Comments on: German company wants to add kites to cargo ships – the return of the Schooner? http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/ General interest observations and true web-log. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:39:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul Flowers http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-428582 Paul Flowers Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:06:20 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-428582 correction on STN website... www.culturechange.org/sail_transport_network.html correction on STN website…

http://www.culturechange.org/sail_transport_network.html

]]> By: Paul Flowers http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-428580 Paul Flowers Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:03:56 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-428580 I work with an organisation called the Sail Transport Network, and am currently in the process of refitting a Grand Banks Schooner with the intentions of hauling fair-trade coffee to the US and organic flour to Central America. You can check out what we're doing at http://argusthewatcher.zaadz.com and www.culturechange.org/sail_transport_network With oil prices rising as supplies disappear, I feel the only way to maintain regional and international shipping and commerce is by sail. I work with an organisation called the Sail Transport Network, and am currently in the process of refitting a Grand Banks Schooner with the intentions of hauling fair-trade coffee to the US and organic flour to Central America. You can check out what we’re doing at
http://argusthewatcher.zaadz.com and
http://www.culturechange.org/sail_transport_network

With oil prices rising as supplies disappear, I feel the only way to maintain regional and international shipping and commerce is by sail.

]]> By: Roc Rizzo http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391726 Roc Rizzo Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:04:17 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391726 Sails are going to be the wave of the future. The only problem with sailing, is that you have to use more brain power to sail a boat, than to motor. And there's nothing like sailing. Nothing but the wind powering your vessel. No noisy motor, no smoke. It was used in the past, I am sure it will come back in, and it will not be long until we see the Sloops sailing on the Hudson River again! Sails are going to be the wave of the future.
The only problem with sailing, is that you have to use more brain power to sail a boat, than to motor.

And there’s nothing like sailing. Nothing but the wind powering your vessel. No noisy motor, no smoke.

It was used in the past, I am sure it will come back in, and it will not be long until we see the Sloops sailing on the Hudson River again!

]]> By: Gig http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391628 Gig Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:22:43 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391628 <i>I have one old friend — a retired cop — who’s been earning his living sailing freight from island to island in the Caribbean for thirty years. He ain’t making a lot of money; but, it’s a clean and adequate living. </i> He's hauling the wrong freight. I have one old friend — a retired cop — who’s been earning his living sailing freight from island to island in the Caribbean for thirty years. He ain’t making a lot of money; but, it’s a clean and adequate living.

He’s hauling the wrong freight.

]]> By: Ballenger http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391626 Ballenger Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:21:21 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391626 Not only is the sail concept interesting, I bet seeing the fabrication, installation and deployment would be a great experience as well. Not only is the sail concept interesting, I bet seeing the fabrication, installation and deployment would be a great experience as well.

]]> By: moss http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391591 moss Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:52:19 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391591 The America's Cup challenge was won by Sail America -- with a rigid sail. It's slowly working its way through the sailing world -- the cargo types, you have to remember, will keep their clanky rustbuckets going till they sink. I have one old friend -- a retired cop -- who's been earning his living sailing freight from island to island in the Caribbean for thirty years. He ain't making a lot of money; but, it's a clean and adequate living. The America’s Cup challenge was won by Sail America — with a rigid sail. It’s slowly working its way through the sailing world — the cargo types, you have to remember, will keep their clanky rustbuckets going till they sink.

I have one old friend — a retired cop — who’s been earning his living sailing freight from island to island in the Caribbean for thirty years. He ain’t making a lot of money; but, it’s a clean and adequate living.

]]> By: widgethead http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391543 widgethead Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:31:01 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391543 #4 I saw this in Popular Mechanics and supposedly there were ships in the gulf coast of the USA using it. #4 I saw this in Popular Mechanics and supposedly there were ships in the gulf coast of the USA using it.

]]> By: Stu Mulne http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391542 Stu Mulne Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:30:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391542 Mark: I've seen a bunch of such schemes over the years. The "sail" idea is the first that I recall that was essentially a throwaway (disregarding the cost of the sail, rope, and deployment gear), requiring only minor modification to the vessel. While it definitely won't work with a headwind, ships tend to travel "back and forth" and even one-way would be useful. The issue mainly may be the size of the sail required to be of value v.s. the costs. I think it might be a bit expensive.... 'Course if you go to masts and multiple sails, it's another story. At which point "tacking" against the wind would be a solution. Somebody was testing a sort of cylindrical sail a while back that would generate power regardless of the wind direction. It was not intended to be a source of direct propulsion, but to generate energy to drive the normal screw propellers. I wonder how much drag that would generate v.s. the power produced, and it has to be large and is very definitely "mechanical" v.s. just a sail, but.... Regards, Stu. Mark:

I’ve seen a bunch of such schemes over the years. The “sail” idea is the first that I recall that was essentially a throwaway (disregarding the cost of the sail, rope, and deployment gear), requiring only minor modification to the vessel.

While it definitely won’t work with a headwind, ships tend to travel “back and forth” and even one-way would be useful.

The issue mainly may be the size of the sail required to be of value v.s. the costs. I think it might be a bit expensive….

‘Course if you go to masts and multiple sails, it’s another story. At which point “tacking” against the wind would be a solution.

Somebody was testing a sort of cylindrical sail a while back that would generate power regardless of the wind direction. It was not intended to be a source of direct propulsion, but to generate energy to drive the normal screw propellers. I wonder how much drag that would generate v.s. the power produced, and it has to be large and is very definitely “mechanical” v.s. just a sail, but….

Regards,

Stu.

]]> By: Mark Derail http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391525 Mark Derail Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:17:01 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391525 It doesn't work if going against a headwind. I saw over 10 years ago, an idea where they put a huge aircraft wing perpendicular to the ship, that rotates 360 degrees. Part sail, part wing, works with tailwinds, headwinds. Basically a tapered, teardrop shaped sail made of composite materials. Similar numbers of $ savings. Who else saw this? ____|)__|)_ \________/ It doesn’t work if going against a headwind.

I saw over 10 years ago, an idea where they put a huge aircraft wing perpendicular to the ship, that rotates 360 degrees.

Part sail, part wing, works with tailwinds, headwinds. Basically a tapered, teardrop shaped sail made of composite materials.

Similar numbers of $ savings. Who else saw this?

____|)__|)_
\________/

]]> By: JimR http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391484 JimR Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:24:17 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391484 Fantastic Idea! The kite is ancient, but the airfoil design is modern high tech application. I love it! Fantastic Idea! The kite is ancient, but the airfoil design is modern high tech application. I love it!

]]> By: Juan Cardona http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391451 Juan Cardona Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:42:53 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391451 Well well well... after two centuries of coal and oil, we go back to the old trusty sail... isn't this ironic?? Well well well… after two centuries of coal and oil, we go back to the old trusty sail… isn’t this ironic??

]]> By: Todd Henkel http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/05/german-company-wants-to-add-kites-to-cargo-ships-the-return-of-the-schooner/comment-page-1/#comment-391446 Todd Henkel Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:39:20 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8468#comment-391446 These types of innovation need to be encouraged and tried more. Reducing oil dependency would help so many critical things in this world. Not everything may be a resounding success, but who knows what might help until we try? These types of innovation need to be encouraged and tried more. Reducing oil dependency would help so many critical things in this world. Not everything may be a resounding success, but who knows what might help until we try?

]]>