipped with 160m2 SkySails supporting the main engine. The sails can supply around five tons of tractive force at low wind.

SkySails expects the system to reduce fuel costs by between 10 and 35%, depending on the prevailing wind conditions, with temporary cuts of 50% achievable in optimal wind conditions. The first results are to be expected in the next few months.

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