Project Green Jet - a vision of the future of sailing

The impact of International Trade

International trade relied on sailpower until a century ago and 5400 years of development faltered when environmentally responsible steam and not-so-environmentally sustainable oil were used to generate the 100% reliable motive forces that commerce required, and sail has had precious little development funding since.

For the last century, much of the focus in developing more efficient international transport for travel and trade has focused on the aeroplane. One hundred years ago, both sailboats and aeroplanes were largely constructed from canvas and wood, control was enabled by ropes and cables and then … aircraft rapidly evolved into composite, high tech, computer-controlled projectiles and sailing ships languished far behind, starved of funding to keep pace with the change. Sailing became a high cost leisure activity while jet aircraft served the bleeding edge delivery of almost every non-digital commercial activity.

The maritime industry still carries almost all international trade – 90 percent of goods by volume that are traded across a border are moved by sea. In 2004, UNCTAD estimated global freight costs at US$380 billion – a surprisingly small 5.4 percent of the total value of global imports. Perhaps it is time to raise those prices and do things in an environmentally responsible manner.

“If you want to see how far we haven’t come in the marine industry, take a look at the aeronautical industry of 100 years ago and now,” says Sifrer.

“In the beginning, aircraft had canvas wings strengthened by wooden profiles and were connected by wires, then they added another wing and another! After WWI, industry and aero technology was progressing a century per decade using new materials and construction. Technology solved problems and enabled regular quantum leaps of performance and reliability.

“Aerospace became the place where new technology was first applied – pilot information systems, computer-controlled everything, pressurised cabins, wonderous new powerplants. From wings made of canvas, wire and wood and engines barely able to lift the plane off the ground, aircraft now have one-piece carbon wings packed with computers and jet engines flying on the edge of the earth’s atmosphere at double the speed of the sound.”

“Yacht design, by comparison, has progressed very little. With a few exceptions, the industry has stagnated. Why? Because of conservative thinking of leading groups, different restricted offshore rules and lack of good marketing of new ideas.

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