Next-Gen Wind-Powered Global Expedition Yachts: Design & Technology

Growing up sailing with my dad, he always referred to motor-boats as 'stink-pots'. Motor-boaters, I am told, refer to sailors as 'rag-baggers' due to their proclivity to bag their sails at the end of the day, often before even having cocktails(!) However, the time has come for everyone to take wind-power seriously, as perhaps the most viable solution for lessening carbon emissions of all ocean-going vessels, private and commercial. Wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) technologies have gained significant attention in the shipping industry as a means of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These technologies harness the power of wind to supplement the propulsion of a vessel by generation of aerodynamic forces. And now there are several new sail-assist technologies that have been successfully deployed on large commercial vessels- achieving results in fuel efficiencies that are quantifiable. For our new build, we want a proven sail-assist technology that is readily adaptable for our specific mission and vessel profile. We need to consider, amongst many criteria - size and weight vs propulsion delivery, will the rig fold-down, can it be fully reefed in the event of a power failure without putting the crew at-risk, is there a service and maintenance program from the manufacturer to support us. Hopefully, this video will shed some light on this highly important component of our new-build process, and maritime industry developments in general.