Knut MoråJun 30, 2023
@daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley Yep-- This is an engineering challenge, and not because putting a kite up is difficult, but because making a system that requires minimal maintenance and management compared to the fuel savings it provides _is_ difficult when you're competing with marine diesel engines.
Show threadBilly SmithJun 30, 2023

@kdund @daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley

Spinnakers have been in use for centuries.

Show threadKnut MoråJun 30, 2023
@BillySmith @daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley Of course. But they were used on sailing ships with large crews dedicated to managing rigging, and there was no diesel engine on board that could propel the ship reliably and economically. Now there is, and these new systems must pay for themselves in this new context.
That is very different from usual techbro-work-- the engineering here is to make something that pays for itself in a heavily regulated industry.
Show threadKnut MoråJun 30, 2023
@BillySmith @daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley Also, on sailing ships, almost by definition, the ship would travel to catch a good wind, while nowadays, demanding course deviations would not be acceptable to any great extent.
Show threadNick Kocharhook 🇺🇦💪🏼Jun 30, 2023

@kdund @BillySmith @daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley One of the exciting aspects of this, which makes them more promising in a modern context, is that sails can only reach winds at the top of a mast. The mast of the HMS Victory reached just 63m (205ft) in altitude above the water, and that was considered enormous in the Age of Sail. However, winds at higher altitudes both faster and more consistent than winds at sea level. So if you can release a kite on a wire to pull you along, it can spool out to potentially hundreds of meters and access faster, more reliable winds.

This is not a new idea, companies have been trying to perfect this technology for decades. I really hope they can finally get there! If they can make it cost effective, it could be a big part of the solution in reducing the otherwise quite hard to abate shipping emissions. https://inhabitat.com/transportation-tuesday-wind-powered-cargo-ship-takes-sail/

Show threadBilly SmithJun 30, 2023

@k9 @kdund @daycoder @stavvers @Jennifer_Pinkley

This type of sail has been in use for centuries in fast yachts.

There's one form-factor of racing yacht that has a system for storing and launching the flying sails that's standard across most yacht designs.

Show threadHywel

@BillySmith @k9 @kdund maybe I’m missing something, but spinnaker ≠ kite.

This piece doesn’t mention a spinnaker once, for example:
https://www.yachtingworld.com/extraordinary-boats/armorkite-650-kite-surfing-yacht-sailing-126194

“But standing in front of this boat (I’m not sure we can even call it a sailing boat?), without a mast, boom, stanchions or any apparent sailhandling gear, I’m beginning to wonder if that local madness isn’t contagious.”

ArmorKite 650: Kite-surfing yacht pushes the boundaries of sailing

The ArmorKite 650 is a Mini Transat-style yacht sailed under power kite, with no conventional mast or sails, writes François Tregouet

Yachting World
Jun 30, 2023 at 11:35pmWeb
Show threadScott JensonJul 1, 2023
@daycoder @BillySmith @k9 @kdund It's the height. The kite can go >300m up and catch much stronger more consistent winds than a spinnaker