Come Sail Away

My father was an aerospace engineer who designed airplane galleys and at one time he was a lead engineer on a developmental aircraft called the K16. His real obsession, though, was ships and he exercised this passion as a part time naval architect. Our house was littered with detailed drawings of sailboats big and small. He also wrote for a couple boating magazines and was a supporter of Mystic Seaport.

We spent many weekends walking the grounds of Mystic Seaport. My father couldn’t get enough of the old sailing vessels. Sadly, he never realized his dream to own a boat, but he never stopped dreaming that he might have one.

Alas, I did not share my father’s ardor for the sail. As a youth our trips to Mystic were mind numbing. My interest in the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling vessel, was ok the first couple times through her but my interest quickly waned. Not so Dad. He could stroll her deck for hours.

Sailboats have been in use for centuries. According to kidcyber.com by 2500 BC the Egyptians were using sailing vessels to cross oceans.

DVICE.com reports that almost 90% of consumer goods travel by water which means that when fuel costs increase so does the price of the cargo carried by ships.

Additionally, these ships use fossil fuels leaving a large carbon footprint.

Courtesy Google Images

One company, B9 Shipping, is developing a cargo ship that will use the DynaRig. The DynaRig is a system of sails that is computer operated. These vessels will still require an engine for those times when the wind is insufficient, however, it will only be needed roughly 40% of the time.

DVICE.com writes that the engines will be powered entirely by biogas, derived from sources like municipal food waste, making them carbon-neutral.

I think it’s exciting that a proven technology could be enhanced in such a way that today’s commerce needs could be met in an environmentally sound manner. What do you think? Do you think sail power is the future of trade?