New Age Trawler/Motorsailer; Kite assisted PowerYacht

[brian eiland]

BIG Kite flying in Very Little Wind

50m kite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr2MzMzTXoE

next 100m, 200m kites

 

[T0x1c]

Here is an Atlantic crossing using a kite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D6WTAxpyJ5Y

Does anyone have more information? The site is not very informative.

http://www.omegasails.com/
The log on http://suivi.barme.fr/suivi_OS091201 is quite informative, unfortunately in French.

 

[kach22i]

UPDATE: 09/30/13

Meanwhile, in related news back on land.

Wind-powered car completes 3,100 mile test ride across Australia
http://phys.org/news/2011-02-wind-powered-car-mile-australia.html

The journey took 18 days and spanned the continent of Australia, with the two designers splitting the drive time. The vehicle can now boast holding several records for wind-powered vehicles. Some of the records set include: the first vehicle powered by wind to cross a continent, the longest overall distance covered, and the longest distance covered by a wind-powered vehicle in 36 hours.

 

[Mr Efficiency]

Crazy ! Hooking up to a passing road train would be fun.

 

[peter radclyffe]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0vskflqtscwru74/Programme%20SAIL%20conference%20Rotterdam%2

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0vskflqtscwru74/Programme SAIL conference Rotterdam 2013-10-10.pdf

 

[skatun]

Hi
I am wondering if any have some ideas on how to launch the kite from the boat without the need of a helper.

Sigurd, er du norsk?

 

[Herr Kaleun]

HOISTING/STREAMING A KITE FROM A VESSEL.

For a sailing vessel, I would suggest that the design of kite be such that it has a horizontal cell, that can be inflated to go rigid, thus acting like a spar to the wing. With a quick release fitting [...poss remote control? Or maybe a slip-hitch on the falling part of the tow-cable] attached to a halyard rove through a pulley high up on the forward facing part of a mast, with a trailing main 'tow-cable' obviously affixed to a fore-deck fitting.
Attached to the quick release fitting would be a shackle-runner, that would run the course of the forestay.

Inflate cell/spar, hoist atop, up the forestay [much like hoisting a square'sl], when kite fills/catches the wind, activate release[...either electrically or by tugging on the falling part of the tow-cable, releasing the slip-hitch] and allow to pay out to desired height. [gloves might be prudent...]

The same system could work from a motor vessel, if it has high enough fore mast.

Does any of that make sense?

 

[brian eiland]

Just looking back thru this subject thread,...there were lots of good discussions and links. Its worth a read by those that have never thought about this subject.

But I guess our low fuel prices over the last 3-4 years have stymied a lot of new development work.

 

[brian eiland]

First Yacht Application??





Couple of more possibilities for first yacht application??


3) Design Humphreys: (note:MY FAVORITE)
This 40m Motoryacht represents a new development in yachting, merging the benefits of a low resistance, fuel-efficient hull form with an unusual propulsive device - a fully automated, self-tending kite.
PFD Concept

Has anyone seen the latest article on the 276 ft tri-hull motoryacht "White Rabbit" in Boats International mar 2019,....a real eye opener in terms of sea keeping and efficiency.

This is the same BOLD owner that had the first White Rabbit built. Perhaps I will have the extract a few passages to this article, as it also addresses the MYOPTIC view a great number of non-believers have adopted from early on.

 

[brian eiland]

I have written an email to the author of that Boating International article asking his permission to utilize some of his quotes from his article. The opening sentence in his article really caught my attention,...

The obvious question, really is: Why bother building a trimaran when the rest of the world is cruising around in monhulls?

I had a feeling this was going to be interesting

 

[bajansailor]

These big trimarans certainly do seem to have a lot going for them re relative fuel efficiency and sea keeping.
Austal have built a few as ferries -
Benchijigua Express https://www.austal.com/ships/benchijigua-express
Click on the link to the data sheet for more detailed info about her.

Some basic info about White Rabbit here -
WHITE RABBIT https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-superyacht-directory/white-rabbit-golf--81573

Here is an article about White Rabbit from November last year -
World's biggest trimaran superyacht White Rabbit delivered https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/worlds-biggest-trimaran-superyacht-white-rabbit-delivered--24541

And one can buy the March issue referred to above by Brian for GBP 7 -
Boat International 393 (March 2019) - Boat International https://shop.boatinternational.com/Shop/Product.aspx?offerId=410&sId=10

 

[brian eiland]

I got permission from the author of that Boat International article to post some excerpts from his article. I will likely do that in the next several days.

 

[brian eiland]

Recently posted here
Multihull Structure Thoughts https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/multihull-structure-thoughts.62361/page-80#post-882490

This is about serious money dreams. For a German entrepreneur, that means commissioning a futuristic yacht with a unique approach to efficiency – a gargantuan kite that helps pull it along. Ice Kite, which is still in the design phase, was conceived collaboratively by Red Yacht Design, Dijkstra Naval Architects in collaboration. Ice Kite is 210 x 35.5 foot monohull that displaces 450 tons is powered by two 1000 hp engines and carries a 1700 square foot kite rig. Ah what! A 1700 square foot kite rig that soars 600 feet in the air (think kitesurfing, but a lot bigger, fancier, and more expensive) to improve its fuel efficiency. Ice Kites maximum speed is approximately 17 knots.

Ice Kite hull is designed to be efficient over the entire speed range and not only in a restricted speed interval around the maximum speed. This is accomplished by waterline entries, a high slenderness ratio and low wetted surface area due to a round hull shape. Other significant features include increased comfort on-board with better sea keeping and wave reduction. A well proportioned daggerboard is applied to enable the yacht to make full use of the Kite propulsion system at closer wind angles. Ice Kite has an aluminium hull with a carbon fibre superstructure and light weight strong glass panels as windows etc.

The buyer is also commissioning an 86 foot support vessel that will sail with Ice Kite, called ICE Ghost which can carry an Icon A5 airplane, a U Boatworx Superyacht Sub 3, a 12 metre custom-made performance RIB with a top-end speed of 60 knots, also designed by Red Yacht Design, and a pair of Seadoo jet skis on her main deck. There is a further garage space for holding diving equipment, SeaBobs, and an on-site maintenance area. The main deck of ICE Ghost can alternatively be used as a party space and two twin cabins below deck can host guests or staff. With a steel hull and carbon fibre exterior, ICE Ghost can reach a top speed of 16 knots.

The jpegs are of the initial design(s) and gives a glimpse into future technology that may be applicable to multis.

more images HERE
Ice Kite | Red Yacht Design https://redyachtdesign.com/project/kite/

 

[bajansailor]

I had previously posted this note on Brian's thread about aft mast rigs, and Brian suggested that I re-post it on this thread.
Aftmast rigs??? https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/aftmast-rigs.623/page-78

I said:
Brian, I just came across this article from almost 40 years ago about wind assistance for commercial shipping, and I thought you might be interested in it..
A FRESH WIND FOR SAIL POWER https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/magazine/a-fresh-wind-for-sail-power.html

They mention Jesse Briggs and SAILA - I had a subscription to the SAILA newsletters in the mid 80's, but sadly something happened, and they were no more.
Later on they also mention Lloyd Bergeson and the Windship Development Corporation - I will attach a copy of a paper that he presented at a conference in 1985 on wind assist developments for commercial shipping.

 

[Storm_Eagle]

The problem with soft kites is their limited lifespan. As a kiteboarder just taking the kite out for a few hours on weekends and buying new kites every few years you probably wont notice it so much. But using a soft kite on a sailing yacht for days and weeks continuously in the wind and the sun will wear out the kite really fast, and you need to replace it often.

If you don't belive me take a look at a windsock that has been hanging out in the breeze for a while. Or talk to a local paraglider club about their windsocks. They are often totally shredded after just one year out in the wind.

Both flapping in the wind, and exposure to the UV rays of the sun wears out both the fabric and the lines of a soft kite.