Originally posted by DeepThought If the idea is to be able to sail directly into the wind, without tacking, then sails won't do.
Sure, but there are no real world requirements for that.
Large container ships are just too big for sails. They are too big to run purely on sail power. They are not too big to use sails as a partial source of power. In practice a kite works better than a sail:
http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-propulsion-for-cargo-ships/
Originally posted by twhitehead Sure, but there are no real world requirements for that.
[b]Large container ships are just too big for sails. They are too big to run purely on sail power. They are not too big to use sails as a partial source of power. In practice a kite works better than a sail:
http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-propulsion-for-cargo-ships/[/b]
Just don't go under the golden gate bridge like that.....