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Sailing Into the Future

RETHINKING RIGS

The future of sail freight doesn't need to be exactly like its past. New technologies, knowledge, and materials can make future sailing ships safer and more capable than those of a century ago. No sail technology is perfect. Just like the traditional rigs they may replace, new sail types have advantages and disadvantages based on conditions and use.

FLETTNER ROTORS

Flettner Rotors were developed in the 1920s, but were not installed in any number of ships until recently. They take up very little deck space, and handling the sails is completely automatic: Tacking or jibing is as simple as changing the direction of rotation. They work based on the Magnus Effect: air moving around a rotating object is slowed on one side and sped up on the other, creating lift which is used to propel the ship. These sails have two weaknesses: They require electricity to spin, and efficient propulsion relies upon steady wind blowing at right angles to the ship’s heading. 

WING SAILS

Wing Sails use lessons from aviation to propel a ship. These large hollow metal wings extend upward from the deck, and are trimmed automatically by electric motors. Wing sails are more effective at sailing upwind than most other rigs, but perform poorly if the wind is coming from behind the ship.

JAMDA RIGS

JAMDA (Japan Marine Machinery Development Association) rigs were developed in Japan as an automated rig during the 1973-85 Oil Crisis. Installed on a dozen ships, these rectangular steel frames with bowed rigid skins perform well in a variety of wind conditions. They are completely automated, generate a large amount of thrust, take up little deck space, and can fold for loading cargo. However, they do rely on electrical power for trim and handling.

RETROFIT OR NEW? EITHER WILL DO!

There have been many successful retrofit projects to create sail freighters from motor vessels, from Oil Crisis Era projects, to the currently-operating SV Kwai in the Marshall Islands. Traditional sailing rigs can give small cargo vessels large gains on fuel efficiency, and acceptable performance under sail alone.

Many sail freighters today are restored old ships: Apollonia, Hawila, Tres Hombres, Nordlys, Brigantes, Kwai, and De Tucker are all restorations. New and restored sail freighters like these are starting to launch mostly in the south Pacific and Europe. Ranging from very small to mid sized, they are designed to work under sail except in harbors. Some have electric or hydrogen engines and won't use fossil fuels at all. 

MEETING MODERN CARGO NEEDS

Shipping containers are now the standard for global cargo movement. Although traditional sailing vessels cannot accommodate them, modern windjammers can be designed to work with containers. Derek Ellard's Electric Clippers make traditional rigs and hull shapes compatible with containers. Combining the best of traditional working sail and modern technology is not only possible, but more useful than either alone.