Hatrack River Forum: Hey guys! Have you ever heard of sails?

This is topic Hey guys! Have you ever heard of sails? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=043981

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

Most technologically advanced boat reduces emissions.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Transparent Aluminum!

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

I just read an article on cargo ships using kite-like sails to reduce fuel consumption, with computer systems to choose the type of sail, the height to fly it, and whether it's worth making course corrections to take advantage of wind.

Can't find it, though, so I'll just mention it here.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

This is excellent!

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Dag, here is a link to an article about those sails/ships. It is near the bottom.

Here is the site of the company making them.

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

Thanks, Kwea! That was driving me nuts.

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

What was that Star Trek where they had the ship with the sails that ran off of some kind of mystery particle in space?

-pH

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Mystery particle?? It was a solar sailer (not unique to or even original to ST), and they are powered by photons. That is, light.

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dagonee:
Thanks, Kwea! That was driving me nuts.

No problem. [Big Grin]

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

Thanks Dag and Kwea. I've heard of lots of attempts to bring wind power back to shipping, but what's neat about this is that an existing cargo ship can be retrofitted. Also that the "sail" can be taken down completely for motoring, with no masts or anything.

I hope it gains acceptance. It's about time sail power came back.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
Mystery particle?? It was a solar sailer (not unique to or even original to ST), and they are powered by photons. That is, light.

I think she might be referring to the episode of DS9 where Captain Sisko re-creates an ancient Bajoran light ship. While trying to fly around the solar systen, he and Jake hit a tachyon storm and are swept at FTL speeds towards Cardassia.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I do not recall that episode.

Come to think of it, the solar sailer may have been in a ST novel . . . [Blushing]

Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :

Solar sails are real idea, in that it should actually work if you were willing to put the effort in. NASA has done preliminary work on the idea.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Yup. [Smile]

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

I first read about solar sails in "Planet of the Apes" by Pierre Boulle, published 1963.

It didn't make it into either of the movies, though.